Our outdoor kitchen is finally complete, and we couldn’t be happier with the result! In this post, I’m sharing all the details about our new appliances and how we transformed this space into the perfect spot for backyard entertaining.
Last month, I shared the news about our next big project – an outdoor kitchen in our backyard. This was an unexpected renovation, but a welcome one!
Over the summer, RTA Outdoor Living reached out, asking if I wanted to chat about featuring their products in our backyard space. They’re a Midwest-based business that specializes in custom outdoor kitchens that you personalize to your space.
The custom kitchens are built off-site, delivered, and installed in your home. The entire process is fast – it takes only 4-6 weeks for them to build the entire thing!
Prepping The Space
I previously shared our entire outdoor kitchen layout and design in this blog post. Once we finalized the plans and placed our order, the RTA team began building.
Meanwhile, we needed to get the backyard prepped. I hired my go-to contractor to handle the following tasks:
- Remove a diseased tree and relocate bushes
- Add new pavers to the area
- Run electrical, gas, and ethernet lines from the house, underneath the lawn, to the new kitchen area
In just two days, he and his team had everything done! I was amazed at how quickly the project was coming together.
Delivering The New Kitchen
In just three weeks, the team finished building our kitchen, and soon after, I got the call for delivery. It arrived on a massive truck in five huge crates. We cleared out the garage to store everything while waiting for installation day.
Finn kept joking that our garage looked like we were hiding treasures from Indiana Jones!
Installed in One Day
RTA Outdoor Living has a network of recommended professional installers based on location. We hired a local company, Ace of Decks, to install our kitchen. They even coordinated with my contractor to ensure the electrical and gas lines were exactly where they needed to be for the installation.
On installation day, the team got straight to work. RTA provides clear, step-by-step instructions, but because the pieces are so heavy, they needed at least three guys to move everything.
An electrician was also on-site to handle the wiring before the outdoor kitchen counters were installed. He even added custom under-counter lighting, which you’ll see soon!
By the end of the day, everything was installed, and we couldn’t believe our eyes!
Our New Outdoor Bar and Kitchen
Okay, let’s take a look at our new luxury outdoor kitchen, which has truly transformed our entire backyard into the perfect outdoor entertaining space.
With a custom outdoor bar and a functional cooking area, this outdoor living space has become the ultimate spot for family gatherings and hosting friends.
The Bar Area & Stylish Bar Stools
First up, let me show you my favorite part of the new kitchen—the bar area. When it comes to outdoor bar ideas, this one takes the cake!
We love entertaining in our backyard, whether we’re hosting casual neighborhood hangs, block parties, or birthday celebrations. Over the years, we’ve added plenty of comfortable seating with a dining table and a cozy lounge area under the pergola.
But now, the highlight is our charming bar area with four comfortable bar stools. Every time I sit there, I feel like I’m at a trendy restaurant!
Finn is usually grilling delicious food; I’m relaxing at the bar, and the kids are running around the yard, It’s the perfect outdoor perch.
At Ellis’ recent birthday party, the bar top was the focal point for snacks, making it easy for guests to grab food and mingle. The design idea has completely transformed the flow of our outdoor space for the better!
Let’s Review Our Coyote Appliances
Now, onto Finn’s favorite part—our appliances, which he uses almost every day. When designing your own outdoor kitchen with RTA Outdoor Living, you get to choose from their incredible selection of Coyote Outdoor Living appliances. Here’s what we picked for our modern outdoor kitchen…
The Built-In Grill
Holy smokes, this 42″ grill is huge! You should have seen the grin on Finn’s face when it was installed. It’s massive and even has space for a rotisserie chicken!
One of my favorite features is the LED-illuminated knobs and interior lights that automatically turn on when you open the grill. It’s super helpful during unpredictable weather or late-night grilling sessions!
Finn is especially excited that the grill is hooked up to our natural gas line. As someone who grills five times a week, he’s happy to say goodbye to those last-minute trips to the store for propane tanks!
Coyote even has a YouTube series showcasing some incredible recipes. I’m sending these videos to Finn for grilling inspiration.
Double Side Burner
To the right of the grill, we added a double side burner. Finn, our resident chef, often grills meat and veggies while cooking rice or quinoa on the stovetop. Now, he can do it all outside without having to run in and out of the house.
Plus, with so much space for food preparation, he rarely needs to head back to the interior kitchen. I have a feeling he will mostly be doing outdoor cooking from here on out, which makes me happy because the kitchen inside stays clean!
Two Outdoor Refrigerators
I have to admit, having not one but two outdoor refrigerators feels incredibly luxurious! We thought it would be helpful to separate alcoholic beverages from non-alcoholic ones, and it’s been a game-changer for entertaining.
One fridge is stocked with water, sparkling water, and juice boxes for the kids, while the other holds beer and spiked seltzers for the adults. Our guests (and their kids) know exactly where to go when they need a drink.
The outdoor fridges even come with keys, allowing us to lock them up for peace of mind when we’re not home.
Like all of our appliances, these refrigerators are rated for outdoor use, ensuring they stand up to the elements in our new space.
Drop-In Cooler
“But where does the wine go?!” That was the first question my friends asked when they saw our new space. With a 12-foot countertop at the back of the kitchen, we had room to add a drop-in cooler.
Let me tell you, this thing is amazing! We used it for Ellis’ birthday party, filling it with all the fixings for mimosas and Bloody Marys, and covering everything with ice. It even has a drainage hole at the bottom for easy cleanup after large gatherings.
While we’ll mostly use the wine cooler for parties or to chill wine when we’re hanging outside, it’s incredibly convenient to have on hand!
The only appliances we considered, but ultimately didn’t add to our outdoor kitchen, were an ice maker and an outdoor sink. Both would have required running a water line, and we felt it wasn’t worth the hassle—especially with the risk of pipes freezing during the winter.
Oh, and I’m still a little sad we couldn’t make the pizza oven work. Next time, perhaps?
Maximizing Our Storage Space
In addition to the awesome appliances, our outdoor kitchen has a ton of storage. We have a pull-out trash can, two drawers beneath the grill, two more under the burners, and a full pantry with shelves and additional drawers.
Honestly, I’m not sure what we’ll fill all this space with yet! Finn says he’s “working on a plan” to organize everything efficiently.
My guess is we’ll store his grilling utensils, a fire extinguisher (a must!), extra wine openers, trash bags, stainless steel cleaner, and more. We probably won’t keep any food or seasonings out here to avoid attracting pests.
Weatherproof Granite Countertop
Watching the team install the kitchen was exciting, but it really came together when they added the durable granite countertops. I chose “Thunder White” granite, and I absolutely love the white and gray pattern.
The texture is unlike any countertop I’ve ever felt—it’s not the smooth, sleek surface you find indoors. It has a bit of texture to it, and it wipes up like a dream.
We also opted for white reclaimed brick on the exterior of the bar. At first, I was a little nervous—it looked so stark against the rest of the backyard.
But once we added the bar stools and planters, it softened the look, and now I’m really happy with it. I also think the white will darken and weather over time, which will add more character. Right now, it’s just very clean and fresh!
Adding Two Large Planters
These two large black planters are the finishing touches for our outdoor kitchen. When you enter our backyard from the side gate, this is the first view you see, and I wanted it to be a welcoming one.
Rather than just viewing the back of the grill and the white brick, I wanted to add some beautiful greenery to soften the space.
I found these sleek, modern planters, and my mom and I had so much fun picking out fall flowers to fill them. We even created a small tabletop planter for the countertop, which adds a nice touch and helps balance all the white and gray in the kitchen. You can never go wrong with plants and accessories, right?!
The Backyard Kitchen At Night
Now that you’ve seen the full daytime tour, let’s check it out at night.
Isn’t it magical? The lights add such a fantastic touch and truly make it feel like a real bar or restaurant.
Our electrician wired them along with the rest of the backyard lighting, and now we can control everything right from our phone—so convenient!
There’s something so special about being back here in the evening with the string lights twinkling overhead (and cocktails in hand!).
We’re excited to enjoy this space as much as possible before the weather gets too cold.
Our Backyard – Before & After
Let’s do a true before and after and showcase what this space looked like when we purchased our home in 2019. These pictures blow my mind!
Our backyard now looks 10x bigger after all of these projects. What used to be just grass and concrete is now a multi-functional space that we use every single day.
My friends joked that you could live back here. We have a full kitchen, dining area, and outdoor living room. I guess, we’re just missing a bathroom. Ha!
The Outdoor Kitchen & Bar – Sources
My experience with RTA Outdoor Living was incredible. It’s crazy to think that just a month ago this was just a design in our heads and now it’s completely done and we’re enjoying it!
I love that the entire kitchen is built off-site and then you can have it installed in just one day. That means less of a mess and less chaos for the entire family.
One more thing to mention before I go – the kids’ playhouse is still here! There was no way we could get rid of this wonderful new addition to our backyard.
Right now, it’s in the grass of our side yard, but we may move it up to the deck once we remove our old grill. There has been a lot of shuffling of things in the backyard, so we are still getting settled.
Sharing Budget Breakdown
I always like sharing REAL NUMBERS so you can plan your home projects accordingly. This blog post breaks down the labor, materials, and appliances for our new outdoor kitchen.