If You Can't Stand the Heat...

August 1, 2019

Share this Article:

A patio with a table and chairs under a pergola at night.

Outdoor kitchen under the pergola with a touch of bistro lights.

Do you love cooking and entertaining outdoors? Where do most guests congregate in today’s open floor plans? Just like our indoor kitchen and family room concepts, an “Outdoor Kitchen” has become the newest trend in outdoor living spaces. The functional, spacious, outdoor kitchen provides ample space for food preparation, cooking, and entertaining. Modern, rustic, or just plain simple, the outdoor kitchen is an extension of your home.

With many of the same features as our indoor spaces, outdoor kitchens are designed with modern cooking appliances, refrigeration units, ample storage, functioning sinks, electric and both functional and elegant lighting. Our Chicagoland winters provide an additional design challenge as many outdoor kitchens can be utilized year-round.


Don’t have a lot of space? A simple L-shape kitchen might be the way to go.

An outdoor kitchen with a stainless steel grill and a green umbrella
A patio area with a large wooden bar and wicker chairs.

Happiness is BBQ, Friends & Backyard


Take the cooking and entertaining outdoors especially during the warm summer evenings when enjoying your yard is preferred. Outdoor kitchens reduce indoor heat and smoke and eliminate lingering food odors, thereby reducing utility costs of cooling your home. Grilled food is tasty, less greasy and healthier and many of us just love the experience of grilling out with friends and family.

Much more than a place to put the BBQ grill, outdoor kitchens are designed with countertops, islands, wet bars and seating. You can still have that dining experience by adding some patio chairs/sofas, patio heaters, fire pits, and even televisions that are being designed around the central outdoor kitchen concept.



Where to begin and what to consider?


Consider the amount of space available in your outdoor living area for an outdoor kitchen. Large or small, an outdoor kitchen should meet your needs. Basic needs such as gas, electric and water lines should be carefully planned for early on. Call on an experienced contractor that has designed and built outdoor kitchens. They can help you determine the size, location and complexity or simplicity you desire. If you are ready to begin planning your outdoor kitchen area, we can recommend a qualified contractor to walk you through the process. Click here to send an inquiry to our referral portal.


“Give a man a barbeque, feed him for a day; teach a man to barbecue and feed him and his friends for the summer.”

Share with Us:

Two children are sledding down a snow covered hill.
November 16, 2021
It’s hard to believe another season is coming to a close. November is a month of change. Trees change color and lose their foliage, temperatures drop below freezing forcing our plants to hibernate, and daylight hours minimize the daytime spent outdoors.
A fire pit with chairs around it in a backyard at night.
October 18, 2021
Don’t let these shorter days and cooler temperatures spoil your outdoor living fun. Some of the best times are yet to be had this fall as we gather outdoors with family and friends.
A wooden pergola with a swing underneath it
September 23, 2021
Cooler temperatures, shorter days, back to school, and football fever signal the beginning of Autumn and a reduced focus on outdoor living. But before you fire up that snow blower, let’s enjoy the crisp autumn evenings gathered around the fire pit rooting for your favorite team and recalling this past summer.
Share by: