Plan Your Outdoor Kitchen to be Ready by Christmas
Working Back From Summer to Plan Your Outdoor Kitchen
Christmas makes a good deadline for an outdoor kitchen. It's far enough away to plan properly, and close enough to get you moving. The easiest way to hit it is to work back from it. Start with the day you want to be using your outdoor kitchen, then map out what needs to happen between now and then. Here's how that looks, and how we help at every stage.
The finish line: The first summer BBQ
Pick your date. It might be Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or the first long weekend of summer. Whatever it is, give yourself a little breathing room before it, so the last job before the big day is lighting the BBQ, not tightening hinges.
Tell us that date when you first come in, and we'll do our best to make it happen.
It's worth the effort. An outdoor kitchen puts the prep, the cooking and the clean-up out where everyone is, instead of back and forth through the house all afternoon.
With the finish line set, here's everything that needs to happen before it, starting today.
Early October: Make the decisions only you can make
This is the step to start on this week, because it's the one we can't do for you. Four decisions shape everything that follows:
Where it's going. StyleLex, the weatherproof panel we build outdoor kitchens from, is made for covered outdoor areas and should be installed where it gets no direct sun at any time of year. Check what's overhead, and remember that low winter sun reaches further under a roof than summer sun does.
Which appliances. Choose your BBQ, and any sink or outdoor fridge, before the cabinetry is designed. We plan the cabinetry around them, working from each appliance's installation manual.
What's going on top. StyleLex is for the cabinetry, not the benchtop, so choose an outdoor-rated benchtop material early. Its thickness affects how tall the cabinets are cut.
Who's doing the trade work. Line up your gasfitter, electrician and plumber now, rather than leaving it to December, and talk to them about where the supplies will run.
Once you've got those, take your measurements in millimetres and a few photos of the space, including one looking straight up. That's everything you need for step two.
Mid-October: Plan it with us
Everything that follows depends on a good plan, and this is where most of the thinking happens. You don't need to do it alone.
Come into one of our factories in North Shore, Mt Wellington or Hamilton, with no appointment needed, see the materials and talk to our team. Many of them have spent decades refining their craft right here in New Zealand, and they'll work through your space and your appliances with you. You'll leave with a clear plan for what's next: a layout and a cut list, with every component and its dimension.
If you can't get to a factory, upload your measurements, sketches or designs for a no-obligation quote, or call us on 0800 CUTSHOP. It takes an exchange or two more than a chat at the counter, but you end up in the same place.
November: We cut and deliver
This is the part we take care of. Your panels are cut on our own CNC machines, which are large enough to handle even the most ambitious projects. Cutting it all ourselves is part of why a custom order from Cutshop is ready faster than traditional joinery services.
Your cabinetry is built from StyleLex, made for covered outdoor areas. Doors and fronts have a UV-resistant HPL surface that the manufacturer says resists weathering, wear and colour fading, and the panels are easy to clean and stain-resistant, which helps when summer means a lot of use. You can choose a clean, minimalist look, a classic woodgrain or a textured surface.
When it's ready, it's delivered anywhere in New Zealand, or you can pick it up from your local Cutshop® factory.
November/December: Put it together
Your cabinetry arrives as panels that are CNC-cut, edge-banded and clearly labelled for straightforward assembly, so you can see exactly which piece goes where. Every order arrives custom-cut to your measurements and ready to install.
You choose who puts it together. Plenty of customers assemble it themselves, others have a local builder or joiner do it, and you can also ask us about assembly. This is also where the trades you booked in step one come in. Then all that's left is the finish line.
Start this week
The sooner you start on step one, the more room you have for everything after it. And if time does get tight, there's no minimum order at Cutshop®, so you can start with a BBQ surround this summer and add to it later.
Want it ready for summer?
See what’s possible with Cutshop®’s outdoor kitchens: StyleLex cabinetry for covered outdoor areas, cut to your exact dimensions with no minimum order. Bring your measurements into a factory, upload them for a quote, or call 0800 CUTSHOP and tell us your date.
