Lifestyle choice

Get a taste for the good life with a fully equipped outdoor kitchen or a smartly designed space for barbecuing and alfresco dining

- karen booth

You know that something has gone from trend to must-have when you fi nd it’s become an essential element of every new display home. If you haven’t been in the market for a new home recently and done the rounds of the display villages, then you might not know that an outdoor kitchen (or at least a well-designed barbecue area) and a place for alfresco dining and entertaining is now a feature of every display home at every price point.

Of course, it’s just as much a feature of every architect-designed custom-built home, not to mention home renovation or extension. A well-designed, well-integrated outdoor cooking zone isn’t a priority for home designers. It’s right at the top of the wish list when homeowners call on the services of a landscaper.

“Outdoor cooking has become an important part of the indoor-outdoor living trend as people want to spend more time outdoor enjoying their new and improved landscapes, as well as having the convenience of being able to cook and entertain close to the house while being protected from the weather, be it rain, hail or shine,” says Justine Carlile, founder of Justine Carlile Landscape Design.

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

“The whole idea of creating outdoor rooms that mirror the functionality of traditional indoor spaces has continued to pick up steam, especially since spending more time at home due to COVID. Many of us appreciate outdoor spaces at home more than ever before,” says Matt Leacy, founding partner and principal