8 Ways to Connect Your Kitchen to the Garden
Want to enjoy your outside space from inside? Check out how these schemes make the connection
Amanda Pollard
9 March 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
There are a number of ways you can link your kitchen and garden, from a simple window to an entire wall and roof of glazing. Would any of these ideas help you bring a touch of nature into your home?
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Widen your horizons
One of the most effective ways to bring the outside into your kitchen is to open up the entire back wall. Here, the designers have created a full-width opening and installed bifold doors, which concertina back to connect the kitchen to the outside.
The great thing about doors like this is that, once open, it’s almost as if the garden is a continuation of the interior. The flush flooring in this scheme adds to the feeling, with the floorboards inside almost seamlessly giving way to decking outside.
One of the most effective ways to bring the outside into your kitchen is to open up the entire back wall. Here, the designers have created a full-width opening and installed bifold doors, which concertina back to connect the kitchen to the outside.
The great thing about doors like this is that, once open, it’s almost as if the garden is a continuation of the interior. The flush flooring in this scheme adds to the feeling, with the floorboards inside almost seamlessly giving way to decking outside.
However, bear in mind that bifold doors consist of a series of glass panes with vertical divisions. If you want a more seamless view while the doors are closed, it might be worth considering sliding doors instead.
Go up and over
It’s not always possible to extend your property widthways, which can limit your chances of connecting directly with the back garden. However, there are ways around it, as this kitchen illustrates.
The owners didn’t want to lose the bay window, or the French doors at the rear of the adjacent living room, by extending into the side return, but the original space was very dark. The architects solved the dilemma by fitting wall-to-wall glazing with a sloping glass roof above at the back of the kitchen.
This simple addition has made a huge difference to the room, creating a continuation of the space into the courtyard garden.
It’s not always possible to extend your property widthways, which can limit your chances of connecting directly with the back garden. However, there are ways around it, as this kitchen illustrates.
The owners didn’t want to lose the bay window, or the French doors at the rear of the adjacent living room, by extending into the side return, but the original space was very dark. The architects solved the dilemma by fitting wall-to-wall glazing with a sloping glass roof above at the back of the kitchen.
This simple addition has made a huge difference to the room, creating a continuation of the space into the courtyard garden.
Provide a view
If you want to see the garden without fitting huge doors along your back wall, here’s an alternative. A floor-to-ceiling pane of glass creates a picture window that offers an uninterrupted view of the greenery outside.
The seamless glazing gives the illusion that the kitchen is open to the garden, and the owners have been able to keep the attractive French windows in the dining area.
Need some professional help? Find architects in your area and read reviews from other homeowners.
If you want to see the garden without fitting huge doors along your back wall, here’s an alternative. A floor-to-ceiling pane of glass creates a picture window that offers an uninterrupted view of the greenery outside.
The seamless glazing gives the illusion that the kitchen is open to the garden, and the owners have been able to keep the attractive French windows in the dining area.
Need some professional help? Find architects in your area and read reviews from other homeowners.
Lower the window
In a period property, you might not want to replace beautiful sash windows with a modern pane of glass. However, you could modify an existing window while still retaining its distinctive style.
Here, the window is longer than usual, with the sill positioned almost at ground level. The large opening provides a lovely view of the cottage garden, but the character of the property has been maintained.
17 country gardens that epitomise dreamy outdoor living.
In a period property, you might not want to replace beautiful sash windows with a modern pane of glass. However, you could modify an existing window while still retaining its distinctive style.
Here, the window is longer than usual, with the sill positioned almost at ground level. The large opening provides a lovely view of the cottage garden, but the character of the property has been maintained.
17 country gardens that epitomise dreamy outdoor living.
Take a pew
For a really relaxing way to feel part of the garden, try a window seat like this one. The protruding bay creates a deep ledge, ideal for a padded seat and some cushions.
Here, the owners have chosen a botanical fabric for their cushions. The design blends in with the greenery outside and helps to frame the view.
For a really relaxing way to feel part of the garden, try a window seat like this one. The protruding bay creates a deep ledge, ideal for a padded seat and some cushions.
Here, the owners have chosen a botanical fabric for their cushions. The design blends in with the greenery outside and helps to frame the view.
Open both sides
Go one step further with your garden connection by incorporating glazing along more than one wall. A glass corner like this one enables a view of the outside from numerous angles.
The island in this kitchen feels as if it’s surrounded by greenery and is part of the garden.
Go one step further with your garden connection by incorporating glazing along more than one wall. A glass corner like this one enables a view of the outside from numerous angles.
The island in this kitchen feels as if it’s surrounded by greenery and is part of the garden.
Put a roof on it
Don’t forget the importance of bringing in light from above when you’re considering how to connect to the outside.
A single rooflight would be enough to provide a view of the sky, or you could go for something more extensive, as in this space. A pitched roof of glazing runs from the kitchen out to the dining area, giving the room a fresh, open feel.
Don’t forget the importance of bringing in light from above when you’re considering how to connect to the outside.
A single rooflight would be enough to provide a view of the sky, or you could go for something more extensive, as in this space. A pitched roof of glazing runs from the kitchen out to the dining area, giving the room a fresh, open feel.
Welcome greenery
To increase the feeling that your kitchen is almost part of the garden, consider the location of your plants. Bring foliage right up to the glazing to give the interior a lush, natural aesthetic.
These simple sliding doors are framed by a grape vine, which has been trained along a frame attached to the exterior wall.
Tell us…
How have you connected your interior with the garden? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
To increase the feeling that your kitchen is almost part of the garden, consider the location of your plants. Bring foliage right up to the glazing to give the interior a lush, natural aesthetic.
These simple sliding doors are framed by a grape vine, which has been trained along a frame attached to the exterior wall.
Tell us…
How have you connected your interior with the garden? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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Here’s how we connected our kitchen with the garden. Pics before and after
Some super ideas here, as a kitchen designer, bringing the outside in has become quite a popular request over the last few years.
Although I love the concept of bifold doors, I only have french doors going from kitchen to garden and already I've had several birds ranging from collared doves to wagtails fly indoors also hummingbird moth, numerous hornets and next doors cat have come in.