Having religiously been studying your videos trying to dial in my own plans (while getting some excellent guidance and ideas from Jody), I've noticed a surprisingly high number of kitchens that choose not to have a sink in them. If the kitchen is just off the main house or utility room, i can understand this. Or if space is at a real premium. But i see so many lovely kitchens that have chosen not to have a sink, when for me this seems really important (now that i've thought about it a lot, when at first i didn't see the need). Hand washing, general tidying up of the work area ... i'm wondering if there is a general reason for this, or if its something often overlooked and then regretted?
Appreciate any thoughts ... especially anything around drainage for when you can't connect to a real drain (does a soakaway suffice for the relatively small amount of sink water that will go down it?).
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! We're so pleased you're finding our videos useful. 😊
When it comes to sinks, it ultimately boils down to the client's preference. Some may opt not to have one if their outdoor kitchen is conveniently close to an indoor sink, or simply because they prefer the aesthetic without it. Additionally, if clients don't plan on cooking complex dishes in their outdoor kitchen, there will be less of a need for a sink due to less washing up.
However, we totally agree with you and would definitely recommend including a sink for several reasons: handwashing convenience, easier kitchen cleaning, accessible drinking water, keeping mess outdoors, and the added benefit of spending more time outdoors with guests while entertaining. A sink also helps turn the outdoor kitchen into a fully functional space, independent of the indoor kitchen appliances.
Regarding drainage options, a soakaway can indeed get the job done. They're designed to manage smaller volumes of water and serve as a great solution when connecting to a real drain isn't feasible.
If you're considering adding a sink to your outdoor kitchen, we'd be more than happy to discuss it further and explore design ideas together. Just let us know!
Thanks again for reaching out.
Best regards,
Jess