It’s summertime down under now and that means days spent outdoors and nights gathered around the fire pit. If you’re planning to sell your home soon, it’s also a good time to consider updating your kitchen with some summer-friendly features.

Here are 5 design ideas to help make your perfect summer kitchen:

1. Build an Outdoor Kitchen

What better way to enjoy the perfect Australian summers than taking things outside? If you’re lucky enough to have a big backyard, consider building an outdoor kitchen. This will let you enjoy the warm weather while you cook and entertain guests.

There are many different ways to go about this, so be sure to consult with a professional before starting construction. You keep it simple with a barbeque or go all out with a woodfire pizza oven. Also, consider installing a sink and mixer to make preparation and clean up a breeze.

Credit: 📷 @emilyobrienstylist and @place_journal

2. Incorporate Open Shelving

Open shelving is a fantastic way to display your home decor and is super functional. When things get busy, it’s nice to be able to spot and grab exactly what you need at a moments notice.

Open shelving works for plates, bowls, mugs and glassware. It’s also handy for showing off your cake holders, serving dishes and favourite cookbooks.

Natural wood gives a Scandinavian-inspired look, but you can match open shelving to suit your colour scheme.

Credit: 📷 @blanchesbaybuild

3. Install A Kitchen Island

A kitchen island is a great way to add some extra storage space as well as a work surface to your kitchen. If you don’t have the luxury of a large kitchen, an island can help to create the feeling of more space and comes in handy when you’re multitasking with guests.

4. Use A Multi-Function Mixer

A multi-function mixer is super useful and the perfect summer kitchen addition. With a flexible mixer neck and swivel base, you can target water exactly where you need it. This is perfect for filling saucepans, washing off vegetables or cleaning dishes.

Stylish tapware will also inject some personality into your kitchen, so while chrome is classic, don’t be afraid to try champagne, matte black, brushed nickel or bronze.

5. Opt For A Large Kitchen Sink

Summer celebration staples like Christmas, New Year’s Day and Australia Day are always something to look forward to. When people plan their renovations, they’ll often think of everything but the kitchen sink!

And whilst it may not be the first thing to come to mind, the kitchen sink is going to get a workout over summer celebrations whether it’s prep work, drink making or quick cleanups. So it’s worthwhile opting for a large kitchen sink if you have the room. There’s a variety of combinations to choose from including one and a half, double, double with a strainer and farmhouse.

Thankfully, kitchen sinks also now come in a range of options from super stylish gunmetal black to brushed nickel or bronze, plus ultra-modern stainless steel or bold copper.

Summer is all about being laidback. The perfect summer kitchen should be a functional, flexible and aesthetic space that lets you enjoy celebrations.

Discover the perfect kitchen accessories at FBI today. We have a diverse range of items that are perfect for the Australian summer kitchen. You can also visit us at our New Farm boutique and speak with one of our design specialists.