Enjoy Al Fresco dining this Summer with an outdoor concrete kitchen
How nice is the weather at the moment? Admittedly, it is more than a little worrying that we are seeing the hottest temperatures since records began and I’m sure that a hosepipe ban is imminent here in the South West. Whilst it has been ever so lovely to spend time in my garden, our decking is such a sun trap and by mid-afternoon, it’s almost too hot to sit outside. We have recently installed a shade sail to provide some shade for the kids, but it hasn’t really helped if I’m honest.
Summer Al fresco Dining
This photo above pretty much sums up what we did the whole weekend (obviously this isn’t us). We had a lunchtime BBQ with friends on Saturday followed by another BBQ for dinner on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday, we had yet another BBQ! It was a weekend full of sunshine, great company, fantastic food and generally feeling really grateful that we have such an amazing outdoor space to use.
However, all that sunshine and time in the garden did mean that my mind was buzzing with more updates that we could make to the garden to make it even more practical. The problem is we live in a first-floor flat and the garden is obviously on the ground floor. So al fresco dining inevitably involves a lot of running up and down the stairs to the kitchen to get food and drinks from the fridge and to collect everything we need for entertaining.
We have installed a small drinks fridge in the garden, but I’ve been dreaming of extending our brick shed so that we can store more equipment in the garden. I also can’t help but think how great it would be to have an outdoor kitchen. I’m not talking about anything too fancy here. Nothing like they have in America or Australia. There would be no point given how bad the weather generally is in the UK. But something simple that would provide plenty of storage and surface space would be ideal.
Modular Outdoor Kitchen
Something pretty much (read exactly) like the amazing WWOO outdoor kitchen. WWOO is a Dutch-designed modular concrete outdoor kitchen by Piet-Jan van den Kommer. The design is so simple but there are a number of customisation options on offer which allow you to design and install an outdoor kitchen that meets all your needs and works for your garden. You can add a Big Green Egg charcoal BBQ, an integrated fireplace or a braai, a sink, wooden storage boxes, and even wooden cutting boards.
Outdoor Concrete Kitchen
The outdoor concrete kitchen comes in three heights (1.3m, 1.65m, or 2m) and also has a degree of flexibility when it comes to length (the segments come in 1.5m lengths). Plus it’s super hard wearing, durable and weather-proof as it’s made from concrete. The maintenance is probably very minimal too. The only disadvantage I can see is the price (admittedly it is a tad expensive!) but given how long it will last, I personally think this is an investment worth making.
Now tell me you don’t want this outdoor concrete kitchen in your garden too?
Just in case you’re now desperate to order yourself a WWOO outdoor kitchen, the company is headquartered in the Netherlands, but the outdoor kitchens are also available in Israel, Germany, the USA, Belgium and the UK (the offices are situated in St Albans in Hertfordshire).
I’ve already got the perfect space for one in my garden and now I’m going to be lusting after one all summer. My husband is already sick of hearing about it!
These outdoor kitchen ideas are amazing! the ideas look perfect particularly on charcoal kitchen idea . Thank you for sharing this post.
Hello,
This barbecue table is garden goals! I have got a Green Egg which I am completely crazy about. The food is sooo good in it and it is not that hard to operate at all. However I’ve got a tiny London garden so couldn’t have that large table. However, this is a lovely addition to a countryside home garden!
I want this! I don’t currently have the space for it but that’s not the point is it? Cor its a mighty fine looking space, I wonder if I can do a garden extension to fit it in?
Yes Mary, you should definitely look into a garden extension. I don’t think you can live without this! lol
What a great idea! I particularly love the charcoal version of this outdoor kitchen!
Such a great idea! I love all the versions!
What a beauty! And what a great idea it is! No wonder you can’t stop talking about it! I think for someone (like you) having the living space and the garden on different levels it could actually be a life saver!
It totally would Anne Marie, sadly the husband is not convinced that we can’t live without it!
Considering the only time the Hubs actually cooks is when we have a BBQ (which isn’t very often), this could seriously be a game changer and I may be able to have a few days off in the kitchen. I’ve already sent him a screenshot of it! ;)
Oh that’s an amazing reason to get one Maria. If that’s what it takes to get him to cook more then so be it lol!
I would have happy danced till the end of times if i was to have such a stunning outdoor kitchen x
Me too Pati. My life would be complete!
Stacey I tell you, this right here… this is the stuff that dreams are made of! Feeling particularly sad now about my lack of garden! HA! Ah well a girl can dream cant she? You are certainly keeping my imagination alive!
Well Jumi there is only one thing to do! You need to move house asap so that you can have a garden to make this dream a reality in!
Wow this is amazing, I’d better hide this post from my husband!
No, no! Show him! I’m sure he’d want one too! lol
Ooh I so need a wwoo!! I love it that you can customise to fit in your outdoor space – and pop a drinks fridge underneath ; )
The possibilities are endless Natalia!
Oh this is the dream! Sunshine, friends, a gorgeous outdoor kitchen… one day, perhaps!
One day in the not too distant future preferably!
This is so dreamy! I’m picturing long summer nights with good friends and good wine and the smell of charcoal… My other half would give his right arm for this! Rx
I think it’s totally worth a right arm Rosanna. I’m sure he’d still be able to BBQ with only one arm! lol
Wow I seriously need one of these in my life!
Who doesn’t?
I am pretty sure I had seen Abigail Ahern talk about those kitchens ages ago…i totally agree they look great and in fact, in Greece I would totally go for one (although most homes with gardens have large outdoors overs and bbqs already. I love the simplistic style shown here. Having tried both gas and coal bbq, I prefer gas as it lights up super quick, but coal makes the food so much tastier!!
I totally agree. If only we had the Greek climate. I’m sure I’d be able to convince the Mr a lot easier then!
That is so, so nice! I think if I lived in Australia I would definitely have one of these – being in Manchester, though I’m not sure it would get a lot of use, but they do look absolutely fab! X
That is indeed a problem living in the wet and rainy UK. Let’s all move to Oz!
Oh my GOODNESS this is amazing. Actually been trying to create something similar in my own garden
It would be so handy wouldn’t it? I think I’m going to add it to my list of things to save for even if it takes a long time as its not really a top priority! One day I will have this in my garden!
I discovered their kitchens a couple of months ago when I was researching a post around outdoor kitchens for a client and I FELL IN LOVE. Honestly, this is the dream, isn’t it? They are so gorgeous and you know they’d be practical and well built. Definitely eye-candy as well as being amazing in the summer! xx
I just love that they are so practical. I mean after winter you’d simply need to give it a brush down and a wipe with soapy water and it’s ready to go. No rotting or anything and no chance of it being affected by the weather. I want one so bad!!!
I’m sending this to my husband RIGHT NOW. We’re actually starting to build our own outdoor kitchen as we speak! (Been collecting free bricks from our local Facebook groups for a few weeks now to make it cheap as chips). I do think these kind of outdoor kitchens are starting to make more of an appearance in the UK in recent years. The challenge is making them durable for the majority of the year when it’s NOT so sunny haha
I think WWOO have certainly solved that challenge Karen. What better material to use than concrete? If you guys all go and get amazing outdoor kitchens now I’m going to be so jealous!! lol
This is an amazingly practical solution for small garden syndrome! Oh How I know that feeling. We’re always having barbecues, but fail on space, so end up with a cheap little charcoal thing that cost probably less than 20quid. I absolutely love this. I think my partner is going to have the same feeling as yours! I tend to go on and on about things for months, before the next big thing comes in. Before I found this is was that Gtech air ram vacuum cleaner.
I’m hoping he’ll compromise. He’s pretty DIY orientated. Fingers crossed he can make me something like this!
Hi Sophie, yes this would be perfect for a small garden. You can have everything you need incorporated. You could even use it to create the boundary between two gardens. Good luck convincing your husband on this one!