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Outdoor living is gaining in importance and cooking is moving outdoors with it. Nothing wrong with a cozy barbecue, but for those who want to excel culinarily, there are more and more options today. The trend of full-fledged outdoor kitchens continues unabated, with high-end solutions that perfectly combine culinary possibilities, comfort and, not least, high-quality aesthetics.
Along with the growing demand, the range of outdoor kitchens is also steadily expanding. First of all, there are the customization specialists and the brands that focus exclusively on the outdoors. In addition, we see more and more patio furniture providers who have added an outdoor kitchen to their range. Finally, quite a few international kitchen labels are now also entering the terrace with conviction. A trend we would like to explore in more detail. What is striking here is that many outdoor kitchens are derived from existing indoor concepts, but are technically adapted for outdoor use, with durable and weather-resistant materials.
In the Italian kitchen landscape, among others, outdoor kitchens are convincingly gaining further ground. From Boffi, the K6 Outdoor, designed by Norbert Wangen, is a further development of the earlier models in the iconic K series. This one translates the concept of the monolithic kitchen to the outdoor space. The design is characterized by a sleek, sculptural volume in stainless steel and Corian, in which cooking, rinsing and work functions are fully integrated. A striking feature is the sliding worktop that can cover the functions while creating additional work or serving space. When closed, the unit looks like a sleek volume, which further enhances the architectural character of the outdoor kitchen. For its part, Scavolini has the Formalia Outdoor, a weatherproof version of the successful indoor concept designed by Vittore Niolu. The sturdy aluminum frame and worktop with integrated sink form the basis, while there is a choice of two finishes for the fronts: stainless steel for a high-tech look or teak-look Okoume plywood for a warmer, natural look.
Modular kitchen concepts are also scoring outdoors. Giuseppe Bavuso designed the K-Garden outdoor kitchen for Ernestomeda, presented at Milan Design Week 2026. The different modules - for cooking, preparing, rinsing and eating - turn the outdoor kitchen into a fully-fledged living and meeting place in the garden. Thanks to durable materials such as stainless steel, natural stone and solid wood, the kitchen is weather-resistant and at the same time forms an architectural piece of furniture that blends perfectly into the outdoor environment. Finally, also beautiful and modular is the Frame Kitchen, which Salvatore Indriolo designed for Fantin, known for its colorfully lacquered steel furniture. Originally designed for indoor use, the kitchen also comes in an outdoor version, with a custom paint treatment that prevents rust and provides protection. Available in 20 colors, the outdoor kitchen can be composed of two or three modules, complemented by an integrated barbecue. The visible metal frame is the distinctive design element here. The modular construction allows for far-reaching personalization and allows the outdoor kitchen to be fully coordinated with the architecture of the outdoor space. The kitchen thus becomes not only the warm heart of the house, but also of the garden.
