10 Stylish and Efficient Outdoor Kitchens
These clever outdoor cooking and dining setups maximize space without compromising on looks
If adding a new outdoor kitchen or revamping your current setup is on your landscape makeover wish list, take a look at these designs serving up fresh ideas for alfresco cooking. These 10 projects from around the globe also make the most of the moderately sized patios, decks and backyards they occupy, from a grill that disappears behind a mini garage-style door to a barbecue mounted on a deck railing.
2. Hidden Away in Melbourne
The ability to tuck a grill behind a tidy screen when not in use makes perfect sense. It not only makes for a sleek aesthetic design, but it also protects the barbecue from the elements.
It’s therefore no surprise that this clever design by Andrew Mitchell of Mr. Mitchell in Australia, featuring a grill that disappears behind a mini garage-style door, has been saved to over 190,000 Houzz ideabooks.
The ability to tuck a grill behind a tidy screen when not in use makes perfect sense. It not only makes for a sleek aesthetic design, but it also protects the barbecue from the elements.
It’s therefore no surprise that this clever design by Andrew Mitchell of Mr. Mitchell in Australia, featuring a grill that disappears behind a mini garage-style door, has been saved to over 190,000 Houzz ideabooks.
3. Stacked Shelves in Des Moines
Open wooden shelving units flanking an outdoor grill makes for smart, cost-effective outdoor kitchen storage. In this design by Holly DeGoey for a patio kitchen in Des Moines, Iowa, the designer used metal railings behind the grill and counters to double as hanging racks for copper mugs and kitchen tools.
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Open wooden shelving units flanking an outdoor grill makes for smart, cost-effective outdoor kitchen storage. In this design by Holly DeGoey for a patio kitchen in Des Moines, Iowa, the designer used metal railings behind the grill and counters to double as hanging racks for copper mugs and kitchen tools.
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4. Floating Grill in Austin
We’re used to seeing built-in grills and outdoor kitchens as bulky features within a backyard, but this creative design by austin outdoor design in Austin, Texas, is just the opposite. Set into a slim metal countertop, a Big Green Egg grill appears to hover in midair, providing space for two metal bar stools to tuck away beneath it.
This innovative design would work well in many outdoor kitchens, especially tight spaces like rooftops, balconies and small urban gardens, where every square foot of floor space counts.
We’re used to seeing built-in grills and outdoor kitchens as bulky features within a backyard, but this creative design by austin outdoor design in Austin, Texas, is just the opposite. Set into a slim metal countertop, a Big Green Egg grill appears to hover in midair, providing space for two metal bar stools to tuck away beneath it.
This innovative design would work well in many outdoor kitchens, especially tight spaces like rooftops, balconies and small urban gardens, where every square foot of floor space counts.
5. Minimalist in Toronto
Storage needs aside, a marble-like block with a built-in grill set against a dark screen is a chic look for a small-space outdoor kitchen. Dekton, a resilient engineered material made of glass, quartz and porcelain, covers the workspace’s counters and walls. This material is from the Aura Collection, designed to resemble Calacatta or Carrara marble.
The kitchen – designed by Eden Tree Design and built by Pro-Land Landscape Construction – occupies one side of a top deck outside a Toronto home and has easy access to the indoor kitchen, where all tools, plates, and cooking supplies would be stashed. An outdoor dining table sits on a lower deck terrace, a few steps down from the grill.
Storage needs aside, a marble-like block with a built-in grill set against a dark screen is a chic look for a small-space outdoor kitchen. Dekton, a resilient engineered material made of glass, quartz and porcelain, covers the workspace’s counters and walls. This material is from the Aura Collection, designed to resemble Calacatta or Carrara marble.
The kitchen – designed by Eden Tree Design and built by Pro-Land Landscape Construction – occupies one side of a top deck outside a Toronto home and has easy access to the indoor kitchen, where all tools, plates, and cooking supplies would be stashed. An outdoor dining table sits on a lower deck terrace, a few steps down from the grill.
6. Petite Pizza Oven in Sydney
If you’re tight on space but a pizza oven tops your outdoor kitchen wish list, this sophisticated design by Harrison’s Landscaping for a home on the Sydney harbor can serve as inspiration.
The moderately sized pizza oven nestles into a corner of a linear outdoor kitchen setup atop heat-resistant concrete countertops, hardly taking up more room than a standard-size grill.
Work with a mason on an outdoor pizza oven
If you’re tight on space but a pizza oven tops your outdoor kitchen wish list, this sophisticated design by Harrison’s Landscaping for a home on the Sydney harbor can serve as inspiration.
The moderately sized pizza oven nestles into a corner of a linear outdoor kitchen setup atop heat-resistant concrete countertops, hardly taking up more room than a standard-size grill.
Work with a mason on an outdoor pizza oven
7. Small-Scale Grill in Tucson
Being realistic about how large an outdoor kitchen you really need — compared with other use priorities — can help cut down on wasted space in a patio design.
For example, landscape designer Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of BOXHILL says her client for this Tucson, Arizona, project was clear that she didn’t want a bulky barbecue — just one large enough for grilling zucchini and portobello mushrooms. The space saved in the outdoor kitchen allowed more room for a spacious entertaining space and built-in hearth.
Being realistic about how large an outdoor kitchen you really need — compared with other use priorities — can help cut down on wasted space in a patio design.
For example, landscape designer Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of BOXHILL says her client for this Tucson, Arizona, project was clear that she didn’t want a bulky barbecue — just one large enough for grilling zucchini and portobello mushrooms. The space saved in the outdoor kitchen allowed more room for a spacious entertaining space and built-in hearth.
8. Elevated in Austin
Perched atop a deck railing with extended countertops on either side, this gas-burning grill maintains a small footprint and offers the cook a prime view of the pool and valley below.
The outdoor kitchen, by austin outdoor design, also features custom cabinetry with additional countertop space set against the level change to an upper deck.
Perched atop a deck railing with extended countertops on either side, this gas-burning grill maintains a small footprint and offers the cook a prime view of the pool and valley below.
The outdoor kitchen, by austin outdoor design, also features custom cabinetry with additional countertop space set against the level change to an upper deck.
9. Slope Solution in San Francisco
The landscape architects at Land Studio C capitalized on the existing slope of this San Francisco backyard to anchor a custom-designed outdoor kitchen equipped with a double grill. The outdoor kitchen layout — combined with bench seating built into the slope — helps maximize space in a long and narrow backyard.
The landscape architects at Land Studio C capitalized on the existing slope of this San Francisco backyard to anchor a custom-designed outdoor kitchen equipped with a double grill. The outdoor kitchen layout — combined with bench seating built into the slope — helps maximize space in a long and narrow backyard.
10. Double-Sided in Washington, D.C.
An outdoor kitchen, complete with grill, sink, fridge and storage space, backs up against a stone hearth in this design by GardenWise for a home in Washington, D.C.’s, Capitol Hill neighborhood. On the kitchen’s backside, and up a few steps, the hearth warms a covered seating area. The double-sided design makes the most of the hearth by using it both as a backdrop and as a functional feature.
An outdoor kitchen, complete with grill, sink, fridge and storage space, backs up against a stone hearth in this design by GardenWise for a home in Washington, D.C.’s, Capitol Hill neighborhood. On the kitchen’s backside, and up a few steps, the hearth warms a covered seating area. The double-sided design makes the most of the hearth by using it both as a backdrop and as a functional feature.
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More on Houzz
Your Guide to Grills and More for Great Outdoor Cooking
See more outdoor kitchen ideas
Work with a landscape designer near you
Shop for outdoor dining furniture
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Grills and More for Great Outdoor Cooking
See more outdoor kitchen ideas
Work with a landscape designer near you
Shop for outdoor dining furniture
Storage is a top kitchen priority, whether it’s indoors or out. In this outdoor kitchen by Inspired Garden Design, wall-to-wall cabinets offer plenty of room for stashing plates and grill tools and could conceal a mini fridge or any other outdoor appliances.
Bringing the wood paneling used for the cabinets up above the grill creates visual consistency and helps define the kitchen space within the garden.
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