Designing a Grill Island: For You or Your Grill Master

You have dreamed of it. You have planned it. You deserve it. Yes, we are talking about your very own, custom-designed outdoor grill island. And why not splurge a bit on this backyard amenity? There’s something special about food hot off the grill.  

When dreaming up your grill island, be sure to consider location, location, location. That seems like it is just one thing but it is everything where a backyard grill island is concerned. Even with our sometimes harsh Cincinnati climate, you can grill outside year ‘round. Consider the path of sunlight in your yard and plan accordingly. Would you like some kind of roof over the grill island to protect you from the sun or snow accumulation? How close to your house do you want your island to be? Where will you eat outside? These factors will all help determine where to place your grill island. 

Island Elements

Obviously the star of the grill island is the grill. Do you research online and at local grill dealers to ensure you are getting the grill that is right for you. The size of the grill will also help determine how large your island should be. 

Photo courtesy of Unilock

Storage is another factor to consider when designing a grill island, which can be outfitted with cabinets and drawers. How much storage space should you include? Consider the items you tend to need while grilling. Just think about all the times you’ve been outside cooking and had to yell, “Honey, can you bring me the…”  

• Wire brush

• Spatula or turner 

• Tongs

• Flat pan with a lip for veggies

• Kebab skewers

• Tin foil

• Meat thermometer 

These items will need to be kept handy, but out of sight to keep your grill island from looking cluttered.  

Beyond the grill, you might opt for other appliances in your grill island. Consider adding a small refrigerator for drinks, condiments and anything else you’d like to keep chilled while you make dinner. A sink is handy for washing hands and rinsing dishes. The combination of a grill and a kegerator could be a dream come true. We can help you source these outdoor appliances.

Speaking of drinks, an outdoor bar can be a natural extension of the grill island. If you don’t plan for it, you will wish you had. And you know friends will want to gather around the bar, so think about adding seating to the area as well. 

As you design your grill island, think about the type of countertop you’d prefer. Remember you want the surface to be easy to clean, durable and good looking. Stone or concrete countertops can fit the bill. 

Grill Islands Inside and Out 

When we add grill islands to our clients’ outdoor living spaces, we start with a metal frame and, typically, a gas line. The frame provides sturdy structure and houses the grill, cabinets and other appliances. The frame can be faced with brick, pavers or engineered stone to give the island a look that complements your home’s hardscaping. Once the structure is complete and the appliances installed, you’re ready to fire up the grill.

Would you like to plan a (grill) island getaway? Talk to our expert designers and planners who can help you create an oasis of good food and great company in your backyard. Contact us today.

Hot Outdoor Fireplace Trends

This year, especially, we are all looking for ways to be outdoors as much as possible. Sitting by a fire outside is a great way to spend time with friends and family even as the temperatures dip. If you’d like to warm things up in your landscaping, here are the latest outdoor fireplace trends: 

Indoor Style, Outdoor Location

One of the hottest outdoor fireplace trends is bringing the quality and range of styles available for interior hearths outside. You can choose a direct-vent or vent-free fireplace for your outdoor living space. If you’re looking for a fireplace you can put anywhere outside, a vent-free unit is a good choice. With vent-free, there’s no need for a chimney or a place to run a vent. The gasses produced by combustion in a vent-free fireplace safely disperse outdoors.  

You can choose to mix things up: If your indoor fireplace is more traditional in style, a more contemporary look outdoors could be a nice change of pace. Or you can match your indoor and outdoor styles for a seamless feel. Most of our clients wrap their outdoor fireplaces or fire pits in stone or brick, whatever they feel complements their home’s exterior finish or other hardscaping elements they might have.  

One of the recent outdoor fireplace trends involves flames on a small scale: gas-fueled torches or fire vessels. Units on the market now might be tiki-style torches, traditional lanterns or stylish fire bowls. Whatever you choose, these elements’ dancing flames provide light and an inviting ambiance. 

Gas Beats Out Wood

Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits traditionally burned wood. If you have easy access to firewood and kindling, wood can be the way to go. Today most homeowners choose the ease and convenience of natural gas to fuel their outdoor fireplaces or fire pits. 

With a gas line run to the fireplace or fire pit, starting and extinguishing a fire is push-button easy. And you don’t have to worry about sparks or getting rid of ashes. Another benefit to natural gas is that the line can be split to fuel both a fireplace and a  gas grill. 

Whichever fuel you choose, the warmth and glow of an outdoor fire are sure to be crowd pleasers. 

Incorporating Outdoor Fireplace Trends

Most of our clients choose to include a fireplace or fire pit in their landscaping. A popular choice is to add a hearth to an outdoor living space lined with pavers. Some clients prefer a fire pit that’s set off on the property on a bed of gravel. Low walls surrounding a pit can provide extra seating. 

Take your time to research outdoor fireplace options or tap into our years of expertise. Give us a call today to set up a no-obligation consultation and let’s turn up the heat in your yard!