Outdoor living in Phoenix is more than just having a beautiful yard and pool – it’s about enjoying the natural beauty of the city in comfort. To truly complete your outdoor living space, an outdoor kitchen is a must-have. Unique Companies has been designing and building outdoor kitchens in Phoenix for years, offering customized designs that cater to every lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a simple BBQ grill and bar area or a fully functional outdoor chef’s paradise, Unique has the experience, knowledge, and tips to ensure your outdoor kitchen meets and exceeds your needs and expectations.

When it comes to outdoor cooking, Phoenix demands more than just a BBQ grill on the patio. Built-in rotisserie units, side burners, inversion cook tops, built-in griddles, smokers, and even wood-burning pizza ovens are all essential features for the perfect outdoor kitchen in Phoenix. However, it’s important to remember that the grill shouldn’t be the focal point of your outdoor kitchen – guests don’t want to be bothered by the smoke and heat, and the chef shouldn’t be interrupted each time someone needs a drink or a snack. Instead, placing the grill off to the side and away from your guests’ traffic pattern can create a safer and more enjoyable atmosphere for everyone.

In addition to selecting the right grill, it’s important to choose the right countertop surface. Flagstone, while visually appealing, can be naturally rough and porous, leading to staining and uneven surfaces that can be abrasive to dishes and other items. Consider more than just your budget when selecting a countertop surface – this isn’t a feature that can easily be upgraded in a few years.

When it comes to construction, Unique’s outdoor kitchens start with a solid concrete footer that includes a 1/2″ rebar grid, creating a strong foundation for the structure. Skilled masons then build the block base, which is filled with rebar and solid grout to secure the corners and top block, creating the best possible base. The base is typically coated with a stucco texture that matches or complements the house, and can also be finished with veneer stone or tile. Countertop options include tile, flagstone, granite slab, decorative concrete, and more. Unique offers a full line of grills and accessories to complete the look and function of your outdoor kitchen, including stainless access doors, sinks, drawers, barbecue lights, and side burners. As a certified dealer for Lynx Grills, Capital, and Lion Premium Grills, Unique makes it easy to purchase and warranty your grill and other fixtures if there are ever any issues.

Overall, an outdoor kitchen is an essential component of any true outdoor living space in Phoenix. With Unique Companies’ expertise in design and construction, you can rest assured that your outdoor kitchen will be both functional and visually appealing, catering to your lifestyle and needs. As one of the 10 best landscape companies in Arizona, UNIQUE Landscapes is the ideal contractor to make your dream outdoor kitchen a reality in Phoenix, AZ.

The Basics

All outdoor cooking areas center around a high quality stainless steel barbecue grill. These units can range in price from affordable to rather insanely extravagant. But it is critical to select a grill that will be able to live up to your expectations and meet your needs. No one wants to have buyer remorse after a few weeks when their grill is just a touch too small or does not offer all of the features you want. Even if you only imagine cooking a few meals a week on your grill, think of the future. You could very easily become passionate about outdoor cooking and be eager to try more adventurous recipes and cooking processes. Be open to investing in a high quality and high function grill unit when you design your outdoor kitchen.

All Unique's outdoor kitchens begin with a well-placed grill and expand from there. You will also want to select an access panel which makes service and storage simple. The final item for your grill area is a barbeque light. In the summertime, daylight is rarely an issue for grilling but the rest of the year it gets dark very early. You don’t want to be relying on a $2.00 flashlight as you are trying to sear a steak to perfection or grill the perfect piece of tuna. A basic countertop is often made of flagstone and can be a solid color tone or variation of tones. Natural cut flagstone seems to be the surface of choice for many homeowners due to the cost effective installation and the durability.

Upgrades

Not all homeowners are satisfied with a basic outdoor cooking area. They are looking for a place which will meet more of their needs. One of the most popular upgrades for these clients is the addition of a stainless steel fridge or ice cooler for refreshments. Having ice cold drinks within reach on a hot summer day is a great benefit. If you want to be able to grab an ice cold beverage anytime you are outdoors then a fridge is the way to go. If you are more interested in having cold drinks available when you are entertaining then an ice cooler is a suitable choice. Either choice is great as long as it meets your needs and the lifestyle that you want to lead. For easy access to all of your kitchen utensils and small items, steel drawers and cabinets provide that sealed environment which will keep everything organized and clean until you need to use them. And to keep the mess to a minimum, stainless steel trashcan bins make disposal of trash easy and keep it out of sight. Many of the Unique's upgraded outdoor kitchens and barbeque islands are topped with tumbled travertine. This surface provides a high end look while still being reasonably priced and durable. Travertine can be sealed to provide ease of cleaning and it also provides a great Tuscan look which is cohesive with almost every swimming pool and landscape design in the Phoenix area.

The Premium Plan

Taking your outdoor kitchen to the gourmet level is definitely possible. Many discerning homeowners believe that a functional kitchen must include features such as a dishwasher, warming drawer and even a pizza oven. And their standards for an outdoor kitchen are equally as high. So the sky is the limit when designing an Arizona outdoor kitchen. It can include all of the features that you enjoy indoors and even more if you are truly ready to embrace gourmet cooking alfresco. The Unique design team has a great deal of experience assisting clients when it comes to creating that one of a kind outdoor kitchen masterpiece. The counter tops are often honed from a solid granite slab or are made from granite or porcelain tile. All of these materials will look great and are durable enough to last for many years in the desert environment. Function, features and fabulous views are all that you can ask from a gourmet outdoor kitchen and the Unique design team is the perfect choice when you are ready to plan your outdoor cooking oasis.

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