With the weather heating up and this summer looking to be a Covid-safe alfresco affair, an outdoor kitchen is a must-have. But it doesn't have to be expensive – in fact, one savvy DIYer has managed to create one for just £40.
Instagrammer Belle Rogers (@designermumetc) upcycled leftover materials and unused furniture to create a stylish prep and cooking space on a serious budget. Now, she's revealed how she created her new outdoor room so you can do the same.
The before
The seed of the idea came from something similar Belle saw on Pinterest, and she was keen to build her own in a blank space in her garden. 'Our actual kitchen is at the other end of the house, so it made sense to have this around the entertaining/patio area,' says Belle.
The process
Belle used leftover materials and spare furniture to create the new kitchen. 'We had left-over wood from our pergola, tiles from our patio and bathroom, and slabs from the patio area around the back,' she says.
'The main metal frame is an old desk from our office and the cabinet doors and shelves were made using old wooden pallets. I also had leftover paint! It only really cost me the ironmongery for the doors and the hooks/utensil rail, which cost about £40 in total.'
The after
The finished kitchen features shelves and cupboards to store outdoor-proof essentials, a section for log storage, and a rail with hooks to hang utensils or decorations. A compact pizza oven sits atop the worktop, and a pergola overhead helps to keep the space shaded.
- Keep reading: How to build a pergola
All that's left is to paint the shelves, put latches on the doors and add a few finishing touches – but Belle's already had friends around to test out the space. We can't wait to see what she does next – and if you want to follow along, check out her other projects on Instagram, including a new outdoor bathing area that's perfect for hot summer days.
-
8 covered outdoor kitchen ideas to guard your grill in styleThese covered outdoor kitchen ideas are perfect if you fancy a little alfresco cooking but want to protect your expensive equipment and shelter yourself from the elements
-
How to use coffee grounds in gardening – the hacks that work and the ones that don'tUsing coffee grounds in gardening helps soil and plant health. Learn about effective ways to turn your coffee waste into garden treasure – and be aware of the common coffee grounds myths
-
Before and after: This stylish outdoor kitchen was built from scratchYou'd never know this was a DIY job!
