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.

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 meat cuts!

Wood Smoking Chart

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

Poisonous Wood

It'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

Jay 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

8 Modern Bathroom Vanities That Will Make You Go Wow

You bathroom vanity needs to support a lot of different activities and items. You need enough storage to store your toiletries, the right size basin for hand or face washing (you might even have two basins) plug points for shaving and hair straightening, the list goes on! If you're building or renovating and looking for a bathroom vanity upgrade check out these 8 modern bathroom vanities that will make you go wow...

Empty Vessels

This vanity was designed and built by Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens. A simple modern vanity is built from Rosegum timber and furnished with two vessel basins. Storage space exists in the two drawers below and on either side of these.

Built for Two

This stylish vanity is both aesthetically beautiful and functional with spacious basins and plenty of storage space. The contrasting black walls and vanity accessories against the white ceramic counter top basin and counter top and timber drawers makes this vanity extremely eye catching.

Rustic Beauty

This contemporary, rustic style vanity can be taken on as a DIY project. Simple timber storage custom made to include a  self-rimming sink. If your bathroom is compact and doesn't allow for much space to install an elaborate vanity, this is the way to go.

Industrial Style

We love this industrial style bathroom vanity. If you're wanting to achieve an industrial or vintage look in your bathroom you'll achieve this through three key features/materials: black polished concrete, pendent or bulb lighting and copper accessories. Pipe exposure works well too.

Glamourous

You can usually capture a glamorous look with the right mirror. It's big, intricately bordered and typically gold, silver or black. This classy vanity has gorgeous black walls and cabinets contrasted with a white counter top and vessel sink with touches of silver in the mirror and accessories.

Modern and Simple

Bulk basins give a modern feel, while the timber cabinets makes this vanity cosy and slightly more traditional. The simple mirrors add a bit of edge to the bathroom and the pendant lighting provides ample lighting for all your vanity needs!

Minimalist

Big fan of this minimalist bathroom vanity.  A square vessel sink above a beautiful walnut finished timber accompanied by a sleek and simple mirror.

Kitchen Wine Storage Ideas

Last week we shared the best places to store wine at home. In this blog, we'll share some super cool kitchen wine storage ideas.

Island Life

Re-purpose your kitchen island to accommodate wine. Keep it simple with a shallow, trellis style rack for several bottles or go all out and install a wine cooler within your kitchen island.

 

Rack it Up

Utilise free cabinet space to store wine by installing shelving to accommodate your wine. This is suitable for home owners who'd like to store their wine collection, without taking up too much space. This idea is less work than re-purposing your kitchen island and looks really slick and modern.

Cabernet Cabinets

If you have excessive cupboard space you're looking to fill, turn that space into a wine storage area. Depending on your level of experience, this idea is totally achievable as a DIY job. Try fitting the cabinets with timber shelving and/or steel racks to hold your wine collection.

Pull Out a Piccolo

Probably the cheapest and easiest kitchen wine storage idea is utilising drawer space to store your wine. You can use a fridge tidier to stop the bottles from rolling around the drawer. Make sure you test the weight of the drawer before loading it up with wine. We suggest using the bottom drawers, as you should avoid heavy top drawers Wine drawers can also be custom made, specially for wine bottles too.

READ: Kitchen Drawer Ideas

Counter Offer

If you've got the counter space grab yourself a wine rack that can simply be placed on your kitchen counter.

Creative

There are some awesome custom designed wine racks that can be placed on the wall or left as a standalone feature in your kitchen or even your lounge.

Best Places to Store Wine at Home

With an abundance of delicious wines at our door step, every South Aussie home deserves a special place for a wine collection.  This blog covers the best places to store wine at home...

Choosing a wine cabinet is pretty much down to two things:

1. Personal preference: style, design, how it fits with the rest of the room's decor.

2. Space: how much wine you want to store. Depending on how much wine you drink (or like to collect) you might opt for a simple 12 bottle rack.

Choosing the right place for your wine cabinet or cooler requires a little more consideration.

Bad Locations to Store Wine at Home

Avoid locations that:

• Have too much light
• Insufficient ventilation
• Fluctuations in temperature

Wine deteriorates under light. It could be natural light or electric lights. Either way - avoid placing your wine cooler in an area that receives a lot of light. Avoid placing your cooler by a window for instance. If you're running out of dark spaces in the house, somewhere with minimal light is okay, as long as the light isn't on for long periods of time.

Keep the surrounding temperature as constant as you can. You might find an office at the back of your house tends to stay cooler than other areas of the house or is more constant in its temperature.

Make sure the area around your wine stock is well ventilated.

Best Locations to Store Wine at Home

A Cellar

Not everyone has the space to build or accommodation their own wine cellar. But if you do, there are 4 tips to remember when building your wine cellar:

1. Remember to check the temperature of the cellar all year round. People often assume an underground cellar is cool all year round, but this isn't always the case.

2. Install climate control equipment to manage the temperature of the cellar. Using a traditional aircon will use up a lot of electricity and will only keep temperatures low, rather than adjusting to outside temperatures.

3. Install adequate installation to reduce the amount of energy the climate controller uses.

4. Carefully select a door that assists in keeping the room at the right temperature.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is the most convenient place to store your wine. It's easily accessible when serving guests and kitchens typically have enough space to accommodate a wine rack or cabinet. There are some real nifty ways to store wine in your kitchen which we'll share in next week's blog!

The Dining Room

Another convenient location, especially if you host a lot of dinner parties and/or frequently use your dining area. Dining room cabinets are a great place for storing wine. Just remember to keep it away from a window or any direct electric light.

Under the Stairs

The next best thing if you don't have a cellar but have a two-storey home. It's usually junk that takes up space in the cupboard below the stairs - ditch the junk and install a wine cellar under your stairs.

The Living Room

If you tend to consume your bottles of red in front of the telly, the living room may be the right place for your wine cooler. Like the kitchen and dining room, the living room is also a convenient place to store your wine. It can also be a cool feature for the room.