8 Modern Outdoor Kitchen Ideas for Your Idaho Falls Backyard

The best outdoor kitchen is for much more than grilling hot dogs. You can do better than that.

It’s a multi-purpose entertaining space so inviting, your indoor kitchen will be jealous.

Lounge at the counter and sip cocktails. Get cozy by the fireplace. Gather around the TV for fajitas and the big game.

Your outdoor kitchen can be your favorite gathering place even when you’re not cooking.

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• Natural, Sustainable Materials for Modern Outdoor Kitchens

• Outdoor Cooking: Griddles, Smokers & Pizza Ovens

• Outdoor Kitchen Design: Go Bigger

• The Latest Technology for Outdoor Living

• Adding A Bar to Your Outdoor Kitchen

• Outdoor Kitchen Ideas: Modular Design

• Designing Outdoor Spaces for Year-Round Comfort

• Modern Outdoor Kitchen Ideas: Bold Color

• Are Outdoor Kitchens Expensive?

• Partner with a Creative Designer for Your Outdoor Kitchen Design

What are the latest modern outdoor kitchen ideas? Natural materials with an organic vibe. Griddles. Wi-Fi-enabled grills with app-based temperature monitoring. Flexible modular design. Bold colors.

Kim Rubert, Outback Landscape designer, shares the latest and greatest outdoor kitchen ideas.

Natural, Sustainable Materials for Modern Outdoor Kitchens

Here in Idaho, we love our rustic natural surroundings. Using natural materials for your outdoor kitchen design makes it seem right at home. 

Natural stone, concrete and bamboo are popular choices for an organic, sustainable look and feel.

Choose composite decking made from recycled plastic and wood fibers. How about bamboo cabinetry? And while countertops come in recycled glass, the king of counters is granite.

“Granite will always be a classic,” Rubert says, “and there are wide varieties.”

Granite is a popular choice for outdoor kitchen countertops because it resists scratches, heat and weather, making it ideal for high-use outdoor entertaining spaces.

Honed, or “leathered,” granite finishes with a textured matte surface are a popular choice. They reduce sunlight glare better than slick, shiny surfaces and hold up well outside in the elements.

Incorporating granite countertops with other natural, rustic textures helps your outdoor kitchen design blend with the surrounding Idaho landscape.

“People often want to make their custom kitchens with the same stone on their house so that everything is cohesive,” Rubert says.

Outdoor Cooking: Griddles, Smokers & Pizza Ovens

Sure, you need a grill for your outdoor kitchen. Or do you?

“I've seen people move more towards griddle-style grills,” Rubert says.

If you’re thinking that just means breakfast pancakes on the patio, keep thinking.

These outdoor griddles are set up for just about anything, from steaks and stir-fry to smash burgers and panini. And, of course, pancakes or the perfect fried eggs.

Pizza ovens are popular outdoor kitchen features, too, Rubert says, whether built-in or smaller countertop models that heat up faster.

Plant a pizza garden nearby and pick fresh tomatoes and basil for your fresh-air pie. Bliss.

Smokers are popular additions to outdoor kitchen design, Rubert says. They use wood chips of hickory, apple or mesquite to infuse deep, smoky flavors into meats, fish, and vegetables for crowd-pleasing outdoor feasts.

Versatile pellet smokers act as all-in-one machines that can grill, smoke, bake and roast, fueled by compressed hardwood pellets that provide a clean, consistent burn.

Convenient digital controllers maintain the temperature, allowing for long, unattended “set it and forget it” cooking. Relax — dinner’s under control.

Outdoor Kitchen Design: Go Bigger

Designers will always tell you that nobody ever says, “I wish my kitchen were smaller.” This goes for indoor or outdoor kitchens.

Where will you appreciate more space?

“I don't think anyone would ever regret more counter space,” Rubert says. “The countertop space is highly used for prep and food layout for crowds.”

You need plenty of space for all the ingredients for your sizzling shrimp fajitas, your utensils, your serving platters, and your icy drink to sip while you’re working hard at your outdoor chef duties.

Pro tip: “If you can find a dual purpose for the counter — for example, bar seating— then all the better,” Rubert says.

You won’t regret going bigger.

The Latest Technology for Outdoor Living

You might head to your backyard retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of the world, but technology can still follow you if you choose it.

Modern outdoor kitchen ideas include plenty of tech-forward features, including:

• Wi-Fi/Bluetooth grills allow remote temperature management, cooking alerts, and, in some cases, voice control via Alexa or Google Assistant.

• App-synced outdoor fridges alert you when items are low or if the door is left open.

• App-controlled lighting includes dimmable LED systems that can be programmed or adjusted via your smartphone. Set the mood in a snap.

• Built-in flat-screen TVs and high-quality sound systems add a touch of luxury to your outdoor living space.

Adding A Bar to Your Outdoor Kitchen

Plop a 6-pack on your outdoor counter, or go more deluxe.

Dedicated outdoor kitchen bar areas include wine refrigerators, kegerators and ice makers, often with high-top seating. You might want a small bar sink for washing the strawberries for your frozen margaritas.

Outdoor Kitchen Ideas: Modular Design

What’s the best outdoor kitchen layout?

This really depends on the space you have and your personal preference.

A U-shaped layout works well for larger spaces, allowing room for multiple cooks and maximum storage, but L-shaped outdoor kitchen designs are popular, too, separating cooking areas from seating.

Small backyard? Narrow patio? A galley-style linear layout saves space.

Meanwhile, a standalone island with a grill unit might be all you need. Multipurpose islands combine prep space, storage and dining in one handy area.

The latest outdoor kitchen design trend? Flexible, mix-and-match or freestanding cabinets and countertops that can be reconfigured or added to over time.

Love changing things up? Modular designs allow plenty of flexibility, with prep stations, refrigerators, grills and sinks that can be easily rearranged to suit your evolving needs. Hosting a big gathering? Keeping things simple? Rearrange your outdoor kitchen to suit your current vibe.

Bonus: High-Density Polyethylene cabinets (HDPE, for short) offer a waterproof, UV-resistant, and rust-resistant storage solution designed to stand up to the weather and last the long haul.

Designing Outdoor Spaces for Year-Round Comfort

Outdoor kitchens aren’t just for perfect weather.

Infrared patio heaters, motorized awnings and sheltering pergolas make outdoor kitchens destinations even during chilly or rainy weather.

Cozy fire pits or fireplaces don’t have to be far-off features. Integrate them into the cooking or dining area to create comfortable outdoor living and ward off the chill.

Modern Outdoor Kitchen Ideas: Bold Color

Neutral is always classic, with earthy colors that blend with the outdoors, but a more modern outdoor kitchen trend leans toward color.

Homeowners are choosing colored cabinetry in navy blue or emerald green, along with vibrant tile backsplashes.

Feel free to brighten up out there.

Are Outdoor Kitchens Expensive?

That’s a loaded question, right? The quick answer: Plan to spend from $20,000-$50,000, Rubert says.

But the price of an outdoor kitchen depends on factors such as materials, appliances, additional features, size, and location.

Some of this is basic common sense. The bigger an outdoor kitchen is, the more materials, time and labor it will take to build, which means a higher cost.

Higher-end appliances will cost more than budget models.

But some cost factors aren’t as obvious.

One example: It can cost less to plan your outdoor kitchen closer to your house, because you can rely more on existing walls, utilities and appliances you already have inside.

An outdoor kitchen situated farther from your house will require more components, and there may be additional costs for running utilities.

It’s helpful to have a handle on your budget before you sit down with your outdoor kitchen designer. If they design you a fantastic kitchen, but it’s way over your budget, you’ll both be frustrated.

Partner with a Designer for Your Outdoor Kitchen Design

Professional landscape designers like Rubert will have great ideas for your outdoor kitchen that you never even considered, and they put them all together in a way that lets you see exactly what your new outdoor kitchen will look like.

If you think you’re excited about this project now, just wait.

A professional outdoor kitchen design is a full-scale 3D plan that lets you walk through your new outdoor kitchen and see all the details, including:

• Size and scale of the kitchen

• Types of plant and hardscape materials to use

• Where the kitchen will be installed in your yard

• How it will connect to utilities

• All of your ideas and needs for the space

• How it follows local regulations or codes

Partnering with a pro designer also gives you a direct line to an expert who can answer all of your questions.

• Which pavers are the most durable?

• How can you make the space really pop?

• How big should your countertop be?

• What kind of storage do you need?

Having a design also lets you visualize your future space and make sure you’re happy with it before construction gets underway. Making too many changes once installation has started will be costly and delay your completion date.

Ready for a Knockout Outdoor Kitchen Design? Trust Outback

At Outback Landscape, you’ll be working with professionals with years of experience from your first design consultation all the way through the installation.

Not only do we design and construct outdoor kitchens as part of our landscape installation in Idaho Falls, but we can also create anything else your outdoor living space needs, from impressive landscaping to fire features to skilled landscape lighting.

We also offer expert landscape maintenance services to keep the space around your outdoor kitchen looking its best year-round. All you have to do is enjoy it.

Outback serves residential and commercial properties in Idaho Falls, Rexburg and Pocatello, Idaho, as well as Bonneville, Madison and Bannock counties. Call us at 208-656-3220 or schedule a no-obligation meeting with a member of our team. We can’t wait to hear from you.