DIY guide to outdoor kitchen
(Our outdoor kitchen, used for cooking and when having guests over in the summer)
How to make your own outdoor kitchen
An outdoor kitchen makes the cosy summer night on the terrace or in the garden even better. There's something amazing about cooking your food outside - plus you don't need to run in and out of the terrace door.
The guide underneath is for the base of the kitchen with a table top. You can add to the kitchen or insert a gas burner, sink, and water access as you please.
Materials for an outdoor kitchen
(The creation of the outdoor kitchen. Here you see the base including letters based on the guide below)
Guide to the kitchen section
Wooden beading:
- 36 beadings of 610x21x43 mm (A)
- 8 beadings of 670x21x21 mm (B)
- Distance block of 30 mm
45x45 mm laths:
- 8 legs of 84 cm (C)
- 8 stabilising cross braces of 61 cm (D)
- 2 top pieces of 180 cm (E)
- 6 stablising cross braces of 54 cm (F)
Black MDF boards of 19 mm:
- Table top of 180x70 cm (G)
- Bottom plate of 180x60 cm (H)
- Shelf of 121,5x60 cm (I)
- If wanted, one section shelves of 63x60 cm
Screws and mounts:
- 20 angle fittings of 40x60x60 mm
- A bunch of screws between 30 and 70 mm
Guide to the bench section
45x45 mm laths:
- 2 top pieces of 180 cm (E)
- 4 stablising cross braces of 61 cm (D)
- 4 stablising cross braces of 85,5 cm (J)
- 4 legs of 39 cm (K)
Black MDF board of 19 mm:
- Board of 180x70 cm (L)
Screws and mounts:
- 14 angle fittings of 40x60x60 mm
- A bunch of screws between 40 and 50 mm
Other items
- Wood glue
- Black protective wood paint
- Clear furniture lacquer or marine coating
- If wanted, gas burner or bottle
Step by step guide to your outdoor kitchen
Step 1: Start by cutting all wooden pieces and MDF boards into the right sizes, and sort them into piles in order to make it easier for yourself in the long run.
Step 2: Lacquer your MDF boards and let them dry while building the base - it's optional to lacquer it again after a second sanding.
Step 3: Mark 10 cm from the bottom of the legs (C) where the stabilising cross braces (D and F) will be placed.
Step 4: Mount the lowest D stabilising cross brace on two legs (C) with wood glue and a 70 mm screw as shown on the drawing (10 cm from the bottom). Repeat four times. See the drawing below.
Step 5: See the drawing below.
Put the 4 sections together with the 6 (F) stablising cross brace. Enhance all of the parts that meet with angle fittings and 40 mm screws.
Step 6: See the drawing below.
Screw the two top pieces (E) onto the base with 70 mm screws from the top, and mount the four top (D) stablising cross braces. Enhance with angle fittings.
The base is now done, hopefully steady and level. It's time to add to the base.
Step 7: See the drawing below.
Pre drill into the beadings (B) in three places and attach to the legs (C) with wood glue and 50 mm screws. Attach them exactly 21 mm from the edge, so that the attachment (A = 21 mm thick) will align with the legs (C), once attached.
Step 8: See the drawing below.
Attach the sides with the (A) pieces by pre drilling and mounting with 30 mm screws into the beading (B). Use a distance block of 30 mm to ensure the same distance between the beadings.
Now the kitchen section only needs a table top and shelves, that should be dry by now.
Step 9: Add the table top and make sure it fits the base perfectly. Screw from below with 60 mm screws.
Step 10: Place the shelves where you want them to be by pushing them into one of the cuts from the side of the kitchen.
Step 11: You can now sow a hole into the table top and immerse the gas burner, if you have one. Remember to drill a hole for the gas wire in order to have a gas bottle below.
Now that the kitchen is done, it's a good idea to place it where you want it to be with an extending bench.
Step 12: Attach a stabilising cross brace (D) on two legs (K) in the same way that you did step 3 and 4. Repeat once more, and you have two sections.
Step 13: See the drawing below:
Attach two angle fittings 10 cm up the two legs (C) that turn against the bench. Repeat 39 cm above.
Step 14: Add the two sections of the previous step with the kitchen furniture by attaching the four pieces of (J).
Step 15: Screw the lang top pieces (E) from above with a 70 mm screw.
Step 17: Screw the board (L) onto the base from below with 60 mm screws.
The outdoor kitchen and the bench is now done, but if you want you can paint the whole thing with black wood paint. If you're smart, you could paint all of the wood before putting everything together.
Enjoy!