Backyard living has become a priority for an increasing number of homeowners, and multipurpose spaces extending the living area outdoors provide additional room for entertainment and relaxation.
Creating such a seamless indoor/outdoor experience begins with an outdoor kitchen. These culinary centers, equipped with weather-resistant grills, refrigerators and chillers, sinks, and even pizza ovens, deliver exceptional performance and style. Durable materials like granite and quartz countertops withstand harsh environments and enhance aesthetics.
The outdoor kitchen is now a space to celebrate good food, visit with friends and family, and turn everyday moments into memorable gatherings. The following projects from our design team offer clever ideas for outside living spaces with fully equipped kitchens as focal points.
Coronado
Outdoor kitchens anchor a backyard, creating a focal point; they’re as much about the spaces around them as the grill itself!
For this model, a covered lounge links the main kitchen and dining inside to the cook zone outside, so the chef can stay in the conversation.
The covered living room bridges indoors and out with a fireplace, TV, and a bar pass-through for easy serving. An adjacent uncovered patio lounge soaks up summer evenings and the rewards of the grill.
The outdoor kitchen is finished with materials that carry through from the house and make the outdoor kitchen feel permanent and comfortable. Counter stools invite quick tastings, while nearby seating turns chef time into social time. Beyond, the open patio extends the party toward the yard.
The sequence is simple: prep, cook, serve, relax.
ARCHITECT: Osmosis Architecture / 303.652.2668 / osmosisarchitecture.com
DIMENSIONS: Width: 46 feet / Depth: 16 feet / Total Outdoor Living Area: 760 sf
Floor Plan Callouts
A Pass-through bar
B Outdoor kitchen
C Serving and bartop
D Entertaining zones
Private Residence
This massive home was designed to fit on the side of a hill and take advantage of views overlooking the pasture.
The outdoor living areas include a two-story covered lanai that wraps around the house on both levels. An indoor wet bar features a pass-through window that serves the outdoor kitchen area and walk-up guests.
The pool area has multiple seating arrangements that create sunbathing areas and group conversation arrangements.
The basement-level gym has a roll-up garage door that, when opened, creates an indoor/outdoor fitness area for the owners.
At the center of it all lies the outdoor kitchen, featuring a grill, pizza oven, sink, and refrigerator.
DESIGNER: Guy Land / Guy Land Designer / [email protected] / 615.870.2225 / gmlanddesigner.com
DIMENSIONS: Width: 167 feet, 10 inches / Depth: 119 feet / Total area (house): 10,349 sf
Floor Plan Callouts
A Outdoor kitchen
B Gym
C Covered dining
D Pass-through from wet bar
Serenity
Nestled alongside a glistening pool, a luxurious covered lounge, and the soaring great room of the main home, this outdoor kitchen establishes itself as a visual focal point that offers resort-style ambiance and an elevated, luxurious feel to the rear yard of a European estate.
Standing at the intersection of indoor refinement and outdoor serenity, the kitchen creates an atmosphere that feels both exclusive and inviting—perfect for high-end entertaining or private relaxation.
DESIGNER: Mike Latimer / TK Design & Associates / [email protected] / 248.446.1960 / tkhomedesign.com
DIMENSIONS: Width: 130 feet, 6 inches / Depth: 107 feet, 10 inches / Total area (house): 5,949 sf
Floor Plan Callouts
A Seamless indoor-outdoor connection via large glass panels
B Central entertaining hub with full-sized island for prep and bar-style seating
C Defined grilling zone minimizes congestion around the island but is accessible from the indoor kitchen and outdoor living area
D Covered lounge and dining experience functions as a complete open-air entertaining suite, day or night
Florence
Classic Georgian architecture meets modern outdoor living with seamless functionality, highlighted by a stellar outdoor cooking area, a fully equipped space that includes a built-in pizza oven and grill. Thoughtfully connected to the main kitchen, it encourages a true indoor-outdoor culinary flow.
A courtyard-style screened room anchors the outdoor living experience, while a spacious pool terrace with a stepped-down deck extends the entertainment zone. A folding glass door system merges inside and out, demonstrating how careful detailing and material coordination can enhance livability and design cohesion.
Balancing traditional elegance with contemporary practicality, the design showcases how today’s homes can turn outdoor kitchens into architectural centerpieces.
DESIGNER: Wayne Visbeen / Visbeen Architects / [email protected] / 833.847.2336
DIMENSIONS: Width: 50 feet / Depth: 54 feet / Total area (home): 4,104 sf
Floor Plan Callouts
A A wood-fired pizza oven anchors the outdoor kitchen
B A folding glass door system creates a fluid connection between interior finishes and its outdoor entertaining spaces
C A doorway to the interior kitchen keeps essentials conveniently accessible between indoor prep and outdoor grilling
About the Author
Larry W. Garnett, FAIBD, House Review Lead Designer
Larry Garnett, FAIBD, is the lead designer for Pro Builder's House Review feature. A residential designer since 1977, Garnett has designed several national show homes, including "The Most Romantic Home in America" by Traditional Home Magazine. His book, Home Plan Doctor, was published in 2008.