I've been grilling BF the past couple of days on his views about getting a grill. He says, "We don't need one, we won't use it." But I know he has been eyeing that little Weber one whenever we go to K-mart or the hardware store. I like the little front tray part on the marine one Tricia posted. I think the cheif plus for us about having a gas grill would be ease of use and the chance to have some outdoor cooking space to supplement our tiny kitchen. My stove area is claustrophobic to say the least. It would give BF a chance to cook without having me in the way making the salad or whatnot. As it is, cooking together is a study in patience in my "one butt" kitchen. We dream of having our own place someday, with room for a big garden too. I've had some rounds of illness that have made it hard just to keep up with what I have here. BF is my rock, G-d bless him! BF has a covered back patio at his house just off the kitchen back door so he can grill year round and he definately has used it as a kitchen extension since his kitchen is almost as small as mine, albeit maybe a little bit better laid out. I don't see us grilling in the winter when the patio is full of snow. We'll not be covering our tiny patio for a good long while, if ever. I do have an extra patio umbrella though, so maybe I could leave it set up over the grill in the winter, lol! BTW, anyone who doubts the benefits of vegetation for combating the heat island effect should hang out in my yard. It is probably 10 degrees cooler out there than it used to be when I just had a big ol' wooden deck on the back of my house. I never went out there in the summer, it was hot and I felt like I was on display for the whole row/neighborhood.

I don't consider a grill on a patio an eye sore. But a grill off the patio in the dirt or mud? Yes! Why don't you extend the patio and give the grill a permanent place to "live." Along the garage wall between the two windows at the left side seems a reasonable place.

Marble etches and stains. Be VERY aware of what you EXPECT from marble versus what you GET with marble. If you don't care about a metal leg leaving a rust spot behind (that usually enrages MOST homeowners...BTW) then get marble. If you don't mind 'water spots' being left behind every time someone jumps into the pool, then go for it. If you don't mind a glaring white blast of light every time the sun hits it (and it looks like sunlight is going to hit this often) then go for it. If you don't mind potted plants leaving behind dirt and rust stains, then go for it. If any/all of that is going to bug you (Homeowner, Know Thyself) then DON'T USE marble. The local shop has OODLES of marble and they are hoping to shift all that product in one fell swoop. I prefer a 'travertine look' or tumbled limestone-look porcelain tile in your situation. Lisa Caudill Designs has a brilliant option. That would look STUNNING...and be far more 'livable' than marble.

Thank you. I have considered it but it's not as safe as a physical barrier. Also, the burglar bars are a good deterrent. They are customary here in the Caribbean so not to have them would make my home the one with less security that would be burglars would likely target.  The fixed interior or exterior grilles are used here. I really don't want to use those as I have stunning views.  I've looked at retractable grilles. They're so ugly, definitely for the commercial market. Also, sounds silly but drawing bars closed before bedtime means that every day I would be thinking about security. That can be a bit anxiety inducing.  The grilles I am looking for, besides the aesthetics, would be just fit and forget.