13 Upgrades to Make Over Your Outside Grill Area

When the weather cooperates, there are just a few meals more agreeable than those you can enjoy on your own backyard. The fresh air and hot grill have a way of conjuring a holiday mood — even if you’re only grilling up a quick weeknight dinner. Get inspired to make more than your grilling zone for luxurious outdoor dining with those 13 ideas.

Hardscape Contractors

1. Pull up a stool. Watching the chef at the grill is half the fun — invite spectators by assembling a bar-height table and stools close to the grill. Go for a built in, like the stunning stone version displayed here, or simply set up a bar-height outside table and chairs.

austin outdoor design

2. Accent with steel for a contemporary appearance. Plenty of outdoor kitchens utilize wood and stone (which could be amazing), but contemporary spaces shout out for something weathered. Stainless steel countertops are a terrific match, and galvanized steel Tolix stools bring a tiny industrial cool.

The Home Improvements Group, Inc..

3. Insert a prep zone. Whether you’ve got an outdoor sink plumbed or just add a freestanding work table, a well-positioned prep area is what’s going to transform just a grill into an actual outdoor kitchen. Make sure you include an easy-clean work surface and a few storage for frequently used tools.

The Garden Route Company

4. Stay cool with a big umbrella. An additional freestanding umbrella offers more flexibility than just one attached to the table. Use it to shade the homework area (keeping food out of the sun), then move it to pay the eating place when it’s time to sit down.

Sheldon Pennoyer Architects

5. Make your grill a miniature destination. As you will sacrifice some advantage, finding your grill and eating place away from the house can make eating al fresco feel like a getaway. Make the most of a great view, flip burgers by the pool, or hide away in a secluded garden nook.

Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction

6. Insert a roof to get all-weather cooking. If your grill is out in the open, consider including a refuge to protect the cook in a sudden downpour. Just be sure any construction is a safe distance from the grill to prevent fires.

Sun Valley Landscaping

7. Cook campfire-style. Is roughing it more your style? Forgo the elaborate grill completely in favor of a rock fire pit with attached grilling grates.

Rice and Brown Architects

8. Try window service. If your grill installation is close to the house, a pass-through to the kitchen can be particularly handy — and fun! Pull up a couple of stools on the exterior, and you’ll have your very own little pub, too.

Vidabelo Interior Design

9. Consider a mini refrigerator. If you cook out a whole lot, it may be worth it to bring a small refrigerator to your grill place. It’s ideal for keeping meat at hand yet out of the sun — and for keeping icy beverages for the chef.

Stone Acorn Builders

10. Reduce furniture. A slender table with bench seats will match the many guests in tight quarters. If you actually need every spare inch, choose chairs which can tuck under the table and push the entire thing against the wall if it isn’t in use.

austin outdoor design

11. Maximize your distance. Having something built into exactly fit a space is ideal, because you won’t waste an inch. The outdoor kitchen revealed here was ingeniously built right to the deck railing to get a slick look that actually overlooks the space.

Sandy Koepke

12. Accessorize. Gather ingredients on a pretty tray (incentive: It’s great for carting items from the house), deck out the homework area with a few potted plants and maintain frequently used oils and sauces within reach.

Donna Wax, Architect

13. Specify a mood at night with lighting. A combination of landscape lighting and direct lighting over the grill area will supply the right balance of work and ambience.

Tell us : Are you upgrading your grill installment this summer?

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