Some summer evenings, as the sun starts its slow descent toward the horizon, are meant to be spent outside. No truer is this than in Central Iowa, which also happens to be a great place to cook outdoors, with its comfortable weather and vistas that beg to be experienced along with the scent of grill smoke. It’s no wonder that outdoor kitchens in Central Iowa have become so popular lately in places like Des Moines, Ankeny, and Urbandale.
So here is your invitation to daydream, if only a little. There is more range in outdoor kitchen ideas than many people expect. A lot of the fun comes down to figuring out just what will work the way you like to cook and host.
Outdoor Kitchen Ideas, From a Simple Grill Station to the Full Setup
For some homeowners, a built-in grill top alongside a small stretch of counter is more than enough. That alone can change how the backyard feels, and from there, the possibilities only open up wider.
A generous run of durable countertop can give you plenty of room to prep without juggling plates. You could also have a built-in refrigerator for keeping drinks cool and raw food steps away instead of inside the house. An outdoor sink can save you trips indoors, and a dedicated smoker station can turn Saturday cooking into a low-and-slow event. For the serious entertainers, a kegerator can also be a lovely addition.
Then there are the showpieces, like wood-fired pizza ovens that people gather around like firepits. The kids will ask you for more before the first pizza even has a chance to cool. Or, alternatively, you can have a real firepit added, the kind for open-flame barbecue and roasting s’mores as meals wind down.
If you’re curious to learn more, you can browse our outdoor kitchen gallery for some inspiration.
Outdoor Kitchen Design Starts With Materials That Last
When dreams are made manifest, they’re done through materials. It’s best to choose quality ones, particularly in Iowa, with its incredible summer heat and harsh winters. Good outdoor kitchen designs often lean on natural stone which can shrug off freezes and thaws and look better as the seasons pass. Stone also has a way of making the appliances look like they belong, whether you are setting a Big Green Egg into a counter or building around a stainless steel range and matching appliances.
The other half of design is where the kitchen resides. We can tuck it against a porch or anchor it to a patio. It could be worked into the edge of a deck. You could have a pergola added overhead to frame the space and give it a sense of room without people feeling enclosed. The point is: you have lots of options.
We approach every one of these as custom designs. Everyone’s lifestyle is one-of-one, and their spaces should be too.
Outdoor Kitchens Built for Life in Central Iowa
The space should fit your lifestyle. That’s what ties together decks and patios, appliances and materials. The right setup depends on how you cook, the size of the crowd you tend to draw, and the particulars of how your yard catches evening light.
We have built outdoor kitchens for quiet couples and for families who host the whole block, and the design starts the same way every time. Always, we begin with a conversation about how you’d like to use your space. Everything else follows from there.
If you would like to gather ideas first, our complementary design guide is a good place to begin.
Let's Build Something Beautiful, Together
It would be our distinct pleasure to meet with you for a no-obligation complimentary design consultation. Call Harold Cross and his team at 515-203-8734, or contact us using our online form.
