Imagine this: cozy autumn evening, leaves swirling down, food sizzling on the grill, glow of fire from the pizza oven as laughter fills the air from friends and family gathered around on a Sunday. This is what we envisioned while we were planning our house build. We wanted an outdoor space where we could spend more time outside gathering with friends and family around a table sharing stories and eating great food. Here are a few of the things we thought about when we designed this space:
Essentials:
Space matters. Measure it. Sketch it. Love it or hate it? If you hate it, draw it again. It is cheaper to draw again than to demo it and buy more materials. Luckily, we loved it. Parts of the layout we thought about: grill, prep area, sink, table space.
What are you cooking? Do you like pellet grills, gas, Blackstones, wood-fired pizza ovens, or all of the above? What are your must-have appliances? For us, we knew we needed a grill and wanted a wood-fired pizza oven as we love making pizzas in our house, and it is a fun activity to do as a family.
Design:
Match style. We love a coastal style and designed the entire house around our love of being by the water and having a relaxed feel. We added multiple elements such as outdoor-friendly wood, concrete, and metal to give a warm feel without adding a rustic feel, which, while I love rustic, it does not fit our house style.
Weather-ready. Since it is an outdoor kitchen, we needed to remember that everything needs to withstand Nebraska elements. We opted for durable, outdoor-friendly materials. We sourced in wood that holds up to the elements (think teak, cedar, ipe, redwood, and acacia). We used garapa wood. Two things I wish we had done were to add outdoor fans above the dining table and a hood vent above the pellet grill based on the placement of the grill. We plan to add these down the road.
Fun and Functional:
An outdoor kitchen should be more than just functional—it should be fun, too. Think about the grill; add a smoker or side burner. Maybe a rotisserie if you plan to try different recipes. We kept the grill basic but knew we wanted a small fridge so we didn’t need to go inside each time we wanted a drink or condiment. We added a built-in trash can and storage for outdoor serving and grill items.
Music is another great way to make the space more fun. We added built-in speakers above the dining table and extended speakers around the pool area so it felt seamless, but also zoned it so we could turn down the sound for one while the other played.
Tips:
Maintenance: I’ll admit, we did not pick the easiest when it came to maintenance, but we were okay with that. We knew what we were getting into before selecting materials (always do your research first so you are prepared). I love the look of concrete countertops, but I knew it would require work to keep it sealed. I chose design over function on this one. We wipe down the countertops and grill to keep things looking good and working well.
Safety: Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and check connections regularly. We use gas and electricity for our appliances. For winter prep, we shut off the small refrigerator and cover the appliances when not in use.
Creating this space was like adding a whole new room to the house. We love spending time out here whenever possible. Now it is time for me to go and try a new recipe—cranberry crisp—on the pizza oven. Wish me luck.
This article is part of a series chronicling the design-build of Michelle Horst’s Midwest coastal retreat home in West Omaha. Follow her at ThymeandTheory on Instagram.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
