The recent years of self-isolation caused by the pandemic, closed borders, and impossibility to travel as a consequence made us to take a fresh look at countryside holidays within the country. And I must say, this can have a huge number of advantages. It’s no secret that the kitchen is the heart of any house while the summer kitchen is the symbol of country rest.
We have collected simple tips for arranging an open summer kitchen that will help make this place not only cozy, but also comfortable. Agree, it is much more pleasant to relax when everything needed is nearby and you do not need to go into the house to cook something.
And the first thing to mention here is choosing the appropriate outdoor dining table. The choice can be made between wooden outdoor furniture or plastic or metal furniture or rattan outdoor furniture as an alternative.
Let’s try to compare the pros and cons of each of them.
Wooden furniture should be made of unpretentious moisture-resistant species, such as teak and oak.
It’s resistant to temperature changes, environmentally friendly and easy to use: there is a wide range of foldable wooden furniture on the market that is easy to carry in case of sudden bad weather. At the same time it can suffer from inevitable burnout and low moisture resistance, even well-treated wood quickly swells from moisture and cracks over time.
Plastic furniture outperforms wooden furniture in terms of price and care.
However, it must be made of high-quality plastic that does not contain toxins and harmful substances. It has democratic price, moisture resistance and offers a variety of designs and color options. But it’s worth remembering that scratches and scuffs on a plastic surface cannot be removed and plastic quickly heats up under the sun so it will be better to use special pillows on chairs.
Metal furniture looks reliable and expensive.
Forged iron tables and chairs have earned the greatest popularity on the market. The frame of the furniture is made of stainless steel or aluminum, the seats are covered with artificial or natural leather, and the tabletops are made of glass or wood. It can boast high strength and stability but has obvious disadvantages: it is better to install such furniture on a stone surface: it scratches the wooden floor, falls into the ground and also can suffer from rust. And the high price has to be mentioned as it can stop you from buying.
Rattan furniture is luxurious wickerwork made from peeled stems of Calamus, a tropical liana from Southeast Asia.
Calamus is an amazingly hard material. In Asia, household items are made from it, moreover it is used even while building bridges or even buildings! It’s environmentally friendly, resistant to moisture, has low weight and democratic price. Among minuses – can be deformed while affected by sun.
The greener the better
Hedges and greenscreens will allow you to adjust the view of the site, for example, block the view of the garden or a fence. In addition, plants will help zone the space, freshen up the kitchen and hide imperfections in the finish, such as old foundations or cracks in the walls.
Place your lights evenly
The light in the summer kitchen should be soft and evenly distributed. Do not be afraid to light up the room with different lamps: wall and floor lamps, hanging chandeliers, plain garlands. It is important to install lighting both above the dining and above the working areas. This will help to correctly delimit the space. It is better to make a choice for unpretentious landscape gardening lamps with special protection against water. When choosing sources for outdoor lighting, you should pay attention to solar-powered lamps and portable battery-powered lamps that are moved freely from place to place.
Choose decorative textiles
Carefully selected textiles will help to refresh the interior, add bright accents to it. These are colored pillows on chairs, and rugs on chairs, and napkins or a tablecloth on the table. The finishing touch is curtains or light tulle on the cornice.
Put things in order in the work area
An outdoor summer kitchen needs the same care as a home kitchen. In order not to clutter up the workspace, organize devices and accessories into compact organizers. Those items that you rarely use are best placed in boxes.
The summer kitchen will become the “heart” of your site, and you can spend time there from early spring to late autumn for cozy evenings with soulful talks and songs to the guitar and preparing an excellent barbecue.
