Outdoor Kitchens: Not only for Dads
We love getting our grill on and dining al fresco. Outdoor kitchens are no longer a luxury feature - in Dallas they’ve become a backyard essential. With an average of 230 sunny days a year in our region, outdoor spaces are prime for entertaining. And while we know traditionally dads man the grill, outdoor kitchens are for everyone.
When designing outdoor kitchens, we ensure that it is well-sited, flowing with the rest of your exterior living space. Many of our custom designs include adjacent dining areas, lounges with fire features, pools and pool decks, and even pergolas or covered pavilions to protect against sun and rain. High-end finishes like granite backsplashes, custom tilework, or LED-lit countertops make the space feel elegant and refined.
Here are renderings from The Arc of Order project in progress. The outdoor kitchen and dining area are inside of the pool pavilion.
Key Features of Custom Luxury Kitchens
A luxury outdoor kitchen is more than just functional — it’s designed for an elevated experience. Some hallmark features include:
Professional-grade appliances: Think built-in grills with infrared burners, rotisseries, side burners, and even teppanyaki grills.
Outdoor refrigeration: Wine fridges, ice makers, and under-counter refrigerators keep drinks and ingredients fresh and accessible.
Custom cabinetry: Made to withstand the elements while offering ample storage and a sleek, cohesive look.
Specialty cooking tools: Smokers, wood pellet grills, wood-fired pizza ovens, or even kamado grills add flair.
Entertainment extras: Integrated lighting, sound systems, TVs, and fire pits create a luxurious ambiance.
Outdoor cooking can also be as simple as a deluxe grill. We updated the cooking area at our Lakeside Retreat by adding a custom concrete bar.
In another recent project, we upgraded the materials of the outdoor cooking space with new countertops and lighting.
Again, it’s important that the outdoor kitchen is near enough to the dining and lounging areas while providing a designated cooking zone.
Outdoor kitchens are more than a trend - they’re part of a luxury lifestyle. Whether grilling on game day or hosting a dinner party under the stars, an outdoor kitchen adds style, convenience, and value to your home. With the kind of elevated design work that we do at Melissa Gerstle Design, we can make your outdoor space your favorite space. And we know that will make not just dads, but the whole family happy this Father’s Day.