Outdoor Kitchens
Stuart Row Landscapes designs and builds custom outdoor kitchens for homeowners in Knoxville and East Tennessee. An outdoor kitchen transforms your backyard from a place you visit into a place you live — a full cooking and entertaining space set in the landscape.
What We Build
- Grill islands — built-in gas or charcoal grills with stone or stucco surrounds and prep counter space
- Full outdoor kitchens — grill, sink, refrigeration, storage, and generous counter space
- Pizza ovens — wood-fired and gas, freestanding or integrated into a kitchen layout
- Bar and serving areas — raised counters with seating for casual dining and entertaining
- Covered kitchen structures — pergolas and pavilions that protect the cooking area from rain and direct sun
- Utility integration — gas, electrical, water, and drainage coordinated as part of the design
Design That Works for Cooking
An outdoor kitchen that looks great in a magazine but doesn’t function for actual cooking is a failure. We design with the same principles as an indoor kitchen:
- Work triangle — grill, prep area, and sink positioned for efficient movement
- Counter space — enough room to actually prepare food, not just display a grill
- Storage — cabinets and drawers that keep tools and supplies accessible and dry
- Ventilation — hood placement and airflow so smoke goes where you want it
- Lighting — task lighting for the cooking surface and ambient lighting for the dining area
Materials and Construction
Our outdoor kitchens are built to the same structural standards as permanent architecture:
- Steel-reinforced concrete block structure — not just stone veneer over a wooden frame
- Granite or quartzite countertops — heat-resistant, weather-resistant, food-safe
- Stainless steel appliances rated for outdoor use
- Natural stone facing — Tennessee fieldstone, stacked stone, or manufactured veneer to match your home
- Proper drainage — built-in slope and drainage so water never pools on countertops or around the base
Integrated Into the Landscape
An outdoor kitchen shouldn’t feel like an appliance dropped into your yard. We integrate every kitchen project with the surrounding landscape — matching stone to existing hardscape, framing the structure with plantings, and connecting it to patio spaces and pathways so the whole outdoor living area functions as one cohesive environment.
How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in Knoxville?
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Outdoor kitchens in Knoxville vary significantly based on scope. A built-in grill island with counter space is the entry point, while a full outdoor kitchen with refrigeration, sink, pizza oven, and covered structure is a larger investment. We design to your budget and can phase the project — start with the grill and counter, add the pizza oven next year.
Do outdoor kitchens need plumbing and electrical?
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It depends on what you want. A basic grill island with gas runs only needs a gas line. Add a sink and you need water supply and drainage. Refrigeration and lighting need electrical. We coordinate all utility work as part of the project so you don't have to manage separate contractors.
What materials work best for outdoor kitchens in Tennessee?
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We typically build outdoor kitchen structures with concrete block faced in natural stone or manufactured stone veneer. Countertops are usually granite, quartzite, or concrete — materials that handle weather, heat, and food prep. We avoid materials that stain easily or can't handle freeze-thaw cycles.
Can I use my outdoor kitchen year-round?
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With a covered structure and proper design, absolutely. Many of our clients use their outdoor kitchens from early spring through late fall, and some year-round with the help of outdoor heaters or a nearby fireplace. We design for extended-season use as a standard consideration.
Ready to get started?
Every project begins with a conversation about your land, your vision, and how you want to live outside.
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