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Phoenix Metro

Phoenix Outdoor Kitchen — Job Walk

A right-sized Phoenix backyard tuned for real entertaining — built-in BBQ with a dedicated griddle for breakfasts, a high-end outdoor refrigerator with a true freezer, and a movable bar top with sink coming in next. Filmed on site during the active build.

City / Area
Phoenix, AZ
Project Type
Outdoor kitchen
Year
Active build
Timeline
Active build
Built-in BBQ Island, Griddle Cook Station, High-End Outdoor Refrigerator w/ Freezer in Phoenix, AZ — built by AE Outdoor LivingActual AE Project
Scope of Work
  • Built-in BBQ Island
  • Griddle Cook Station
  • High-End Outdoor Refrigerator w/ Freezer
  • Movable Bar Top with Sink
  • Stacked-Stone Base
  • Travertine Paver Patio
  • Covered Ramada Integration
Completed AE Outdoor Living project at Phoenix Outdoor Kitchen — Job Walk in Phoenix, AZ (image 1)Actual AE Project
Actual AE Project
The Goal

Turn a right-sized Phoenix backyard into a real entertaining space — not a decorative patio — anchored by a durable, built-in cook station.

The Challenge

Making a smaller footprint feel like a full outdoor kitchen: getting a grill, griddle, refrigeration, and a bar into a workable line without crowding seating or the ramada.

The AE Solution

AE laid out the island along the covered ramada edge to keep the cook zone shaded and out of the west sun, roughed all utilities before pouring, and specified a stacked-stone base on a non-wood frame so nothing warps in AZ heat and monsoon. The bar top is designed to move — pushed against the island for prep, pulled out for service.

Key Features
Built-in BBQ with dedicated griddle

Two cook surfaces so breakfast, weeknight dinners, and party cooking all work — not just steaks.

High-end outdoor refrigerator with freezer

One appliance handles cold drinks, ice, and frozen items — fewer trips inside during a party.

Movable bar top with sink

Reconfigurable service surface for hosting, with plumbing planned before pavers were set.

Stacked-stone base on a non-wood frame

Steel or block frame under stacked stone — the durable option for AZ humidity and UV.

Travertine paver patio on AE base spec

Compacted ABC, 1" sand bed, polymeric joint sand — the same base spec we hold every AE paver install to.

What we learned on this build

You don't need a huge yard for a real outdoor kitchen — you need the right cook surfaces, cold storage, and a service layout that matches how you actually host.

Video Walkthrough
Materials Used
  • Stacked-stone island base
  • Non-wood (steel / block) framing
  • Built-in grill + griddle appliance package
  • High-end outdoor refrigerator with freezer
  • Movable bar top with plumbed sink
  • Travertine pavers on compacted ABC + 1" sand + polymeric joint sand
Considering a build like this?

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Related guides

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