Grilling is part of the Boston culture, with summers filled with backyard barbeques, parties and family reunions. Building a beautiful stone BBQ area in your outdoor living space provides the ideal spot for food prep and serving, as well as allowing for easy clean up and organization. But the design of your outdoor kitchen is crucial.

Why Use Stone?

Many homeowners opt for wood decks or install a composite deck product to reduce maintenance and increase longevity. Stone, on the other hand, provides lifelong beauty and countless design options.

You can combine stone patios with traditional cabinets and stone slab countertops to create an attractive and affordable BBQ area, or use stones, bricks and tiling for the entire structure. The former option comes with a higher price tag, but also stands up to any weather and ages gracefully, providing year after of year of dependable performance.

What Features to Include in Your Outdoor Kitchen

Your stone grilling area should provide a workstation, including a prep surface and built-in sink for clean up. Basic plumbing can run through the structure and connect with your in-house plumbing system, or be treated separately, depending on the location of your outdoor kitchen.

Maximize storage with plenty of cabinets and open shelving, both for prep essentials and other outdoor accessories. Some designers install a bar fridge for drinks and snacks, but often the main kitchen is close enough for cold food close storage.

Lighting is essential. Think about task lighting, such as overhead spotlights and built in LEDs, to extend the function of this outdoor area. And include plenty of atmosphere lighting and heating options, like traditional patio lanterns, solar lighting and patio heaters, to keep those late night parties cozy and comfortable.

Your landscape professional is available to help with the design and construction of your ideal stone BBQ area. This outdoor feature enhances your downtime and expands your entertainment options, all while improving the value of your home. Browse through the design ideas and talk to the industry pros about upgrading your backyard to include a new stone outdoor kitchen.