Multi-material Benchtops

You want the building materials to complement your home’s style, look good and be functional too. It’s not always easy to get all those boxes ticked, which is why picking materials is usually a big headache for home renovators. But what if we told you that there are no rules and you could have both. YES PLEASE! Here are some totally inspiring example of home owners who totally owned multi-material benchtops in their kitchen…

When Timber met Concrete

Timber is classic, warm and traditional. Concrete is modern, cool and sexy. Put the two together and you’ve got yourself a practical, gorgeous, eclectic mix of beauty and durability. If you love the timber look but want to avoid water and ding damage by having it as a benchtop, extend a space where timber can be used a table alongside a polished concrete benchtop. Polished concrete as a building material is strong, durable and highly water resistant (when sealed correctly.)

Yelling Timber

If you don’t have the space for an extended table to complement your benchtop, why not use both to crate your island or benchtops. Timber below, polished concrete on top. The chunky look works well for modern or industrial, while the sleek timber suits the more modern/contemporary style.

Timber on Top

If concrete tops are too harsh for your kitchen’s style, switch it up and use timber instead. A simple timber top or waterfall ends looks classy and classic.

Steel Some Colour

Timber, stainless steel and polished concrete are by far the safer options when it comes to kitchen building materials, but many home owners have been turning up the spectrum and getting more colour into their kitchen. Laminate kitchen worktops or cabinets with stainless steel makes for a clean, modern and refreshing kitchen look.

Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens

If you’re renovating or re-building your kitchen, we’d love to help. Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens is a locally owned and operated business helping South Aussies create more memories in their kitchens.

copper in the kitchen

Whether it’s polished, worn or just painted plastic – copper looks amazing in a kitchen! A natural material that can be dressed up or down depending on your kitchen’s style. From industrial to traditional, modern to contemporary, copper in the kitchen seems to work with ease, every time. Here’s some inspiration go get some copper in the kitchen…

Pots, Pans and Cookware

Probably the easiest way to incorporate copper into your kitchen is with crockery, cutlery and cookware. Open shelving can nicely display these in your kitchen. Alternatively, they can be hung on hooks or on the ceiling.Copper in the Kitchen - Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens

Lighting

Throwing up some lighting is another easy way to get some copper in your kitchen. Again, the material works well in any style from sleek and modern to industrial and traditional. Unlike a metal like stainless steel, copper adds real warmth to a room.

Copper Splashback

A bigger job, but worth the effort. Not only does copper look splendid as a splashback, but it durable, practical and wears well with age. Research also shows that copper is more germ resistant than stainless steel.

Copper Taps and Sinks

For a subtle inclusion of copper in the kitchen, try a tap or sink (or both). Copper is really easy to clean and doesn’t require expensive or environmentally unfriendly products to clean. Mild soap and water generally does the trick!

Benchtops

We’ve already mentioned that copper is easy to clean, wears well and is naturally antimicrobial. All these really tick the boxes for a benchtop, although it is easily scratched and dented. As long as you’re happy to add a bit of character to it – that’s okay! Copper benchtops come in a sleek or bulky design and look absolutely stunning in the kitchen.

Are you renovating your home or kitchen? Get in touch with us today to get a FREE quote for your kitchen.

Minimalist-kitchens

Minimalism as a life choice and home style has become a popular trend around the world. Chunky rugs and
throws have been replaced with basic furniture. Scatter cushions have been packed up, leaving clutter free
couches. And gone are the times when we displayed our appliances on our benchtop. As home owners look
to reduce their carbon footprint and live on less, minimalist homes and minimalist kitchens have become a
popular choice.So what makes a minimalist kitchen? Is it the colour? The finishes? The fittings? We’ve
defined a minimalist kitchen as a kitchen that only contains the bare essentials. And also a little bit by the
colour. Nothing more than the few utensils, crockery and cutlery you need to function in the kitchen. A
minimalist kitchen does’t contain bread or ice cream makers, waffle machines or any other appliance
you may have purchases on whim while watching day time TV.

Here are five minimalist kitchens we love…

“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s yous master piece after all.”

The colours of this kitchen definitely assist with that minimalist feel. Light grey cabinets, light coloured laminate
wooden floors and a white marble benchtop create an open, airy and tranquil space that helps achieve that
minamlist look. The benchtop is not completely clear but it only contains the essentials (no blenders,
toasters or kettles). The shelving is kept uncluttered too. The clear pendant lighting is simple and
understated which contributes to the style too.

“I’d rather have extra space than extra stuff.”

Again we see light colours used in this modern minimalist kitchen. Light laminate wooden flooring provides a bit
of warmth against the sheer white bench tops and cabinets. The benchtop is kept almost completely clear with
only a few tea and coffee containers and small pot plants which add colour to the room. Shelving has been built
into the island which helps keep clutter off the top. Appliances are kept hidden away.

“Minimalism is an appreciation of space.”

Aside from the shoes and train set, this kitchen is clutter free. Although they have their kitchenware visible, you’ll
notice the only have what they need (four plates, eight glasses, one wine holder, etc.) The more unnecessary
kitchenware you build up, the harder it is to maintain the minimalist look. A kitchen like this could easily accommodate
a single person, couple or small family.

“Less is more.”

And now for something completely different. A minimalist kitchen in a darker shade works too. The secret to this kitchens minimalism is the available storage space/cabinets to keep clutter and appliances out of sight. The kitchen is lightened by the light timber benchtop, breakfast bar stools and flooring.

Are you wanting to revamp your kitchen to have a more minimalist style? Get in touch with Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens for a free quote.

Minimalist Kitchen Tips

Last week we posted some totally amazing minimalist kitchens. This week we’re offering some minimalist tips
on how you can achieve the minimalist look in your kitchen. Bear in mind that a minimalist kitchen doesn’t only
look good but it helps you keep your kitchen clean. If there’s less clutter, there’s less dust which means less
cleaning – it’s a win win situation!

Keep your benchtop clear

This tip has the biggest impact, but is probably the hardest one to stick with. Your kitchen is often the heart
of your home and where you might find yourself dumping a lot of your things at the end of the day. As hard
as it may seem at first, resist the urge to put your stuff on the kitchen benchtop. Instead, set up a place
(preferably near the door) where you can offload.
READ: 6 ways to create more benchtop space

Hide appliances

Pack away any appliances you don’t use often (blender, waffle maker, toasting machine, etc.) leaving only
the essentials on your benchtop (usually a coffee machine/kettle and toaster).READ: Kitchen drawer ideas

Keep the fridge clutter free

A lot of notes, reminders, brochures, etc. end up on fridges. This can often make the kitchen look cluttered. Rather
than pinning your reminders on the fridge, pop them into your phone or make use of a chalk board – this
will also help add some character to your kitchen. Hidden fridges can also keep a minimalist look.
READ: Hidden fridges
Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens - Minimalist Kitchen Tips
De-clutter and donate
Go through your cupboards and drawers and give away or donate any items you no longer use. This will create more
space for you to keep more organised.READ: 8 Kitchen storage and organisation must haves

Integrate storage baskets and dividers

Placing your cupboard, drawer and/or benchtop items in storage baskets or dividers helps keep the kitchen tidy.
Pull down the old spice rack from the wall (READ: Spice rack storage ideas) and neaten up your pantry cupboard
with some baskets. (READ: Pantry storage pros and cons)

Keep decor simple

Stick with one interior design style (modern, contemporary, industrial, etc.) Mixing up too many styles can start to
look messy. Avoid placing too many ornaments or decor around the kitchen as these only create busyness and
collect dust.

Are you working on achieving the minimalist look in your kitchen? We can help. Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens
specialise in affordable, custom made kitchens for home owners wanting a clean and modern look in their
kitchen. Get a FREE quote today!

Meat Smoking 101 : A Beginners Guide to Smokin’ it Up!

Low ‘N’ Slow barbecuing has taken the world by storm. Meat smoking enthusiasts are testing out the different meats, flavours, wood and smokers that can be used to create an endless onslaught of delicious food. We can see what all the fuss is about! Smoking meat significantly improves the taste, softens the meat and adds immense flavour! Want to hop on the meat smoking train? Here’s where to start. Here’s our Meat Smoking 101: A Beginners Guide to Smokin’ it Up!

What’s the difference between a BBQ and a smoker?

Great question! Unlike BBQs, where food is placed directly over a hot flame or coals, smokers use ‘low and slow’ heat combined with the moisture and smoke to cook the meat. Sure, this takes longer, but the results are so delicious you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it the whole time. Speaking of time, it takes between two to three hours depending on the cut of meat. The average consistent temperature should be between 100 – 120 degrees Celsius.

What’s cold smoking?

Cold smoking is a technique used by people or businesses looking to preserve the life of the meat. They cook it for an extended amount of time at 30 degrees Celsius. Meat needs to be carefully cured before cold smoking. The food actually remains raw and moist as opposed to hot smoking which smokes the meat to cooked perfection. Cold smoking is a technique that should only be done by professionals.Hot smoking on the other hand doesn’t require curing and cooks the meat, ready to serve!

Smoker styles

There are three type of smokers on the market – gas, charcoal and electric.Charcoal smokers we reckon are the best. It’s how the South Africans do it! READ: South African Style BBQ. Charcoal smoke gives a way better smoky flavour that gas or electric. Read this article to learn about controlling temperatures of your charcoal smoker.Electric smokers are super easy to use. Simply set the temperature and grab a seat for two hours.Gas smokers are also pretty easy to use. They run off LP gas and just need to be set to a temperature and monitored to make sure it doesn’t run out of gas.

Offset smokers

This classic smoker design is probably one of the most popular in the market. Food is placed in a long horizontal cylinder with a fire box with coals, wood and fire alongside it. The smoke from the firebox filtrates into the horizontal compartment to slowly cook the meat.

Ceramic smokers

Ceramic smokers offer a bit more versatility. You can grill and smoke food in a ceramic smoker efficiency. They’re also low on fuel.

Check out this 5 minute clip from the Australasian Barbecue Alliance – a Low ‘N’ Slow BBQ Smokers Guide.

Meat-smoking-wood-and-charcoal-cooking

Here are some useful tips for meat smoking wood and charcoal cooking for you to take your meat smoking
game to the next level.In our last blog post we shared some hot tips to get you smokin’. READ: Meat Smoking
101: A Beginners Guide to Smokin’ it Up! This week’s post is covering the different types of wood. Smokers and
barbecuers are actually talking more about the type of wood used than they are about the

Wood Smoking Chart

Use this wood smoking chart to source recommended wood for your smokin’ food.

Poisonous WoodIt’s really important to note that some woods are potentially poisonous. These include but are
not limited to:
Pine
Fir
Spruce
Redwood
Cedar
Cypress
Elm
Eucalyptus
Sassafras
Sycamore
Liquid Amber

Australian Wood

Australia has some excellent native wood perfect for smoking food. These include:
• Ironbark
• Apple
• Oak
• Manuka
• Cherry
• Chestnut
• Macadamia
• Black wattle
• Peach
• Nectarine
• Pecan

Meat Smoking SHOULD Dos

ay Beaumont, from the Australasian Barbecue Alliance shares some key SHOULD DOs in his blog feature which
are also listed below:
For hardwoods like gum or boxes, strip the bark from the wood and dry it out so there is no moisture in the wood.
Make sure your wood is seasoned well. Seasoned is a term used to describe the drying out process of the wood.
Most fruit and nut woods can be half seasoned, but should not be used freshly cut. You can also soak fruit woods
as they can burn quite quickly.Get your fire pit to a good middle ground. It shouldn’t be smouldering nor raging, but
rather somewhere in between.If wood is green, try split it to help with the seasoning process.Clean out your
firebox after each use.

4-spring-outdoor-living-area-trends

With spring only 44 days away we thought we’d share some spring outdoor living area trends to spruce up your
home in time for spring. Transform your patio into a Zen garden, liven your veranda with recycled items and
plants or freshen it up with some vintage furniture. Here’s some ideas to create a relaxing, functional and eye-
catching outdoor living area.

Zen Garden

A simple water feature, some pebbles and low maintenance succulents can transform your outdoor living area into
a peaceful Zen garden.
READ:
Low maintenance plants for your outdoor area. Add some outdoor furniture or a meditation bench for seating and a
fire pit for those cooler spring evenings.
READ: Outdoor fire pits. The great thing about a Zen garden is that you can go as small or as big as you like. A small
Japanese inspired Zen garden can be designed for one corner of your living area, leaving the rest as is. Alternatively,
multiple water features, statues and timber structures can be built for the full Zen experience.

Vintage Vibes

Place reclaimed materials or second-hand furniture (chairs, tables, a chest of drawers, etc.) in your outdoor living area
to add some character and a vintage touch. Tile pebbles and decor like old vases and vintage posters can also work
well outdoors too.READ: Add a vintage look to a modern kitchen

A Touch of Teal

According to Bourn Creative, Teal is associated with meanings of refreshing, feminine, calming, sophisticated, energy,
wisdom, serenity, wholeness, creativity, emotional balance, good luck, spiritual grounding, friendship, love, joy,
tranquillity, patience, intuition, and loyalty. All pretty good associations to inspire your outdoor area! Teal is a trending
colour indoors and outdoors at the moment used to reflect an organic lifestyle in the home. It’s also the perfect
balance of warm and calm to use in your home or outdoor area.

Rustle up the Rustic

Reclaimed timber, chunky rugs and patterned throw cushions are the key ingredients for a rustic outdoor living area.
Use warm colours like red and forest green paired with white and black as your colour scheme and
incorporate some unusual outdoor lighting to brighten up the area at night time. Here are some great alternative
lighting tips.

vegetarian-bbq-recipes-every-veggo-needs-to-know

Our meat lovers got a lot of content last month with our Meat Smoking 101 and Meat Smoking Wood and CharcoalCooking blog so this one goes out to all the veggos out there. Despite common beliefs, vegetarian BBQs can oftenbe a lot more vibrant and nutritional than normal BBQs. With a wide variety of produce available and some reallyfresh and creative recipes out there you’d be silly not to try a vegetarian BBQ! Here are our favourite vegetarian BBQrecipes:

Zucchini Fritters

Sure, there’s the vegetarian burger, but the zucchini fritter blows a standard veggie patty right outta the water!They’re also a lot easier to make.

4 medium sizes zucchinis2 eggs1/3 cup of spring onionTwo pinches of mintSalt and pepper1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese2/3 cups of flourA hand full of bread crumbsGrate and drain excess water from the zucchinis and mix in the rest! Mould the mixture into balls and gently pressinto a patty shape. Grill on the BBQ and serve with yogurt.

Feta, Chilli and Lime Butter

Perfect for smothering over corn on the cob (or anything else really). Mash up some butter, crumble feta andadd lime zest, chilli and salt and pepper if needed.

Roasted Butternut Cous Cous Salad

This is a family recipe that wins the best side at every BBQ I go to! Chop and roast up some butternut with garlic,salt and pepper. While its roasting, dice spring onion and red capsicum and prepare the cous cous (see box forinstructions). Combine all ingredients and add feta and baby spinach.

Sweet and Spicy Grilled Eggplant

Thinly slice some eggplant (however many are needed).Make a marinade from:

Balsamic vinegarFresh chilliSaltGinger (a pinch or two)Sugar (a teaspoon or two)Soak the eggplant in the marinade for 1 hour. It should be soft enough to cook but not too sloppy. Grill on the BBQand serve with a fresh rocket, pear and walnut salad.