Alfresco Living = Outdoor Kitchen in Melbourne

In recent years, the concept of outdoor kitchens has gained momentum in Melbourne, with more and more homeowners embracing the idea of extending their living space into the outdoors. Whether it’s for hosting BBQ parties with friends and family or simply enjoying a meal under the stars, outdoor kitchens offer a versatile and stylish solution for alfresco dining and entertaining.

1. Enhanced Entertaining: Outdoor kitchens provide the perfect setting for hosting gatherings and social events, allowing hosts to mingle with guests while preparing meals.
2. Al Fresco Dining Experience: There’s something special about dining outdoors, and with an outdoor kitchen, you can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while savouring delicious meals.
3. Expanded Living Space: Outdoor kitchens effectively extend your living space, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor areas and maximising the use of your outdoor space.
4. Customisation Options: From built-in BBQs and pizza ovens to sinks, refrigerators, and storage cabinets, outdoor kitchens offer a wide range of customisation options to suit your needs and preferences.
5. Increased Property Value: An outdoor kitchen can significantly enhance the value of your property, making it more attractive to potential buyers and adding to its overall appeal.

When planning your outdoor kitchen in Melbourne, there are several factors to consider to ensure that it meets your needs and complements your lifestyle:

1. Layout and Functionality: Consider how you will use your outdoor kitchen and plan the layout accordingly, ensuring easy access to cooking and dining areas.
2. Materials and Finishes: Choose durable materials that can withstand Melbourne’s climate, such as stainless steel, stone, and weather-resistant timber.
3. Shade and Shelter: Incorporate shade and shelter options, such as pergolas, umbrellas, or retractable awnings, to protect your outdoor kitchen from the elements.
4. Lighting: Install adequate lighting to ensure that your outdoor kitchen is functional and safe to use after dark, including task lighting for cooking areas and ambient lighting for dining and entertaining spaces.
5. Landscaping: Integrate your outdoor kitchen seamlessly into your backyard landscape, incorporating plants, trees, and other features to create a cohesive outdoor living environment.

As landscapers we spend a lot of time outdoors. Clearly our jobs help, however many landscapers love their jobs because they get to work with nature and natural materials.

For outdoor kitchens, Made By Mobbs we always use and recommend natural stone bench tops and splash backs rather than the engineered products that typically use synthetic, oil derived products.

Some clients have questions about cleaning stone splash backs, but that’s easy…a little bit of hot soapy water when you are cleaning your bench top and BBQ keeps them looking like new. Don’t forget, they’ve been sealed so any fat or oil is simply sitting on the surface. Just make sure seal the stone and the bench top every year to ensure they repel grease, fats and the odd drop of red wine.

As Melbourne locals, we regularly source our stone from several great suppliers. We use and recommend: Bamstone, Ecooutdoor, Stone and Slate Discounts, Vic Bluestone and Transrock.