Indoor-Outdoor Kitchens for Thai Villas

Heavy wok cooking outdoors keeps smoke and aroma out of the house entirely, and outdoor cooking suits the way people entertain here. The indoor kitchen then becomes a calmer prep and serving space.

Marine-grade plywood or stainless carcasses, 316 stainless hardware, sintered stone or solid surface worktops, and powder-coated or fully sealed timber. Standard indoor cabinetry will not last two rainy seasons in a covered outdoor kitchen.

Even a covered terrace gets driving rain. Plan a generous roof overhang, fall on the worktop away from the wall, a drainage point in the floor and weatherproof outdoor-rated sockets with RCD protection.

The outdoor kitchen should take the heat and the mess; the indoor one takes refrigeration, fine prep and serving. Deciding which appliances live where at the design stage avoids duplicating everything expensively.