Outdoor Kitchen Designs Inspired by Summer Entertaining

Searching for inspiration for your outdoor kitchen design? Creating a new kitchen space indoors can be a daunting task, let alone an outdoor space where weather components must be considered. To help you get started with creating the design that’s right for your home, lifestyle and budget, we’ve compiled a portfolio of inspiring outdoor kitchens that have been installed may be just a stone’s throw away from your own backyard.

Inspiration for Small Outdoor Kitchens

Great things come in small packages and for smaller outdoor spaces, your design can pack a powerful punch! Just take a look at the following outdoor kitchen designs.

Small Kitchen on a Long Island

Architectural landscape design firm, Platinum Site Development designed this Long Island, NY outdoor kitchen. It showcases durable granite countertops and a bar-style seating area. The granite works well in this design, complementing the stacked stone and concrete pavers used for the patio. The granite surrounds a custom-built grill, sink, refrigerator and a small storage cabinet.

Mini Kitchen in Manhattan

Design team Cortney and Robert Novogratz outfitted this small space on a Manhattan rooftop with all the necessities plus a few extras. The kitchen boasts a large grill, pizza oven, inset sink, and refrigerator.


This kitchen features an unpolished Carrara marble that adds to the modern look of this space. While we typically do not recommend marble for outdoor applications given that it is subject to water damage over time, in this smart design, the designer incorporated a retractable awning to help shield the countertops from exposure to the elements. Like this homeowner, if you love the look of marble, we can recommend a stone countertop such as granite or quartzite, that gives you the look of marble but provides that extra level of protection from the weather that can damage outdoor countertops.

There are granite and quartzite options that closely mimic the look of marble. These stones include:

Large Outdoor Kitchens

Sometimes a small outdoor kitchen won’t do. If you host large parties for family, business or non-profits you may need a full entertainer’s kitchen outdoors.

Call the Caterers

Bellport, NY’s Outdoorliving By Kenneth Reilly designed this large outdoor kitchen.

It has extensive countertop space including a huge island. The countertops showcase beautiful granite with custom edging. It includes three sinks: a deep farmhouse sink for cleaning large platters, a standard two-sided sink, and a wet-bar sink with a cutting board and drain. For cooking there are two large grills, a griddle and a pizza oven. A refrigerator and warming drawer are also included. The whole area has custom cabinetry with multiple storage areas and is more than suited for entertaining large groups.


Who Needs a Restaurant?

Wallingford, CT designers Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens designed this Atlantic inspired outdoor kitchen. The white and brown tones of the granite countertops complement the custom cabinets featuring a Key West Door Style powder-coated in Pompeiian Gold with a textured weave insert that’s powder-coated in Titanium.

It includes two special grills. One of the grills is a large oval ceramic grill. This type of grill has a very high dome allowing a cook to grill or smoke a large item or use shelving to cook multiple racks of ribs or briskets. The kitchen also has a round stainless-steel flattop grill.

 

Have a Seat

b. home interiors designed this outdoor kitchen for this Livingston, NJ home. Its dominant feature is a 10′ long black granite countertop that rests on top of the stacked slate rock. The beauty of the natural surroundings of this kitchen guides its design. The b.home team made sublime choices using neutral, organic materials in harmony with its landscape.

For the grill master, this setup allows for guests and the griller to stay engage with the 60″ BBQ and pizza oven centered within the entertainment area.


Are We Indoors or Outdoors?

So, this kitchen is not in our backyard, but we couldn’t resist sharing the design of this 800-square foot outdoor poolside cabana with a 16′ x 14′ kitchen and dining area. SR Design Group, Inc. of Greensboro, NC designed this amazing space . with high-end details.

The design includes granite countertops accented with seashell-colored mosaic tiles and custom driftwood-colored cabinets. Granite also tops an eat-in bar area for four. Beyond the bar, another table seats eight guests. The cabana also has vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and large rubbed-bronze ceiling fans.

If you’re ready to create your own outdoor kitchen for your summer entertaining, we’re happy to help. Visit our locations to see our extensive selection of granite and quartzite to complement your outdoor project.