Tag: Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

Florida Officials Begin Ordering Evacuations – Thoughts & Prayers for Florida Coast

Florida State Category 5 Hurricane Irma

A Word About Hurricane Irma From Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Fort Myers Florida

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Fort Myers Florida would like to remind our amazing community to stay safe during these unsure times. Hurricane Irma could potentially reach category 5, and we wanted to let everyone know that we might be late to respond to any form of communication that’s directed towards our company.

Our thoughts and prayers are here with our family, friends, and fellow Floridians. Make sure to stock up on food and water along with securing a safe place to stay during the storm.
Florida is strong! We will endure this storm and continue to grow stronger from it.

Get additional information from the Washington Post about Hurricane Irma here – Washington Post Hurricane Irma Article

Choosing a Professional Barbecue Grill for your Outdoor Kitchen

Lynx Professional Built-in Barbecue Grills - Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida

What to look for before you buy a professional outdoor grill. Your outdoor kitchen’s primary feature is the barbecue grill. We recommend starting with this article from Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida.

Choosing A Professional Built-in Barbecue Grill Head for your Outdoor Kitchen

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to a professional grill for your outdoor kitchen island.  There are a few things you’ll want to consider though. The last thing you want to do is choose a grill that will only last 2-3 years. We call these types of grills “throwaways”. We won’t be mentioning those grills in this article today. What we will be doing is giving you a few pointers that will help you during the selection process.

Structural Design & Integrity of a Barbecue Grill

304 Stainless-Steel is the industry standard when it comes to professional barbecue grills. Structural integrity of your grill is extremely important, the last thing you want is for your grill to start rusting and breaking down inside your new barbecue island. The goal of building a custom outdoor kitchen is to get as many years out of it as possible. The professional grills we’ll be talking about today have a lifespan of around 10 – 15 years. The nice thing about a professional grill is that they are just like vehicles, if a part breaks, you’re able to replace it. We’ve seen customers with professional grills as old as their automotive vehicle.

Blaze 32 Inch 4-Burner Grill With Rear Burner - Open Grill Head

Blaze 32 Inch 4-Burner Grill With Rear Burner – Open Grill Head

There’s quite a few great barbecue grill manufacturers on the market today. It’s always best to start the process by talking with a professional within the industry. We’re Southwest Florida’s outdoor living specialists and we’re here to help you design and amazing outdoor kitchen environment. Give Elegant Outdoor Kitchens a call today!

All in all, you’ll want to make sure that the grill you purchase for your barbecue island is made of stainless-steel. Most popular grill brands have standardized grill sizes too. So, when it comes time to replace the old grill, the chances are high that they will have made a newer model in the exact same size or cut-out size.

Burners, BTU’s, Grilling Surface & Grates

Your BBQ grill burners are another very important feature that you’ll want to understand. What metal the burners are manufactured out of as well as their lifespan. Grill burners are constructed from range of materials, cast brass, cast iron, 304 stainless-steel, and infrared (which is a type of burner, not material). Leading grill manufacturers usually use cast brass burners. Cast brass burners are considered to be superior in many ways. They’ll usually last as long as the grill itself.

Summerset Stainless-Steel Grate and Cast Iron Burner

Summerset Stainless-Steel Grate and Cast Iron Burner

BTU: A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one-degree Fahrenheit. This is the standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel has as well as the amount of output of any heat generating device.

Your professional grill will have a BTU output associated with each burner. The number of burners your grill will have will range from 3 – 6. Entry level professional grills will usually have 3 burners, which is a very common configuration. BTU output per burner can range from 10,000 to 20,000 depending on the grill manufacturer. Most of the professional grills on the market today will also come with an infrared rotisserie burner in the rear wall of the grill. The infrared rotisserie burner is usually built-in to the grill, but some companies will charge extra for the rotisserie motor as well as the spit.

The grilling surface is another extremely important feature of a professional barbecue grill. The barbecue grill surface will be measured in square inches. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that more grilling surface is beneficial. The grilling surface or area depends on the barbecue grill you purchase. A great question to answer before purchasing a grill is, “How many people will you be grilling for?” This answer will give you a better idea of what grill range you should be considering.

Another important aspect of the grilling surface is whether the temperature is consistent throughout the entire surface. Does the barbecue grill have cold spots? You can research on the internet to see what people are saying about any grill on the market. The primary objective is to purchase a barbecue grill that evenly distributes heat to its grilling surface.  The surface being the grill grate/s, the grill grates also can vary in size and material used in its manufacturing process. Grill grates can be made of porcelain enamel coated steel wire or porcelain enamel coated cast iron.

 

Professional Barbecue Grill Features, Bell’s & Whistles
Alfresco Grills ALXE Professional Barbecue Grill Smoker Tray - Custom Outdoor Kitchen Built-in Grills

Alfresco Grills ALXE Professional Barbecue Grill Smoker Tray

From LED lighting, knobs, ignition systems, wood smoking trays, and so much more, the industry is massive and competitive. There’s a huge range of features that you can purchase in a professional barbecue grill. Some grills come with built-in side burners and other handy add-ons. What it really comes down to is making sure you choose a professional grill that will last the next ten years without any hitches. We recommend speaking with an Elegant Outdoor Kitchens professional about your options. Our team will help you choose a grill that makes the most sense for your outdoor kitchen space and configuration.

 

Schedule an on-site consultation with the pros here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens. We’ll guide you through our outdoor kitchen design process, we’ll make sure you get the outdoor kitchen you’ve always imagined. Give us a call today to start building!

Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design of Fort Myers, Florida

Outdoor Kitchen Manufacturing of Fort Myers, Florida

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Fort Myers, Florida is your local outdoor kitchen design specialists. We work closely with our clients to design & manufacture the outdoor kitchen & living area you’ve always imagined. Our experienced professionals utilize the latest in Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology and only the highest quality building & finishing materials.

From concept to completion, Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Fort Myers, Florida delivers! Our barbecue island design & construction process was developed with our clients in mind.

Our team can provide a superior outdoor kitchen product at an affordable rate. Every Elegant Outdoor Kitchen we construct comes with a quality guarantee, we’re unlike any manufacturer out there. We stand behind our premium products and services. If you don’t believe us, just take a look and see what our existing clients are saying about us.

If you’re looking for a local Fort Myers outdoor kitchen designer, look no further than Elegant Outdoor Kitchens. We invite you to check out our existing custom outdoor kitchen design portfolio. You’ll find a link below that will take you there.

We invite you to take an introductory step towards starting your custom outdoor kitchen design. Visit the link below to see our article on “Understanding the Custom Outdoor Kitchen Area”. It’s an article that can help you understand some of the preliminary process that goes into constructing a custom outdoor kitchen. We’ve included a preview of the article below.

Custom outdoor kitchen design using CAD (Computer Aided Design). Elegant Outdoor Kitchens uses the latest in computer aided technology for our barbecue island designs

In this article, we’re going to help the everyday average home owner understand the basics of outdoor kitchen & living area construction. Along with the differences between an outdoor living area and a barbecue island or outdoor kitchen. This article isn’t for the do-it-yourselfer, it’s not about building an outdoor kitchen, it’s simply a crash course that will help you understand what’s available. It will be split up into numerous articles. So, we recommend you subscribe to our RSS Feed. You can subscribe to our RSS Feed through the link below.

Understanding the Custom Outdoor Kitchen Area

Custom outdoor kitchen design using CAD (Computer Aided Design). Elegant Outdoor Kitchens uses the latest in computer aided technology for our barbecue island designs

In this article, we’re going to help the everyday average home owner understand the basics of outdoor kitchen & living area construction. Along with the differences between an outdoor living area and a barbecue island or outdoor kitchen. This article isn’t for the do-it-yourselfer, it’s not about building an outdoor kitchen, it’s simply a crash course that will help you understand what’s available. It will be split up into numerous articles. So, we recommend you subscribe to our RSS Feed. You can subscribe to our RSS Feed through the link below.

If you’ve been considering a custom outdoor kitchen, look no further than Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida!

 

Note: In this article we’ll use the word outdoor kitchen, BBQ Island, and Barbecue Island interchangeably. All we’re referring to is the structure that contains your grill & components. A custom barbecue island can be used for so much more than cooking/grilling though. Some custom outdoor kitchens include bar height counter-tops, prep-areas, fire features and more.

The Custom Outdoor Kitchen or Barbecue Island

In today’s article, we’ll be talking about the outdoor kitchen or barbecue island. The barbecue island is your outdoor kitchens structure. The island is the structure that will hold all the professional components you choose to include. Outdoor kitchen components such as a barbecue grill, sideburner, power burner, stainless-steel storage doors & drawers, and any other components you choose to include. It’s always best to consult with a professional outdoor kitchen contractor before you start purchasing any components for your BBQ Island. A professional outdoor kitchen builder will help to assess the outdoor space you have to work with, design a structure using the latest in CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology, and guide you through the entire construction process. You wouldn’t build a house without consulting with one. Building an outdoor kitchen isn’t any different. This is a structure that will be used regularly, it will contain components that utilize an open flame and reach extremely high temperatures. It’s always best to bring in a professional to assist or even to build the entire BBQ Island. At Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, we build quality custom outdoor kitchens that are beautiful, safe and built to last. Our professionals will help you understand your design options along with many other choices you’ll have.

 

The Elegant Outdoor Kitchens – Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design Process

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens - Custom CAD Drawing

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens – Custom CAD Drawing

After the EOK professionals survey and assess the area you plan to build your barbecue island in, we move on into the design process. Our design team will work closely with you to understand exactly what you want and expect from your new kitchen area. After our team is confident they understand your needs. We then start creating 3D renderings of potential design options. All our designs are visual and 3-Dimensional. This leaves little to chance or imagination. We enable you to see your custom outdoor kitchen design, before we ever start to build. This process allows us to modify, add, and remove elements until you are totally satisfied with the design. This eliminates most errors and misunderstandings that can occur during construction. The Elegant Outdoor Kitchens design process is top notch. Our professional team is here to make sure you receive a product that you’ll love.

Are you interested in seeing some our handy work? Visit our Elegant Outdoor Kitchens project portfolio page to view some of our amazing outdoor kitchen designs. We’re one of Southwest Florida’s leading professional outdoor kitchen manufacturers. Give us a call today, let’s start building!

Visit our official Facebook page to learn more about our company. There you’ll see just what people are saying about us!

Professional Outdoor Kitchen Design of Southwest Florida

Outdoor Kitchen CAD Concept Drawing

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida is your one-stop-shop for professional outdoor kitchen design services. Located in Fort Myers, we custom design & manufacture beautiful outdoor kitchens. From concept to completion our team of professionals is here to build the BBQ Island you’ve always imagined. We work closely with our clients every step of the way. Our process enables our customers to choose a custom layout, finishing materials, professional grill, and all the stainless-steel components necessary for a truly unique custom outdoor kitchen product. We deliver a finished product that our clients will enjoy for many years to come. Our outdoor kitchens are perfect for intimate family gatherings or the occasional celebration. You choose the design that fits your unique living space.

Official Yelp Brand Logo - Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida - Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design Services

Official Yelp Brand Logo – Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida

Our experienced professionals will guide you through the Elegant Outdoor Kitchen design process. We start with an on-site design consultation that allows us to survey your home as well as explore potential design options. We provide a truly unique service to Southwest Floridians. Our experts are here to help you understand your options during the outdoor kitchen design process. Half the battle is knowing what’s available to you. Once we understand what you want, we’ll continue into the layout of your custom outdoor kitchen design using the latest CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology. CAD enables our professionals to present viable design options, all before we ever touch the materials used to construct your custom outdoor kitchen design. During the CAD process we’re able to add, change, and remove design elements based on your feedback. The result being a blueprint that is designed to your specification. You get to see exactly how your kitchen will look before we ever start to build. If you haven’t had a chance to view our outdoor kitchen design portfolio, we recommend you follow this link. Be sure to check us out on Yelp too!

Giallo Ornamental & Golden White

Giallo Ornamental & Golden White

The Ultimate Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design – Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

What are you waiting for? Give our team a call today to schedule a design consultation. If you’re still not convinced, just check out what people are saying about Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Fort Myers, Florida. Below you’ll find real customer testimonials from customers just like yourself. Give Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Southwest Florida a chance to exceed all your expectations.

Ben is hands down the ONLY 1 that will deliver the top notch, quality work that is Elegant Outdoor Kitchens! His creativity, attention to detail and perfectionism is what gives him his reputation of excellence. Related

Customer Testimonial – Paige Phillips

 

Anyone who is considering an outdoor kitchen needs to contact Ben Poulton of Elegant Outdoor Kitchens. My wife and I couldn’t be happier. Ben pays attention to detail and his craftsmanship is outstanding. Our new home in Ft. Myers is truly enhanced because of this feature. Ben and Andrea make the purchase of the kitchen that much easier because of their attentiveness and knowledge. I strongly recommend them and I’m sure you will be as happy as we are.

Customer Testimonial – Hal G., Fort Myers, Florida

Okay, now that you’ve seen what people are saying about us, go ahead and give us a call today to schedule an on-site design consultation. We’re confident that you’ll love the Elegant Outdoor Kitchen difference. That difference is the fact that you’re the most important part of our business. We appreciate you stopping by our website. We look forward to building the outdoor kitchen you’ve always wanted, all at an affordable price.

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens Recommended BBQ Sauce – Neely’s BBQ Sauce

BBQ Sauce Recipe - Elegant Outdoor Kitchens of Fort Myers, Florida

Happy 4th of July From Elegant Outdoor Kitchens!

We were going to post another recipe in observance of the 4th of July but opted to post a spectacular BBQ Sauce recipe from the Food Network. It’ll take about an hour and twenty minutes to make but is worth every minute. We posted two amazing recipes already and thought a BBQ Sauce would serve you well. Instead of purchasing a store-bought BBQ Sauce, get creative and make your own. We’re sure your guests and family members will fully appreciate the effort.

Recipe courtesy of The Neelys

Show: Down Home with the Neelys

View the BBQ Sauce Recipe

Happy 4th of July - Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

Happy 4th of July – Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

Stay Safe and Drink Responsibly

Elegant Outdoor Kitchens hopes that you and your family have an amazing 4th of July. We only ask that you drink responsibly and remember why we celebrate this historical day. Our Independence Day celebration is a time to take pause and reflect on how far America has come. Happy Birthday America!

A Day to Reflect and Remember Our Country and the Independence we Enjoy
Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire. The Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.

Best Barbecue Ribs Ever – Food Network BBQ Ribs Recipe

Amazing BBQ Ribs - Professional Barbecue Grill Recipe

Best Barbecue Ribs Ever

The 4th of July is tomorrow! As Americans, we celebrate this historical day in remembrance of our Independence. The 4th of July is the day our original thirteen colonies declared our Independence from England. It was the day we officially became a free country. At Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, we feel that it’s our duty to remember. Celebrate the 4th with your family and friends and please take a moment to reflect on the reason we celebrate this day.

View The Recipe Here

In observance of the 4th of July we’re posting another amazing outdoor grilling recipe for you to try. We decided that nothing says the 4th of July better than BBQ Ribs. When it comes to grilling those ribs, having a professional barbecue grill and outdoor kitchen area can make preparing and cooking your meals much easier. Believe it or not, the professional grill brands we sell here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens are designed for optimal performance. The most common features you’ll benefit from when using a professional grill is the overall BTU output, evenly distributed heat on the grilling surface, infrared burners, rotisserie, and many other upgraded components. Also, the grills we sell have a more than reasonable life span. They’re not grills that you throw out every two years. We just wanted to impart some of our BBQ Master secrets that we’ve learned over the years. When buying a grill, you always get what you paid for.

Best Barbecue Ribs Ever

We found one of the best Barbecue Rib recipes on the Food Network and decided to share. We’re hoping that some of our suggestions will help you decide what you’ll serve for our Independence Day.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/katie-lee/best-barbecue-ribs-ever-3364398

Recipe courtesy of Katie Lee

Celebrating the 4th with BBQ Pulled Pork – Recipe

BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe - Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

Bobby Flay’s – Oklahoma Joe’s Pulled Pork

Recipe courtesy of Jeff Stehney | Show: BBQ with Bobby Flay
In observance of the 4th of July, we thought we’d share a BBQ recipe everyday leading up into the 4th. Here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens we wanted to remind our customers of some of the reasons why they built or are planning to build an outdoor kitchen area. The outdoor kitchen is designed for Holidays and gatherings. It’s a time to relax and enjoy the family and friends we hold dear to our hearts. What better way to gather than around a wonderful meal that was grilled and enjoyed outdoors. Elegant Outdoor Kitchens is Southwest Florida’s go-to outdoor kitchen manufacturer. We design & build custom BBQ Island cabinetry that’s built to fit your unique outdoor living space. If you can dream up an outdoor kitchen, we can build it for you.

In our effort to celebrate our freedom along with remembering just how great this country truly is, we wanted share a recipe from the Food Network. Specifically, a BBQ recipe from the show “BBQ with Bobby Flay”. Below you’ll find it, along with a link giving credit to the Food Network.

Free Outdoor Kitchen Design Guide by Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

Giallo Ornamental & Golden White

The Process Of Building A Custom Outdoor Kitchen

We have compiled the perfect outdoor kitchen design guide that’s designed to give you an introduction to the process. The Elegant Outdoor Kitchens team has compiled a useful outdoor kitchen design guide that will help you understand what to expect from a custom outdoor kitchen build. You’ll learn about design configurations, materials, grills, components, and so much more. Download your design guide below.
Elegant Outdoor Kitchens – Starting Your Outdoor Kitchen Construction Project Guide.

Custom Outdoor Kitchen plans can be as simple or complex as you desire. The one physical factor that keeps many of us from designing the ultimate outdoor living area is space. Chances are that you have a limited amount space or physical area to work with. Unless your last name is Rockefeller, then you just got it like that. The other factor tends to be budget.

 
Materita in Pelican Preserve Outdoor Kitchen BBQ Island

Materita in Pelican Preserve Outdoor Kitchen BBQ Island

There are many practical design layouts that you can implement. Most of these layouts stem from a few basic design configurations. The base layout configurations consist of:

  • Straight or Linear
  • U-Shape
  • L-Shape
  • Split Level
  • ¾ Square

While this list is anything but extensive, almost every custom outdoor kitchen layout is based off one of these basic models. Depending on the area you have, we’re certain that you can convey to your EOK Designer which type of design configuration you want through the base styles mentioned.

The best part of designing an outdoor kitchen is the customization. BBQ Island designs are customized with everything from backsplashes, raised bar areas (split level), dining areas, even fire features built right into the counter-top. The list is quite endless when it comes to structural customization. This section of the brochure will prepare you to talk the talk with your designer.

 

Aesthetic Finish Materials

Close-Up of Special Order Counter-Top Granite with Striped Pattern

Close-Up of Special Order Counter-Top Granite with Striped Pattern

When working with Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, you’re able to choose the unique finishing materials for your brand-new custom outdoor kitchen. When it comes to your finishing material options, the material choices are quite extensive. It’s important to understand that inferior materials and craftsmanship will deteriorate quickly in an outdoor environment.

Countertops

During the layout and design phase you will have already decided on how much counter space you have to work with. Countertops are important, as you will need them to prepare food, serve food, and ultimately use as a space to set stuff down. The material you choose for your countertop is an important one. You should consider that it will be exposed to outdoor elements, it can’t stain or chip easily, and it should match your siding. Luckily there are many options when it comes to countertops. The best choices are going to be materials like natural stone, concrete, or an outdoor tile. It’s best to speak with an Elegant Outdoor Kitchens representative before purchasing any materials for your countertop.

 

Facing Finish

The siding finish is what you and your guests will immediately notice about your outdoor kitchen. That’s why this finish should be considered carefully. It’s always a good idea to choose a finish that matches your overall outdoor environment and your countertops. Stone veneer, also known as stacked stone is an upscale and popular outdoor kitchen finish. When choosing a veneer, you must consider your climate and the weather it will be exposed to. What you will have to choose from will depend on your environment. Speak with your Elegant Outdoor Kitchens representative about the material options that are available and suitable for your climate. They’ll be happy to showcase some of the beautiful materials you can use for your outdoor kitchen.

 

Built-In Grills & Accessories

The best part of designing your outdoor kitchen is choosing from the amazing cooking & grilling components that are available today. The choices are vast and it helps to have an experienced outdoor kitchen consultant to help you realize your outdoor cooking needs. You must consider many factors when choosing your grill, stainless steel accessories, and secondary cooking components. Things to keep in mind are your budget and the space you have in your outdoor kitchen design.

 

The Built-In Grill

Blaze 40 Inch 5-Burner Gas Grill With Rear Burner - Open Grill Head

Blaze 40 Inch 5-Burner Gas Grill With Rear Burner – Open Grill Head

Let’s face it, an outdoor kitchen isn’t a kitchen without a professional grill. This will be your go-to cooking component for your outdoor living area. It’s important to make sure you choose a grill that’s durable, high performance, and will withstand the test of time. The last thing you want to do is build an outdoor kitchen with cut-out dimensions for a grill that will only last two years. What If the manufacturer goes out of business? Our recommendation is that you buy a professional style grill that will last you between ten to fifteen years. Plus, the performance you’ll get from a professional grill is unmatched when compared to some of the lower end manufacturers you find at places like Home Depot.

Outdoor Kitchen Accessories

From Pizza Ovens to Access Doors, Drawers, and more. Your outdoor kitchen can be outfitted with even more custom cooking components than your interior kitchen. There are very few limits to cooking outdoors. Speak with one of our Elegant Outdoor Kitchens designers to choose your custom accessories and additional cooking components.

Designing and outdoor kitchen for your home is an exciting time. It’s important that you choose a company that will work closely with you to plan, design, and manufacture the outdoor kitchen that you’ve always wanted. Here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens we pride ourselves on communication and customer service & support. Building your perfect outdoor kitchen means that we must first understand what you want in an outdoor living area. We hope that our outdoor kitchen design guide helps. Give us a call or send us an inquiry through the form we’ve included below. We’re here to help you with all your custom outdoor kitchen needs. So, let’s get building!

Call Elegant Outdoor Kitchens at (239) 229-9033 to schedule YOUR outdoor kitchen consultation!