7 Great Splashback Materials

Picking the right material for your splashback can be overwhelming. So we've come up with 7 great splashback materials to consider for your kitchen...

1.Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is a sleek and unique material to use for your splashback. It's easy to install and works well in outdoor kitchens. Polished concrete can also be coloured which allows for a bit more variety. Unlike stainless steel and glass, concrete doesn't show marks easily which means it's low maintenance when it comes to cleaning.

2. Tiles/Mosaic

Tiles are highly resistant to chemicals and tend to suit a range of styles and budgets. One of the downsides to tile splashbacks is keeping the grout clean and also the process of waterproofing the grout. If you have the budget for it and want to bring some creativity to your kitchen you can use mosaic tiles.

3. Painted Glass

Glass as a splashback material is suited to most styles from modern to traditional. It's easy to wipe down but can get grubby looking if not cleaned frequently.

4. Pressed Metal

Pressed metal is attractive for several reasons. It's cost effective, quick and easy to install, easy to clean and comes in a range of designs and patterns that can be customised and painted too.

 5. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a beautiful, clean and modern choice. It does however have a tendency to get dirty quite quickly. Marks really stand out against the sleek, reflective surface.

6. Stone

Granite and Marble are some of the sexiest splashback materials out there. These smooth, easy to clean materials are good for a modern looking kitchen and eliminate those grout lines you'll get if you have use tile. They're also highly heat resistant.

7. Man Made or Engineered Stone

Stone as a splashback material is a good choice if you're looking to achieve a natural look in your kitchen. Caesarstone and Essastone come in a selection of colours and are also easy to clean and durable.

Do you have a splashback in your kitchen? Leave a comment with your ideal splashback material. To see more of our work check out our Houzz page or contact us here.

Kitchen Drawer Ideas

In February we posted a blog on Outdoor Kitchen Design and one of the factors we suggested you consider is what you intend to store in your kitchen. When it comes to effective storage space, drawers seem to have surpassed cupboards. Home owners are opting for drawers in their kitchens and here's why...

Deep Drawers for Pots and Pans

We are all familiar with the annoying task of having to get the pot you want from your cupboard. All that banging around just to get the pot you need. Deep drawers allow you to organise your cookware cupboard, dividing lids from bases and laying them side by side rather than stacking them up.

Appliance Drawers

Clear your worktop space and keep your appliances safe and protected by having an appliance drawer. You could also install power points in your drawers which is handy to keep your work space cord free!

Bin Drawer

A roomy pull-out drawer bin makes waste management a lot easier. You can have multiple bins for waste and recycling all in one place. Having a bin drawer also frees up floor space. The best part of having a bin drawer is that there is no visible rubbish in your outdoor area.

Secret Benchtop Drawer

Make your space go further with a secret benchtop drawer. On the surface it looks like a normal drawer but pulled out the drawer turns into an extra benchtop or serving area. This extra space is also handy for appliances.

 

Knife and Spice Drawer

If you're a fan of the feng shui philosophy you might consider a knife drawer. Not only does it keep your  knives out of sight (which is also a benefit if you have kids) but it allows them to be neatly organised and accessed safely.  Spice racks are a bit outdated. Store your spices in a spice drawer. You can make this happen by buying a spice drawer organiser and using an existing drawer to store your spices.

Outdoor Heaters For This Winter

With winter just around the corner you might want to think about what outdoor heating solutions you have set to see you through the season. There are loads of options when it comes to outdoor/patio heating. Here's a quick list of outdoor heaters you might want to consider for winter...

Fire Pits

Fire pits as outdoor heaters are definitely the most rustic option of the lot. If you're looking for an intimate setting for your outdoor area fire pits are a great way to achieve this! They come in a wide variety of styles from galvanized steel to earthy concrete and limestone. They also come in different shapes and sizes. If you don't have much space you can always get a smaller fire pit in. The major benefit of fire pits is that it can double up as a BBQ. You can easily cook kebabs or marshmallows if the occasion calls for it! The most desirable benefit of fire pits is that they provide great ambiance when entertaining guests.

Gas Heaters

Gas heaters are versatile, easy to install and generally warm up quite quickly. The great thing about gas heaters is that you get the natural heat of fire minus the time it takes to get a fire going and keeping it lit. A  lot of gas heaters come with remote controls which makes it even easier to control. They are also far more cost effective than electric heaters. As much as we love fire pits, gas heaters do require less maintenance in terms of cleaning which can be a major plus depending on your personal preference.

Hanging Heaters

These are great if you don't want to clutter your outdoor floor space. Hanging heaters can be gas fired or electric. Some are even solar powered! Hanging heater designs range from a simple strip heater to a more elaborate hanging fire place.

Low or No Light Heaters

I'm sure we have all experienced being in the bright light of an outdoor heater before! Zero light heaters are perfect if you want to keep your outdoor area dim and intimate or lit up by candles or soft and natural lighting.

Did you find this post helpful? Share it with your friends or comment with what outdoor heater you'd prefer for your outdoor area!

Teppanyaki Cooking

We’re always looking for new ways to make our kitchens unique and stylish and we found the perfect way to showcase this through our Teppanyaki grill installations. Teppanyaki grills are not only great for cooking steak but are a brilliant centrepiece  for entertaining guests!

What is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki (said teppan-yaki) is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. In Japan, Teppanyaki grills are commonly used to cook steaks, shrimp okonomiyaki (a savoury pancake), yakisoba (fried noodles) and monjayaki (rice cakes).

Teppanyaki grills are ideal for dinner parties and offer versatility as you can throw just about anything on there. They are flat surfaced and usually gas heated. The large flat surfaced grill is perfect for collective cooking.

What can I cook on it?

Ingredients for more Western style Teppanyaki cooking include steak, lobster, chicken, shrimp, scallops and vegetables. Here's a quick and easy recipe for some Teppanyaki cooking inspiration!

Benefits of Teppanyaki grills

• Grill warms up quickly (usually around two to three minutes for a medium heat)
• Cooks multiple ingredients at a time
• Keeps food that is cooked warm when placed on the edges of the grill
• Easy to clean (the flat surface means it is easy to wipe up any residue. Check out our post on BBQ cleaners for tips on cleaning your Teppanyaki grill)

Recommended utensils and accessories

• It's best to use 'non scratch' utensils like wooden spoons and plastic or silicon coated spatulas and grill scrapers, however it's not uncommon to use stainless steel utensils
• Copper cap to keep cooked food protected and moist
• Bamboo skewers
• Squeeze bottles for oil and sauces

To find our more about our Teppanyaki grills contact us here. Or to view more of our projects visit our Houzz page.

Beer Tap Systems - How Do They Work?

If there’s one piece of equipment you need in your kitchen to impress your guests it’s a beer tap!

We offer beer tap and keg system installations so you can enjoy a freshly poured pint in the comfort of your own home. There's a large selection of draft beer dispensing systems on offer and this week’s post looks at how these beer tap systems work...

How draft beer tap systems work

The first piece of equipment needed for your outdoor beer system is a CO2 tank. These tanks come in different sizes depending on how much beer you want to dispense and also vary depending on what kind of beer you want to dispense. Guinness beer for example requires a hydrogen tank as opposed to a CO2 tank.

The second piece of the equipment needed is a regulator. This is used to regulate the pressure of your tank. The third piece is an air line – a PVC  tube that connects the regulator to the keg coupler.

The keg coupler takes in the CO2 to push air through the keg and beer through the beer line. MFAB and D Type couplers are the most popular in Australia. Here's a handy list of beers and their respective recommended couplers.

The beer line is the next piece of equipment needed for your system. Like the air line, the beer line is made from food and beverage approved PVC and usually runs about 152 centimeters but varies depending on the situation. It screws onto the top of the coupler and is then attached to the beer tower (the beer tower is what you’ll see on the surface of your bar or kitchen) Check out this article on how to clean your beer line, which should be done on a weekly basis.

A beer shank is a metal tube that runs either through your fridge or beer tower and is essential for attaching the beer line to the system. A straight beer shank is the most commonly used for fridge conversions. Nipple beer shanks are used for kegerators and can either be permanently attached or changeable.   The beer shank is also attached to the beer tap.

The final pieces of equipment are the beer font (also known as a tower) and tap (also known as a faucet). Beer towers come in different shapes, sizes, styles and colours and are screwed onto your worktop or bar. They are kept insulated to keep the beer line cool. The tap is where the beer comes from. It usually has a lever or handle that is pulled to release the beer. They come in different grades depending on the quality of the tap. We work with Andale Beer Dispensing Equipment who provide a wide range of services and beer dispensing equipment. Here are some of their fonts and taps. Andale also offers washout equipment for your system which is very important as taps should be cleaned regularly!

We hope you found this post useful (even if only to impress your mates the next time you have a pint at the pub!) Want to find out more about our outdoor kitchen beer taps? Contact us here or view more of our projects on Houzz.

Kitchen Building Materials

Kitchen building materials aren’t just important for the look of your outdoor kitchen but for the longevity and durability as well.  Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens carefully selects high quality materials that have been tried and tested to handle all weather and heat conditions. We ensure a fine balance between beauty and strength. Here are some of the building materials we use for our kitchens.

Polished Concrete

We’ve built loads of kitchens using this material and consider the use of polished concrete our speciality.

• Cost effective
• Highly durable and requires low maintenance
• Solid and comes in a variety of textures, colours and shapes
• Suited to many kitchen styles from contemporary to modern and industrial
• Unique

Reclaimed Timber

We take great pride in the our use of salvaged timber as one of our building materials . This beautiful material has given our kitchens a distinctive and homey  feel .

• Eco friendly
• Recycled timber is more stable than old timber. New timber goes through a drying process to remove moisture, whereas recycled timber has just about 0% moisture
• The source of the timber makes it unique and makes for a great topic of conversation
• Gives your kitchen character

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is not only aesthetically appealing but is a strong and durable material.

• Durable and corrosion resistant
• Sleek look suitable for industrial and modern styles
• Highly heat resistant
• Hygienic due to its cleanability
• Cost effective due to its thickness and weight

 

 Check out our Houzz page to see more of our work or contact us here if you have any questions!

Outdoor Kitchen Design | Factors to consider

We specialise in outdoor kitchen design and construction and will get the most out of your outdoor area, but understanding what you want out of your kitchen is an important part of the process. Here are some things to think about to help you to decide how to design your kitchen...

How many people will you cater for?

When it comes to outdoor kitchen design it’s best to start with the number of people in your family and then add on extended family and friends to get a rough idea of how many people you'll have over for a BBQ or special occasion. There’s no point in getting a huge BBQ if you’ll only be cooking for four or five people.  We can fit BBQs of all shapes and sizes.

If you've got the space and plan on catering for lots of people we can build a kitchen with a bit more workspace, a bigger BBQ, a rangehood and maybe a beer tap or two.

What will you be cooking?

It’s always a good idea to think about what you’ll cook in your kitchen. Grilled pizzas have become rather popular so you might want to consider getting a BBQ that has a grill if you’re keen on cooking pizzas. Alternatively, there’s not much point in getting a pizza extension or grill if you prefer takeaway pizza.  We install charcoal, gas and electric cookers/BBQs. The only thing to consider when deciding which BBQ is best for you is convenience. There's not a huge difference in the taste of the food you're cooking, except for a slight smokey flavour you may get from a charcoal BBQ and of course gas is much quicker to start up!

Will you use a side burner?

Side burners are also becoming a popular extension to BBQs, but not everyone is sure of its benefits. Also known as a ‘wok burner’ this feature can be very useful if you want to avoid moving in and out of the house during your BBQ. You can boil potatoes, prepare a sauce or fry up some vegetables to compliment your BBQ’d meat using a side burner. It’s handy and doesn’t take up much space.

Do you drink beer?

It may seem like a silly question but if your friends and family aren’t big beer drinkers you can rule out a beer tap system in your kitchen and perhaps just go for a standard bar fridge for wines and cold drinks. Of course if you are beer drinkers we can fit a beer tap/keg system in your kitchen turning your outdoor area into the perfect entertainment area.

What will you store outside?

This all comes down to personal preference. If you like to use fine china when guests come over, storing it outside may not be the best idea. Ask yourself what you need to store in your kitchen. Think – BBQ and surface cleaner, dishwashing liquid, paper plates, pots and pans, cutlery etc. This will help you decide if and how many drawers and cabinets you’ll need.

What space do you have?

We’ll help you get the most out of your space. All you need to do is decide where you want it and we’ll help you build a kitchen that not only looks good but is functional and suits your needs.

Another thing to think about is what style or materials you would want in your kitchen. Visit our blog next week to read our post on the materials we use in our kitchens.

Check out our Houzz page for more outdoor kitchen design ideas or contact us here

The Beauty of Polished Concrete

When thinking of outdoor kitchens and dining areas, concrete is the stuff you walk on to get to your seat. Right? Concrete is no longer the boring grey surface that you walk over and barely even notice unless it is missing. At Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens, we specialise in something known as GFRC (Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete). We have found innovative uses for this surprisingly versatile material, with everything from bench tops to furniture.Polished concrete is exceptionally solid and can be in a variety of textures, inlays, colours, shapes, and turns it into something truly unique - a real one of a kind, not run of the mill. Polished concrete can enhance any style - from country to contemporary, industrial and from traditional to modern. Glass fibre reinforced concrete is quickly becoming the product of choice when it comes to designers, architects, and home-owners. It is an incredible medium for architectural, visual and artistic expression.Because each piece is hand-crafted, the possibilities in terms of shape, size, colour, and texture are virtually endless. This makes it the perfect choice for outdoor kitchen bench tops and furniture. There are very few limitations to what you can accomplish with good design and sound fabrication techniques. If you can dream it, we can create it!Durability is a key factor in designing an outdoor kitchen, with everything being exposed to the elements in one way or another, you need a product that is going to take some punishment and keep looking good. Just a few of the benefits of using GFRC are... Highly durable and safe •Design freedom; •since GFRC is able to be moulded into almost any shape and colourRequires low maintenance • Installation is quick and cost effective •Weather and fire resistant • Polished concrete bench tops and furniture from Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens are built to your needs, around your existing, or planned, outdoor installation and to your complete satisfaction. Make your bench tops, and even whole pieces of furniture, something that is uniquely yours. Our polished concrete products are crafted in such a way to have such a certain ‘look’ so they could almost be mistaken for art installations - so much so, that it’s almost a shame to have to sit on our benches! Furniture made with this material is also incredibly strong, so there is no danger of breakage, and it would take dedicated and concerted effort to chip it. If furniture is going to be enjoyed outside, then it pays to ensure that the furniture you invest in is tough enough to take the punishment. Our polished concrete products certainly fit the bill, and then some.