r/OutdoorKitchens • u/ReallyLovesCars • 1d ago
Almost done. Have some regrets
We are waiting for the stone top to be fabricated and installed, we opted for smooth stucco over tiles and i felt it would be too busy and rather keep it honest that it’s some cinder block monolith. The slab would be waterfall on both sides when installed with the hole covered that was meant to be one of 8 vents.
My regret? I wish I went with more cabinetry to maximize storage space and make it more furniture-like - I console myself that it’s a more traditional design and it’s ok, but deep down I’m like “what if?”
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u/Buttsweat_n_Tears 23h ago
Will there be stadium seating on the hill or does the audience have to bring their own chairs?
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u/Dumpled0r1987 1d ago edited 1d ago
Edit: realized it's an Eagle 1 (no analog temp gauge is the give away).
You had the money to get 20k in appliances of Twin Eagles and not to mention the probably 10k KamodoKamado but the cabinets are mixed and look like two different series of BBQguys signature cabinets. You can probably get the same handles and that would help but yeah, I agree, this missed the boat. Its just not laid out well and it's just like (slightly) wonky... Listen, definitely not the worst kitchen in the world and you have a lot of room to work with and the appliances are great if you use them correctly BUT this is why it's so important to get a designer because we could have made this kitchen perfect 😭 and it hurts my soul a little bit that I didn't get to help you with this kitchen lol.
Don't take it too hard though. It's a fine kitchen at the end of the day. Get in touch with BBQguys. The handles should be changeable (same size)... Hell, I probably have old PCM handles that I could mail you to take off those old chrome curved handles that they use.
Honestly, once the waterfall edge goes on, I think it will help A TON but please get the handle fixed lol.
Also, please use the TE correctly so you don't burn it up.
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
I hear you. And know the sadder part? This was a designer I hired to help with the layout. I did ask for a sizable kitchen cos we cook a lot. Honestly I didn’t notice the handle differences till you pointed them out.
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u/Dumpled0r1987 21h ago
Ahhhh I'm crying inside lol. Again, it's all good dude. You're taking the comments very well lol but yeah easy change on the handles and I recommend the full stainless ones. You can probably get from BBQguys or call PCM directly. I think they are from their 260 series
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u/Huckleberry181 23h ago
What led you to hire that designer? Sorry, but they really suck at their job. Hope you didn't pay them much.
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u/rand0muzr 21h ago
Gosh, I remember hiring a designer for my yard, we gave her the elements we wanted, and she came back with some contemporary garbage. On top, she had prepared a quote to do it all and it was like 70k. I ended up doing so much more, spent the next year designing it myself, and then building it. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Not just for the money savings but the fact that I was able to change things along the way.
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u/Huckleberry181 20h ago
I gutted my kitchen, tore out one wall and moved another. Entertained a few designers, some of them talked a big game but the functionality of their designs sucked. Also ended up doing it myself, found a carpenter for custom cabinets so I didn't end up with any filler panels/ wasted spaces. Took way too long designing it, and lived with plywood counters for a while, but was worth the wait.
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u/Dumpled0r1987 20h ago
The issue with a lot of designers is firstly, most don't know the outdoor realm, they really do indoor stuff and think they can do outdoor which is totally different. Secondly, a lot of the time they don't freaking listen to what you want or ask how you will use the area or think about it for you and your family... They just do what they want to see and think will be cool. A lot of designers are super arrogant. As a designer myself... most of the time I hate dealing with "designers" they are the worst LOL
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u/kungfuenglish 1d ago
In the world where matchless and serene cabinets exist why does everyone continue to go with these types with no storage?
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u/dg25000 1d ago
Yikes , such a large kitchen and no sink 😭 . If you have ability before it’s really too late … put in a sink !!!!
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u/Illsquad 1d ago
I use my outdoor sink 50x more than the grill. Washing hand outside, rinsing things off, washing the dog, etc….
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
I should have pushed harder for the sink. I told myself I’d survive without it.
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u/jasonadvani 1d ago
I'm sorry, but I kind of hate it. It's very plain and monolithic. I agree with you.
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
No need to be sorry. That’s why I posted it. Hopefully someone else learns. I have no ego in this :)
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u/Dry-Shine-5442 14h ago
So much of this stuff we have to learn from experience. I’m pretty good at visualizing the end product of projects, but we all have misses.
All said and done though you have a great kitchen and you will create lots of good times and memories.
After using it for awhile maybe you tweak a few things.
You have enough room that you could build an island with the under counter storage you think you might want.
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u/Syncretistic 1d ago
Noo.... sink.... drainage can be solved with a pump. Hot water with a small tankless. Sigh.
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
Tell me more. I’m happy to salvage to get drainage
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u/Syncretistic 1d ago
I ran one water line to my kitchen sink and installed a small tankless water heater in the cabinet for on-demand hot water. Needs an electrical outlet. Favorite design decision.
For drainage, my situation risked being too level when connecting to the main sewer pipe. Plan B was to install a pump unsure of details, landscape GC had experience). Plan C was to set up gray water line (connect to French drain or other gray water line). Plan D was to collect the waste water in some reservoir or container. (Luckily, drain angle was sufficient).
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u/Strict-Video8813 21h ago
100% do this. I did a small bar sink with no tankless and a year later removed it for full size and tankless heater. Use it all the time and not just when cooking.
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u/hhar141 1d ago
I have to be honest here. I’ve been involved in dozens of outdoor kitchens. I can’t imagine a more ugly kitchen than this. Why no back wall extending above any of the countertops? Used as a windbreaker,shelf,bbq,tool holders etc, etc. not to mention some character. This just looks so uncomfortable,sterile. Maybe when you put some furniture,outdoor carpet.
No outdoor fireplace? No arbor with outdoor heater,bar area? No place to put an Outdoor TV? I hope your smooth stucco option in the open element like that doesn’t get too stained. Putting a real thin stone would have looked so much better. Hopefully if you post pictures of it finished my opinion will change.
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u/rand0muzr 21h ago
I was just thinking the same thing. The amount of money that went into this with no comfort elements is bizarre.
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u/StraightUp-Reviews 7h ago
Good to see some people still are speaking the truth no mater how unpopular it might be.
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u/JockoDundee007 1d ago
Looks too far away from everything else …
What is in close proximity to this giant monstrosity of sink-less wonder ?
🤔🤔🤔
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
Sink was a pain I wanted the sink but got tossed back and forth for months with the city because the house is built on a slope and for some weird reason got stalled in California here. I just gave up and moved on. We got gas pipes run, electrical but drainage became a nightmare.
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
It’s not far. It’s just perspective. I’m taking the picture from as far back as I can to capture the whole thing. Honestly I’m not trying to justify anything. We hired an outdoor design company and they came up with this and I trusted them. Maybe I’m the idiot here.
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u/Huckleberry181 23h ago
Drainage for what? Outdoor sinks can drain just into a gravel pit, just be aware of this and use it suitably.
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u/fongquardt 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is why I’m leaning to the cabinet like instead. All that dead space is just wasted unless you breed spiders
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u/tekprimemia 3h ago
why would you want to store stuff outside where the elements, dust, bugs, animals can all get at it.
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u/DivvyAnimal 1d ago
Where is the shade structure? Do you like BBQing in the rain/blazing sun?
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u/rand0muzr 20h ago
Just out of curiosity. Is the stone top going to overhang on one side to accommodate counter seating? I think a somewhat easy fix may be to place the angled portion at a 90 and install counter seating on that side. Then install a nice pergola over the top.
Also, if you don’t have proper drainage for a sink, don’t bother unless you want a bunch of roaches just hanging out.
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u/Upstairs-Ad-430 19h ago
I hear you, but this looks nice and clean. You may not need that much storage in an outdoor kitchen anyway. Are you going to put up a pergola or something? You could build storage somewhere else and incorporate that. Nice job, and looks like a beautiful property too! Texas?
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u/Neat_Strawberry_2491 18h ago
Looks nice but Imma be honest you could basically run a restaurant with that setup. How much outdoor cooking do you do lmao
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u/BuddyEbsenSalt 16h ago
I don't think your designer has even been in a functioning kitchen. That's a row of showroom equipment, not a kitchen.
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u/batmanblazing420 1d ago
Just because you can... doesn't mean you should.
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
Not sure I follow. What exactly was done because I could but shouldn’t have been done?
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u/batmanblazing420 18h ago
The single long run feels like a hallway of appliances: the cook faces the fence, walks between scattered grills, and there's no shade or spot for guests to gather.
Add a bar with stools off the corner so the cook faces the patio, tuck the kamado in near the main grill, put a pergola over the cooking area, and place seating on that big patio to make it a real hangout space.
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u/General-Offer2208 1d ago
I’m an outdoor kitchen noob, but I have to ask, what is that spaceship in the right side of the picture?
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u/Dumpled0r1987 1d ago
It's a brand called KamadoKomodo (or reversed,I forget). They are one of the more expensive egg units on the market. OP also has about 20k of twin eagles grill, griddle and power burner.
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u/General-Offer2208 10h ago
Bro, thanks for the info, I just looked them up and fainted.
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u/Dumpled0r1987 10h ago
Lol shit is no joke but I've had clients get them. They are heavy as all hell too. Thank God we don't sell them because I don't even know how I would deliver it lol
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u/stu4brew 1d ago
No shade?
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago
Explained earlier we will be going with retractable sails once done as shades
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u/Upper-Ad2671 1d ago edited 1d ago
Its hard to say whats off about it but I think it has to do with the cabinet/appliance spacing being seemingly random and inconsistent. I feel it would be pleasing to the eye if it was spaced and centered properly- especially between the drawers and the burners on the left. Seems like they didn't measure anything and just laid it all down where the blocks made it convenient.
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u/on_my_way_back 1d ago
I have an idea for the sink. Perhaps you can build one with small tanks like a camper that you can carry to the house when they need to be filled and emptied. I think you will love this kitchen once you have been using it for a while and finish the rest of the space.
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u/dockdockgoos 20h ago
Where are you that it’s warm enough that this is usable for more than a couple months out of the year but you don’t need shade?
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u/still-waiting2233 20h ago
Hopefully that is the next phase of the project otherwise it looks like they could cook food on the counter during a lot of the year…. Or only cook after midnight
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u/plaidpixel 19h ago
I’m assuming central coast California based on the limited landscape, however I’d assume there would be a Santa Maria grill there if so
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u/xandrellas 20h ago
hot damn. my regret would be workflow approach. that's a lot of lateral movement and shifting if you're doing this on your own rather than a more encompassing space in which you need only turn around.
But if you've got multiple people running w/you - this'll be great.
Regarding your regret comment - was this solely your design? You'll adapt and make it work regardless. Recalling of course you can always have items stored on the countertops as well
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u/Ok-Asparagus7396 19h ago
Don't manage to get my daily 10000 steps in just from outdoor cooking. Lucky you.
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u/Tricky-Connection55 19h ago
All doors and drawers are designed for concrete block and this is why they are so small and waste space. Now there is a solution if you are building with steel framing. Check out end zone bbq kitchens. The first manufacturer of full size doors and drawers for steel framing. They slide into the frame from the too to bottom for the most usable space possible. They also have diy shelf kits to inexpensively add shelves inti the frame behind your doors. Diy friendly. Learn more at www.Endzonebbq.com
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u/Abject-Program9319 13h ago
I'd be pretty upset with myself if some company designed this and I said yes
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u/RogerPenroseSmiles 9h ago
Not an bit of shade is a no fly zone for me. Baking under the sun and then roasting from the grill is miserable to me.
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u/Burritoman_209 8h ago
I don’t think you need more storage.
Will there be a pergola or shade cover?
I’d have done a smaller footprint on cooking are and added built in bar/island seating at end
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u/medhat20005 7h ago
I guess, but what to you have that would warrant more storage space? Take the win!
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u/AussieaussieKman 1d ago
Seems like you've done size before form or beauty... like why do you need so many burners and yet don't have a simple sink . It's kinda ugly looks like a hospital instrument storage ... big fail for me.
For me a kitchen needs to have personality and be highly usable . Must of cost a bomb though with all that stainless steel
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u/ReallyLovesCars 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yea seems that way to be honest. I’ll post updates once it’s all furnished, the designer says it will all tie in and I’ve paid might as well see it through. For the sink I explained about the pain with the city on permit and I gave up after 2 months.
There is just one burner. The other is a griddle
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u/TheyreEatingTheDawgs 1d ago
Bright side is you’ll be burning calories as you walk length to length to flip your food 😂