A villa terrace in Altea is often the main living room for half the year, which makes an outdoor kitchen one of the more sensible things to add. The ideas below come from what hillside terraces actually need.
Site it with the sun and the view
Villa terraces on the slopes look over the bay, and the late afternoon light comes in low from the west. A cooking area facing straight into that is uncomfortable; one placed to one side, or backed by a slatted wall or side screen, is much more pleasant. We watch how the light falls across the hours you sit out. Keep the cook looking at the view, not at a blank wall, but do not let the structure around the kitchen block the horizon that made you buy the house.
Shade first, then the kitchen
A pergola over the cooking and dining area does half the work. Timber frames in a pale or natural finish sit comfortably against whitewash, and slim members or open slatting keep the sea view visible. Our carpentry team builds these to suit the terrace, and we fix the lighting and sockets before the new floor goes in. See pergolas and outdoor living.
Surfaces that survive sea air
- Paving. Sandstone, travertine and stone-effect porcelain all work with whitewashed walls. Light colours stay cooler underfoot in summer.
- Fixings and metalwork. Salt affects metal more than wood, so brackets and fittings are chosen for the coast, not for the lowest-priced bracket.
- Worktops. Durable, easy to clean and not troubled by heat and weather.
- Finishes. Treatments are chosen for sea exposure and renewed from time to time.
Water, drainage and power
A sink or a cooking area needs water going in and waste going out, and the terrace itself needs correct falls so water leaves both the house and the pool edge, where there is one. If paving around an existing pool is being renewed, that is the moment to run pipes and cables. Lighting and sockets are far easier to place before the floor is laid.
Steps, levels and safe footing
Hillside terraces are often on different levels, reached by steps. Surfaces should be non-slip, edges clear and railings properly fixed, especially where the terrace falls away. Low-level lighting keeps the evening outlook over the bay free of glare.
Ideas for different terraces
- A large villa terrace near the pool. A long counter along one side with seating opposite, and shade over both.
- A partly shaded terrace. Keep the cooking area in the shade and the dining table where the view opens.
- A smaller roof or patio space. Slim, sectional structures that can be carried up steps, and a compact counter rather than a full kitchen. This suits the roof terraces of the old town more than the villas, where lanes are too narrow for vehicles.
Getting started
Begin with how you cook and entertain, then walk the terrace with us. We measure, look at the surface, and agree a layout and a quotation which is free. If you spend part of the year elsewhere, we send photographs at each stage, and the work is guaranteed within the scope set out in the quotation. Where the structure may need permission, we say on the visit that the town hall is the next place to ask.
Ready to get a free quote for your Altea renovation project?
Visit Dragon Reforms →Why Choose Dragon Reforms
We're a local team covering Altea and towns right across the Costa Blanca, with every project backed by clear pricing and fully insured, quality workmanship from start to finish.
Property Renovations Across the Costa Blanca
Dragon Reforms provides property renovation advice for homeowners throughout Altea, Callosa d'en Sarrià, La Nucía, Finestrat and Villajoyosa and towns right across the Costa Blanca.