I am so excited to finally get to show you our outdoor kitchen! It’s been done for a couple weeks but I wanted to get it decorated before I showed you the final reveal… and it’s time!!!
Before I show you the “after” pictures I have to show you what it used to look like, you know me, I love a good before and after picture!
And here’s what it looks like now.
Seriously, weeks later I am still pinching myself because I can’t believe it’s real! I love the whole kitchen but my most favorite part about it are the cabinets. My contractor built them out of steel then wrapped them in this beautiful Ipe wood (it’s a tropical wood, like teak, but more affordable). It’s so rich and full of depth, every time I look at it I see something different, and that makes me love it more. I was adamant that I didn’t want the traditional stone look and when our lumber supplier showed me a sample of the Ipe I knew it would be perfect.
I had no idea how it would look on a large scale but when I came down the morning they sealed it, it actually took my breath away. I think the poor guy painting on the sealant thought he had done something wrong by the way I reacted, until I stared freaking out and telling him how much I loved it!
I’m also so excited to have a sink and dishwasher down in this kitchen. Last summer we spent so much time taking dirty dishes back upstairs (2 1/2 stories!) that we knew a sink and dishwasher were a must.
My goal in designing the kitchen was to blend the look of wood and stainless steel to make the perfect decorative, yet masculine/outdoorsy, space. Beautiful accents like the this stainless steal sink and faucet from Moen helped me I accomplished the look I was going for. I’ve never had a nice stainless steel sink but I love it (and so does my husband!).
And of course every outdoor kitchen needs a drink bell and a bottle opener!
We absolutely love it! Our contractor and his crew did such an excellent job turning my vision into a reality. Every time I walk down here I am shocked all over again that this is really at my house, we feel so incredibly blessed and we have loved sharing it with our friends and family!
If you want to see how I stocked and organized the kitchen come back on Friday to see all my affordable kitchen organization tips.
In a couple weeks I’ll also be showing you how I decorated the empty space next to the kitchen and turned it into an outdoor living room. I can’t wait to show you! (Click HERE to see our outdoor living room).
Project list
- Lumber supplier – Weaver Lumber
- Contractor – Cadorin Construction
- Granite – Arizona Tile
- Stucco color –
- Grill – Amazon.com
- Faucet – Moen
- Sink – Moen
- Cabinet pulls – D. Lawless Hardware
- Wall clock – Real Deals
- Wire paddle boat – Real Deals
Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post but if you purchase through them you will not pay a cent more than you would otherwise. Thank you for supporting Ask Anna!
Anna, it’s so beautiful. I know your family will create many happy memories in this outdoor kitchen for years to come.
Thank you! We have already made quite a few, I’m sure there are many many more to come. 🙂
OH i would love coming to a pool party at your house! gorgeous!
Thank you! 🙂
This is absolutely beautiful!! I am so jealous!
Thank you. 🙂
Absolutely BREATHTAKING!! You really out-did yourselves!! This is so inspirational and makes me want to get busy on my backyard!! Thank you for sharing….I just wish I was your neighbour!! 🙂
Haha, well stop by if your ever in Nor Cal. 🙂
Wow, I don’t spend enough time outside to warrant an outdoor kitchen but it looks FANTASTIC. Maybe if I had one I would spend time outdoors! lol.
It’s going to be wonderful in the warm months.
Haha, maybe you would. 🙂 Thank you Melanie, we are excited about it. 🙂
I am a widow of almost 50 yrs of marriage. My husband has been gone 4 yrs. and it’s just me and my dog Kuddles ( Labadoodle). I don’t know whether to invest in a BBQ for just me, but my husband use to BBQ and Smoke meat alot. I sold a lot of stuff including the BBQ’s.
I have natural gas on my patio which would be a easy hookup. My George Forman has been helping my cook outdoors on the patio table. If I bought one do you have a recommendation on the brand?
Thank you for your web site and help, I’m glad I found you …
We have a Char-broil grill and love it. I’d highly recommend it.
Your outdoor kitchen turns out beautifully. As a Brazilian I got amused about tue “cheap” Ipe wood. For us is an expensive wood and generally we use them on inside floors. As the actual tree, if we have one at home we can’t cut it without an autorization and paying a compensation (genarally planting a lot of trees in replacement) if we cut without it we’ll pay a very expensive fine about $7,000. This is just out of curiosity.
God bless you and your family!
Wow, that’s crazy and so interesting! Ipe definitely isn’t cheap here but it is less expensive than Teak, I think because Teak is more popular and well known. I’m so glad we ended up going with the Ipe because it’s beautiful! 🙂