Project Name: Summer kitchen built in an Upton floorplan
Project Design Layout: Straight
Project Materials Description: Outdoor Kitchen Materials: Powder Coated Aluminum Framing, Wet Weather Board, Stacked Stone, MSI Premium Black Ledger Panel, Full Wall Backsplash, Level 1 Granite, Vale Nevado Granite, 8" Granite Backsplash, Stainless Steel Outdoor Kitchen Components: Tradewind 36" Hood, Internal Blowers, Custom Stainless Stack Chase, Blaze 32" LTE Plus Grill, Blaze 24" Griddle Plate, Blaze 32" Drawer/Door Combo, Under Mount Sink, High-Arc Faucet, Blaze Single Vertical Access Door, Blaze 3.2 CU FT Refrigerator, Blaze Fridge Trim Kit, Blaze Narrow Roll-Out Trash Drawer
Summer kitchen built in an Upton floorplan in Verdana Village, Estero, Florida
This 8’5″ summer kitchen was built on the lanai of an Upton floorplan in Verdana Village, Estero, Florida. The single run packs in a full cooking, prep, cold storage and cleanup station: a grill zone under a vented hood, a working sink with storage below, and a refrigerator and trash drawer at the opposite end — all without crowding the outdoor living space.
Below is a breakdown of the components installed, how the cabinet was built, and the finish selections that pulled it together.
Appliances & Components Installed
Every component in this build is outdoor-rated stainless steel, sized to work together within the 8’5″ footprint:
- Tradewind 36″ hood with internal blowers — internal blowers keep the ductwork clean and the profile tight
- Custom stainless stack chase — fabricated to carry the hood ducting up the wall
- Blaze 32″ LTE Plus series grill — lights, rear burner and heavy-gauge stainless grates
- Blaze 24″ griddle plate — drops onto the grates for breakfast, smash burgers and fajitas
- Blaze 32″ drawer/door combo — installed directly under the grill for tank or tool storage
- Under-mount sink with high-arc faucet — the high arc clears large pots and sheet pans
- Blaze single vertical access door — under the sink, for plumbing access and storage
- Blaze 3.2 cu. ft. outdoor-rated refrigerator — built for Florida heat and humidity
- Blaze trim kit for the 3.2 cu. ft. fridge — finishes the fridge opening flush with the cabinet face
- Blaze narrow roll-out trash drawer — keeps the bin hidden and out of the weather
How the Cabinet Was Built
The kitchen was framed with powder-coated aluminum, wrapped in a wet-weather board, and finished with a stacked stone facade. Aluminum will not rust, rot or attract pests, which matters in a coastal climate where the cabinet lives outdoors year-round.
These are the same construction methods we used a few streets away in Pulte’s Stellar model at Verdana Village. If you are building an Upton, a Stellar, or another floorplan in Verdana Village, the cabinet construction is the same regardless of the model — only the footprint and lanai layout change.
We have additional kitchens built in a number of Pulte communities across Southwest Florida. Reach out with your community and we can point you to the most convenient location to visit in person.
Curious what’s behind the stone? Take a look at our photos of a summer kitchen under construction.
Stacked Stone Facade & Full Wall Backsplash
We installed MSI Premium Black ledger panels as both the cabinet facade and the full wall backsplash. The dark stone gives the stainless appliances a sharp, high-contrast frame.
To see every stacked stone color we offer, visit our rock selections page.
To finish the look, we carried the stacked stone backsplash to the right of the cabinet, into the area of the slider track, running from the bottom of the header down to the top of the track. Continuing the stone through that section keeps the wall reading as one deliberate design element instead of stopping abruptly at the cabinet edge.
Vale Nevado Granite Countertop & Backsplash
A level 1 Vale Nevado granite countertop and backsplash were installed. To view the granite selections we have worked with over the years, visit our included granite selections page.
Why we install an 8″ granite backsplash
We installed an 8″ backsplash, which lets us relocate any existing upper outlets down to the granite. Stacked stone has a lot of dimension, so an outlet mounted in the stone leaves the plate cover sitting proud and uneven. On granite, the outlet and cover sit flush and clean.
Behind the grill, the full granite backsplash matches the 36″ width of the vent hood and rises to the bottom of the hood at 36″ above counter height — a continuous, easy-to-wipe surface exactly where grease and splatter land.
Selecting your granite in person
Granite can always be selected in person at the granite yard, and we encourage customers to visit. Every slab is different, and photos only tell part of the story.
For customers who are not in town full time, closing is a good time to visit. You can make your selection then, or verify in person a slab you previously chose from photos.
Planning a Summer Kitchen in Verdana Village?
Whether you are closing on an Upton, another Verdana Village floorplan, or a home in one of the surrounding Estero and Fort Myers communities, we can help you size the run, choose components and select your stone and granite.
Contact Elegant Outdoor Kitchens to start your project, or let us know your community and we will direct you to a completed kitchen nearby that you can see in person.
