Is there anything better than spending a summer evening enjoying an outdoor meal with your loved ones? We don’t think so, and neither do the Italians. In Italy, families understand the value of gathering together outside to enjoy food and togetherness during the warm weather months, which is why they’ve perfected the art of luxury outdoor kitchens. Not only does an outdoor kitchen add value to your home, it also helps you make the most of both your indoor and outdoor space, so you can have the most luxurious gathering space possible all year long.
Italian vs. American Outdoor Kitchen Design
When it comes to outdoor kitchen design, it shouldn’t surprise you that we here at NOLI are fans of the Italian style, which incorporates elements like stone and wood veneers for a natural look that fits in with the outdoor surroundings to create a comfortable, upscale space for your summer meals.
By contrast, the American approach to outdoor kitchen patios often requires creating a low retaining wall or structure – about countertop height – and inserting outdoor appliances into that structure.
The Italian style is more modular, with stainless steel cabinetry as the main structures. With outdoor cabinetry, the fronts can be powder coated in color, finished steel or with treated wood or a stone veneer applied to achieve an elegant, European flair that fits in perfectly with the natural surroundings of your outdoor space. And of course, all of this would be weatherproofed in order to keep your custom cabinetry safe from the elements all year long.
Once the basic structure of your outdoor kitchen is established, then we get to the fun stuff: built-ins.
Personalizing Your Outdoor Kitchen
Thanks to the modular, cabinetry-focused design of the Italian outdoor kitchen, built-ins are just another way you can create the customized outdoor space of your dreams. This can include built-in sinks, grills, or even pizza ovens, to make your outdoor paradise perfect for whatever type of cooking you plan to do there. When it comes to the Italian style, it’s all about taking the indoors outdoors. The thought process is simple: your outdoor kitchen should be an extension of your interior kitchen, with just a sliding door to separate you from your indoor and outdoor space.
When designing an upscale Italian-inspired outdoor kitchen, we like to think about taking an indoor look and making it more robust, while also adding weather proofing so that you can enjoy a beautiful, functional product for as long as weather allows. (And hey – if you want to add a covered pergola or heat lamps to keep the outdoor party going come rain, sleet, or shine, we can totally help!)
Work with NOLI to Create Your Perfect Outdoor Kitchen Patio.
Ready to start enjoying summer meals in your own luxury outdoor kitchen? NOLI is available and has the expertise you need to design the perfect outdoor kitchen patio for your home. Come to our Cincinnati showroom where you can see an example of some of our gorgeous outdoor kitchen cabinetry in person, or contact us online to get started.
And maybe start stocking up on the bug spray – we have a feeling you’ll be spending a lot more time outdoors very soon 😉
