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.

Argentinian Style BBQ (Asado)

Argentinian BBQs or Asados have some unique and delicious dishes. A “traditional” Asado is a specific way of grilling meat. It involves using coals and firewood and tending to the meat to make sure that it's grilled to perfection. Here are some dishes to inspire your Argentinian style BBQ!

Chorizo

Chorizo can be eaten sliced, grilled, baked or fried. A tender and flavourful sausage made from finely chopped pork filled with garlic, chilli and smoked paprika. In Argentina a chorizo served in a bread roll is called a choripán.

Provoleta

Provoleta is trademark dish. It's essentially a disc of cheese, 2cm thick topped with chilli and oregano placed on an aluminium foil tin and grilled above the fire. Although probably not the most healthiest of dishes, provoleta is definitely one of the most delicious!

Chimichurri Sauce

Chimichurri sauce is a garlicky, fresh herb sauce that goes well with just about anything. Here's an easy recipe to make the sauce yourself:

• 1 cup fresh Italian parsley, packed
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, packed
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Puree all ingredients in a processor. Transfer to a bowl. Cover and let stand at room temperature.

Malbec Wine

Today, Argentina leads with over 75% of all the acres of Malbec in the world (WineFolly.com) This smooth red wine is a must at an Argentinian style BBQ.

Feeling inspired? Like our post and leave a comment with the dish you're going to try at your next BBQ!

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!

Low Maintenance Plants for Your Outdoor Area

No outdoor area should be without a garden but giving plants the care they need takes a lot of time and effort. If your outdoor area needs foliage then read on – this is our top five list of low maintenance plants for your outdoor area...

1. Lavender

Lavender comes from a Mediterranean background so grows well in dry, sunny and rocky habitats. Adelaide's dry weather favours the conditions the plant thrives in. Lavender is extremely drought resistant, but during the planting phase requires moist soil or compost. Dampness and humidity are common causes for killing lavender. After flowering you should cut back about two thirds of the flower leaving only a small amount of foliage.  Bear in mind that there are different types of lavender. You’ll need to choose the best option for your soil type.

2. Golden Barrel Cactus

These plants require almost no care at all. They originate from Central Mexico so are used to dry and hot conditions. If your balcony doesn’t receive much natural light this plant is perfect for you. The cactus can survive for up to six months with no water or care during the growing phase. It’s best to plant these in pots rather than the ground. Cacti aren’t for everyone though, so if you’re looking for a prettier option the Christmas Cactus is also an easy plant to grow and look after.

3. Santa Barbara Daisy

This delicate plant comes in white, pink and lavender and also survives well in hot and dry weather. They bloom frequently and seed themselves. The only downside to the daisy is that it can spread quickly. Depending on where you plant it that may not be a bad thing. The Santa Barbara Daisy grows well alongside a deck or paved path.

 4. Berkeley Sedge

This adaptable grass can grow in sun or shade and looks great lined along paths, flowerbeds or decks. It has a lush foliage effect and can withstand a lot of foot traffic and mowing.

5. Herbs

Every garden should have one of these! Growing your own herbs is easy, cost effective and let's face it - very impressive! We've chosen Basil as our herb of choice for this post. It grows best in moist soil. If you live in a dry area try using mulch to keep the soil moist. Cut off any flowers that you see on the plant. You might want to move your basil indoors over Winter as it doesn't grow well in cold weather. For more information on growing Basil you can check out this article.

Do you know of any low maintenance plants? Leave a comment with your own tips or suggestions!

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.

BBQ Cleaners You Didn’t Know About

BBQ cleaners can be expensive and a lot of them are harmful for the environment so we're sharing our top five favourite BBQ cleaners that are cheap and eco friendly! Be sure to read point four if you have a stainless steel BBQ or grill...

1. Vinegar

The best BBQ cleaner around! Vinegar contains 5% acetic acid which kills bacteria and viruses, in other words, gets rid of grime on our barbie. Mix two cups of vinegar with two cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake it up and spray it onto your BBQ. Let it settle then use tin foil to wipe it down.

2. Baking soda

Baking soda is the miracle cleaner that every household should have! Mix a guesstimate amount of baking soda with some water to make a paste. Smear it onto your grill or BBQ and leave it for a couple hours. Wipe it down with a cloth or newspaper and you're left with a BBQ as good as new! Check out this article to find out more about why baking soda is the best cleaner you can have in your kitchen.

3. Lemon and salt

Not only for tequila! Lemon and salt is a great BBQ cleaner. Cut the lemon in half, rub it in some coarse salt and then rub it on your BBQ to scrub the grill.

4. Cleaning your stainless steel grill

Avoid using any brushes or materials that will scratch your BBQ (like steel wool or metal brushes) Clean your BBQ with warm water and soap (see soap recipe below). Use a soft cloth instead. Also remember to keep your BBQ covered! Exposure to moisture is not good for stainless steel.

5. Castile soap

Olive oil is another great BBQ cleaner and this recipe combines olive oil, lye and water to make an eco friendly soap to scrub down your BBQ.

Do you have any BBQ cleaning tips? Share our post or comment below with your ideas and spread the word on these cheap and eco friendly alternatives to clean your BBQ.