Outdoor Kitchens in Southern Utah
This incredible outdoor kitchen is designed for the ultimate culinary experience, featuring a top-of-the-line built-in grill and a dedicated pizza oven. The space is built with durable stone masonry and topped with a sleek countertop, providing ample prep space. A custom-designed wood patio cover with a ceiling fan offers shade, while the central firepit with gas logs provides warmth on cool evenings. This space is a testament to sophisticated outdoor living.
Why Choose Us?
Bespoke Designs: Our team of skilled designers will collaborate with you to craft an outdoor space that matches your vision and lifestyle. From luxurious kitchens to cozy dining nooks, we design every detail to enhance your outdoor experience.
Top-Quality Materials: We use only the finest materials to ensure your outdoor cooking and entertainment area is not only beautiful but also built to last. Whether it’s a high-end grill station, stylish countertops, or durable flooring, our materials are selected for their quality and longevity.
Seamless Integration: Our experts will ensure that your new outdoor space seamlessly integrates with your existing landscape and home. We focus on creating a cohesive look that complements your outdoor environment, making it a natural extension of your living space.
Hassle-Free Process: From concept to completion, we handle every aspect of the project with efficiency and professionalism. Our dedicated team ensures that your renovation is completed on time and within budget, with minimal disruption to your daily life.
Outstanding Service: Your satisfaction is our priority. We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and are always available to address any questions or concerns throughout the process.
Ready to elevate your outdoor living experience? Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and start designing the perfect cooking and entertainment area for your home.
View Our Outdoor Kitchen Projects Gallery
The Seamless Process of Building Your Custom Outdoor Kitchen in Southern Utah
A beautiful, functional outdoor kitchen doesn't happen by chance—it's the result of a thoughtful, collaborative process. At Jim Savage Construction, we guide our Southern Utah clients through every step, ensuring the final result is a perfect reflection of their vision and lifestyle.
Step 1: The Design and Planning Process
Your custom outdoor kitchen project begins with a detailed design consultation. We start by visiting your St. George property to conduct a thorough site assessment. During this initial meeting, we discuss your goals for the space, including your entertaining style, culinary needs, and aesthetic preferences. This is where we consider the natural elements of your backyard, such as sun exposure and wind patterns, to create a truly functional and comfortable environment.
From there, our design team works to bring your ideas to life. We develop a comprehensive outdoor kitchen layout and provide you with detailed plans and 3D renderings of the proposed space. This allows you to visualize every element, from the placement of your premium grill to the flow of your countertops. We work closely with you to finalize appliance selection, ensuring all plumbing, electrical, and gas lines are strategically planned for a seamless installation that meets all local building codes.
Step 2: Selecting the Right Materials for Southern Utah's Climate
Choosing the right materials is the single most important factor for an outdoor kitchen that will last. Southern Utah's climate, with its intense sun and occasional temperature extremes, demands materials that are not only beautiful but also incredibly durable. Our material selection process focuses on longevity and performance.
Countertops: We recommend weather-resistant options like sealed granite, quartzite, or durable porcelain slabs. These materials are naturally UV-resistant and can withstand high heat from grills and the intense sun without fading or cracking.
Cabinetry and Structure: We often use sturdy masonry and stucco, which are highly durable and complement the desert landscape. For a more modern look, we install marine-grade stainless steel cabinetry that is rust-resistant and easy to maintain. We avoid materials that will warp or rot, ensuring your investment remains beautiful for years to come.
Finishes and Accents: We carefully choose accent materials like stone veneer and high-quality pavers that will not degrade under the sun, ensuring a cohesive and long-lasting design.
Step 3: Expert Construction and Installation
Once the design is finalized and the materials are selected, our skilled construction team begins to build your new outdoor kitchen. We handle every part of the process, from preparing the site and laying the foundation to building the structural elements. Our craftsmen use a meticulous approach to ensure everything is built to the highest standards, ensuring your outdoor space is structurally sound and ready for a lifetime of use.
All utility lines for plumbing, gas, and electricity are professionally installed by certified experts to ensure safety and functionality. We take great care to ensure that all connections are secure and hidden from view for a clean, finished look.
Step 4: Finalization and Client Walkthrough
As the final elements are installed—including your chosen grill, refrigerator, and any other appliances—we begin the final phase of the project. Our team performs a thorough quality check to ensure every detail matches the approved design plan and meets our high standards.
Finally, we conduct a final walkthrough with you. We'll show you how to use your new outdoor kitchen, from operating the appliances to caring for the materials. We don't consider the job complete until you are fully satisfied with every aspect of your new outdoor living space.
By focusing on a structured design process and utilizing only the highest-quality, climate-conscious materials, we ensure your custom outdoor kitchen is a beautiful and functional space you'll enjoy for decades.
A True Outdoor Oasis
A breathtaking backyard oasis that perfectly blends modern design with the natural beauty of Southern Utah. This space features a stunning firepit with built-in seating, a pristine swimming pool, and a matching spa. The design incorporates a beautiful paver patio and professional landscaping with native desert plants, creating a resort-style outdoor living area.
Built-In Utility & Seamless Appliance Integration
An outdoor kitchen is more than just a place to grill—it’s a fully functional extension of your home. To truly maximize the use and longevity of your investment in Southern Utah’s climate, the utility connections and appliance installations must be handled with precision and expertise. We specialize in the complete integration of high-end appliances, ensuring they operate safely, efficiently, and stand up to the desert heat.
Power, Plumbing, and Gas Line Expertise
Integrating reliable utilities is the foundation of a professional outdoor kitchen. We handle all aspects of the rough-in and final connections, guaranteeing compliance with all local building codes:
Dedicated Electrical Circuits: High-performance appliances like refrigerators, ice makers, and blenders require dedicated power. We install appropriate GFCI outlets and ensure wiring is protected from the elements.
Safe Gas Connections: Whether you opt for natural gas or propane, our team ensures the lines are properly sized, pressure tested, and run securely to your grill and side burners for maximum safety and efficiency.
Water and Drainage: From sink installation to connecting dishwashers and beverage centers, we manage the plumbing necessary to make cleanup effortless. Proper drainage planning is essential to prevent pooling water and protect cabinetry from moisture damage.
The Right Climate-Ready Appliances
The extreme temperature swings in Southern Utah demand appliances built for the outdoors. We guide you in selecting units specifically rated for exterior use, focusing on durability and performance:
Outdoor Refrigeration: Standard indoor refrigerators will fail in the heat. We integrate marine-grade or commercial-rated outdoor refrigerators and beverage coolers that maintain temperature even during the peak summer months.
High-CFM Ventilation Hoods: While not always required outdoors, a powerful ventilation system over your grill area is crucial when designing kitchens under covered patios or enclosed pergolas. We match the hood size and CFM rating to your cooking equipment for optimal smoke extraction.
Integrated Warming Drawers & Storage: Keep food hot while entertaining or store your essential grilling tools in custom-fitted drawers that blend seamlessly with the aesthetic of your finished space.
By focusing on these core utility and appliance details, we ensure your outdoor kitchen is not just beautiful, but also a rugged, high-performing cooking environment for years to come.
Outdoor Kitchen and Fire Pit in Southern Utah
A tranquil evening scene of a modern outdoor living space. The photo shows a built-in kitchen with a premium grill, ample counter space, and dark wood cabinetry. In the foreground, a stylish gas fire pit is lit, surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs. The space is covered by a retractable awning and features a paver patio. In the background, the sun sets over the rugged desert landscape and distant mountains, creating a vibrant orange and purple sky.
Desert-Resilient Design: Material Selection for Southern Utah
The intense sun, arid air, and occasional harsh weather in Southern Utah require a specialized approach to material selection. Your outdoor kitchen must be built with materials that won't fade, crack, warp, or deteriorate under these conditions. Our focus is on selecting UV-stable, non-porous, and high-durability products that maintain their beauty for decades.
Cabinetry Built to Last
The structure supporting your grill and appliances is the backbone of your kitchen. We avoid materials like wood or common plywood that can degrade quickly in the heat and moisture:
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): A revolutionary material that is entirely waterproof, resistant to fading from the sun, and virtually maintenance-free. HDPE cabinetry provides a modern, clean look that can withstand desert dust and extreme temperatures.
Marine-Grade Stainless Steel: For components exposed to the most wear, we use 304 or 316 marine-grade stainless steel, which resists corrosion and provides exceptional strength.
Stucco and Stone Veneer: A classic choice that blends perfectly with the Southern Utah landscape, using engineered stone and durable stucco finishes over metal framing to create a resilient, natural aesthetic.
Countertops Engineered for the Sun
Countertops are exposed to both cooking heat and direct sunlight, demanding non-fading, heat-resistant surfaces:
Porcelain Slabs: These large-format slabs are highly non-porous, virtually impervious to UV damage, and resist scratching and staining. They are an excellent choice for a modern, high-end finish.
Sealed Natural Stone: If using materials like granite or certain quartzites, we ensure the stone is properly selected (avoiding soft, porous stones) and professionally sealed to protect against UV damage and heat shock.
Finishing Touches and Protection
Longevity also relies on how the components interact with the environment:
Waterproof Grout and Sealants: We use flexible, waterproof sealants and epoxies to ensure seams and joints remain protected from dust, rain, and heat-induced expansion and contraction.
Corrosion-Resistant Fasteners: All screws, anchors, and connectors used in the assembly are stainless steel to prevent rust and failure, a critical detail often overlooked in lesser builds.
Choosing the right materials ensures that your outdoor kitchen is not only beautiful today but remains a showpiece through every season in the desert.
Luxury Stacked Stone Outdoor Kitchen with Double Grill & Pergola
A custom, L-shaped outdoor kitchen built with warm stacked stone veneer, featuring two large stainless steel gas grills and integrated storage. The kitchen is covered by a modern wood pergola and is situated on a paver patio with a seating area, set against a backdrop of desert homes and distant mountains in Southern Utah.
The Luxury Chef’s Station: High-Performance Appliances and Climate Control
A truly custom outdoor kitchen is defined by professional-grade performance and meticulous attention to workflow. Our designs center on incorporating commercial-quality equipment and specialized cooling systems engineered to thrive under the intense thermal demands of the Southern Utah desert.
Professional-Grade Appliances Built for the Desert
We select and install appliances that offer reliability, power, and precision cooking, prioritizing brands known for their heavy-duty construction:
High-BTU Grilling Systems: We integrate powerful, high-efficiency grills with superior heat retention and distribution, ensuring professional searing temperatures are achievable regardless of the outside ambient heat. Components feature 304-grade stainless steel to resist corrosion and UV degradation.
Specialty Cooking Elements: Beyond the primary grill, we frequently incorporate high-end additions like commercial-grade pizza ovens, dedicated smokers, and side power burners for boiling and wok cooking.
Insulated Refrigeration and Taps: Standard indoor fridges fail quickly in extreme heat. We utilize fully insulated, forced-air outdoor-rated refrigerators and kegerators to maintain safe, consistent temperatures, preserving ingredients and keeping beverages ice-cold on the hottest days.
Ergonomics and Workflow Mastery
The efficiency of the kitchen layout is paramount for a seamless hosting experience:
The Outdoor Kitchen Triangle: We apply professional kitchen design principles, organizing the space around the primary Preparation, Cooking, and Cleanup zones. This ergonomic layout minimizes movement and maximizes efficiency for the chef.
Custom Storage Solutions: Every design includes thoughtful storage—from deep drawers for grilling tools to insulated ice bins and pull-out trash/recycling units—keeping the space clutter-free and highly functional.
Integrated Cooling Systems
To make the space genuinely comfortable year-round, we build in specialized micro-climate controls:
High-Pressure Misting: For rapid temperature reduction, we install discreet, high-pressure misting systems that dramatically cool the air immediately around the cooking and social areas without creating excessive dampness.
Overhead Heating: For cooler desert nights, integrated overhead gas or electric radiant heaters allow the space to be utilized comfortably well into the fall and early spring months, extending the season of use.
Southern Utah Outdoor Kitchen - in the Snow
A custom-built outdoor kitchen featuring a large stainless steel grill, sink, and refrigerator, constructed with stone veneer and covered by a wooden pergola, lightly dusted with snow in a backyard setting.
ROI and Resale Value—The Financial Advantage in Southern Utah
A custom-built outdoor kitchen in Washington County is more than a luxury amenity; it’s a strategic home improvement that directly impacts your property's appraisal and appeal in the competitive real estate market.
While renovation projects vary, professionally executed outdoor kitchens consistently demonstrate a strong return on investment (ROI), often recouping a significant portion of the cost upon resale. For appraisers in Southern Utah, a high-quality, permanent outdoor kitchen is assessed as a fixed amenity that increases the home’s square footage of usable living space.
Beyond the Grill: Unlike portable grills or patio furniture, a built-in kitchen with stone masonry, permanent utility lines (gas, electric, water), and integrated appliances is considered a permanent fixture, adding verifiable value to your home’s comparable sales analysis.
Quality is Key: The return is highest when the kitchen is built with the desert-resilient, durable materials discussed earlier (porcelain, sealed granite, steel framing). Poorly constructed or non-weatherized units are often discounted by appraisers.
The Competitive Edge in Real Estate
In a desirable market like St. George, Ivins, and Santa Clara, where outdoor living is paramount, an integrated outdoor kitchen serves as a powerful differentiator that attracts motivated buyers.
Move-In Ready Luxury: Buyers actively seeking the Southern Utah lifestyle prioritize ready-to-use amenities. A professionally finished, high-end outdoor kitchen minimizes the work they have to do post-purchase, making your home significantly more appealing than a property requiring additional landscaping or construction.
The Emotional Purchase: An outdoor kitchen showcases a sophisticated entertainment lifestyle. For many buyers, the view of a seamless outdoor cooking and dining space creates an emotional connection, often leading to faster sales and higher offer prices. A well-designed space becomes a key selling point, not just an included feature.
By investing in a custom outdoor kitchen now, you are not only creating priceless memories but also strategically upgrading a key element of your home that offers long-term financial security and maximum market appeal.
Beyond the Grill: The Ultimate Experiences Unlocked by a Fully Integrated Outdoor Kitchen
When you invest in an outdoor kitchen that includes a bar area, pizza oven, integrated seating, and a fire pit, you haven't just added a new appliance—you've created a complete home resort. This level of customization allows for a year-round, multi-functional outdoor living experience that dramatically enhances entertaining, family life, and home value.
Elevated Culinary Experiences
A standard grill is great, but a professional-grade setup allows you to host true culinary events, going far beyond hamburgers and hot dogs.
The Pizza Oven Experience
The masonry or gas-powered pizza oven is the star of the show.
Custom Pizza Parties: Host interactive events where guests stretch their own dough and choose their toppings. The oven becomes the centerpiece of the fun, producing restaurant-quality, blistered-crust pizzas in minutes.
Artisan Baking: Use the residual heat from the oven for more than just pizza. You can bake fresh bread, roast vegetables, or even prepare slow-cooked stews and smoker-style briskets, utilizing the unique thermal qualities of the stone.
The Bar & Prep Zone
With a sink, refrigeration, and ample countertop space, the bar transforms preparation from a chore into part of the entertainment.
Zero Trips Indoors: The integrated sink and storage mean you can wash produce, chill beverages, and gather all your supplies without having to dash back inside. Everything needed for a meal, from prep to cleanup, is consolidated outdoors.
Mixology Station: The bar area is perfect for setting up a dedicated cocktail station. The sink is ideal for rinsing shakers, the counter offers space for garnishes, and the under-counter fridge keeps ice and mixers cold, allowing a designated bartender to engage with guests while crafting drinks.
Seamless Entertainment and Social Flow
The combination of the bar, seating, and fire pit is engineered to keep people comfortable and connected across the entire space.
The bar and raised countertop seating pull guests directly into the cooking zone.
Chef’s Table: Guests can sit comfortably at the bar stools, chat with the grill master, and watch the food being prepared—turning the act of cooking into a social event rather than an isolated task.
Buffet Service: The bar top becomes the perfect serving counter for large gatherings. Its height and visibility allow guests to easily serve themselves buffet-style meals or snacks, keeping the main dining table clear.
The Fire Pit Gathering Spot
The dedicated fire pit area is crucial for extending the use of your outdoor space into the cooler months and late evenings.
Year-Round Enjoyment: In Southern Utah, the fire pit is invaluable for enjoying a crisp winter evening or a breezy autumn night. It provides warmth and ambiance long after the sun sets.
Dessert & Digestifs: Transition the party from the grill and bar to the fire pit for dessert. It's the ideal spot for s'mores, after-dinner drinks, and relaxed conversation, creating a clear shift in atmosphere without moving indoors.
Flexible Seating: The fire pit seating area naturally creates a separate, intimate zone for conversation, ensuring that different groups of guests can interact comfortably across the patio.
Total Outdoor Integration and Comfort
The overhead pergola and smart storage ensure the kitchen is functional, protected, and beautiful in all conditions.
The pergola is essential for comfort in the intense Southern Utah sun.
Shade and Climate Control: The overhead structure provides necessary shade during the hottest parts of the day, making the space usable when unprotected areas are too warm. It can also be fitted with fans, misters, or heaters to optimize the climate.
Defined Space: The pergola visually frames the kitchen, defining it as a distinct, permanent, and luxurious outdoor "room" that feels intentionally designed.
Ample, thoughtful storage prevents the space from looking cluttered and ensures longevity.
Appliance Longevity: Dedicated storage compartments protect propane tanks, grilling tools, and other accessories from sun and dust, keeping your investment clean and safe from the elements.
Organized Setup: Built-in drawers and cabinets designed specifically for outdoor use keep your grilling essentials (spatulas, towels, wood chips) right where you need them, maintaining the sleek, minimalist look of the custom stone masonry.
By combining these elements, your outdoor kitchen becomes the central hub of your home, capable of hosting everything from casual weeknight dinners to large, multi-course holiday gatherings. It is truly the ultimate Southern Utah outdoor oasis.
Outdoor Living Area with Pergola and Grill
A modern outdoor kitchen and bar with a stone facade, stainless steel appliances, and four barstools. A dark, slatted pergola provides shade over the area, and a television is mounted above the grill. The space features paver flooring, a planter with red flowers, and a fenced yard with desert hills in the distance.
The Four-Season Outdoor Room: Thermal Design and Architectural Comfort
In St. George and throughout Southern Utah, your outdoor kitchen’s value is measured by how often you can comfortably use it. Beyond the appliances, a custom kitchen must function as a true four-season outdoor room—a space designed to actively mitigate the intense summer heat and provide warmth during cool desert evenings. This requires a dedicated focus on architectural thermal management.
Integrated Architectural Shade Solutions
The key to all-day usability is expertly designed shade. We don't just build roofs; we integrate custom shade structures that become a seamless architectural extension of your home, ensuring your cooking and dining areas are always protected.
Custom Pergola Design: We engineer custom-sized pergolas and fixed patio covers that match your home's exterior aesthetic, providing structural permanence. We carefully calculate the angle of the sun to optimize the placement and density of shade slats for maximum cooling efficiency during peak daylight hours.
Motorized Louvered Roofs: For ultimate flexibility, we specialize in advanced louvered patio systems. These motorized aluminum roofs allow you to adjust the degree of sun exposure or close entirely for protection from sudden rainstorms, maximizing usable time in your outdoor space.
Thermal Barrier Integration: Our custom covers are structurally tied to the kitchen, creating a necessary thermal barrier above the grill and countertop surfaces. This protection is essential to prevent UV fading on cabinetry and reduce radiant heat transfer to keep your space significantly cooler.
Active Cooling and Heating Elements
A permanent outdoor room requires active climate control solutions to ensure comfort when the temperature swings widely, which is common in Washington County.
Evaporative Misting Systems: For dry desert heat, we embed high-pressure, commercial-grade misting systems directly into your pergola or patio cover frame. These systems utilize ultra-fine mist to drop ambient temperatures by up to 20 degrees without leaving surfaces damp, keeping your cooking and dining zones refreshingly cool.
Infrared Heating: For comfortable evening entertainment, we strategically place recessed or wall-mounted infrared patio heaters. Unlike open flames, infrared heat warms people and surfaces directly, providing silent, efficient warmth to extend your season well into the cooler months.
High-Volume Ceiling Fans: Essential for air movement, we install outdoor-rated, high-efficiency ceiling fans beneath all covered structures. They help evaporate moisture and circulate air, eliminating stale hot pockets and making every meal more enjoyable.
Smart Integration and Ambient Design
A modern outdoor room is incomplete without seamless connectivity and sophisticated lighting. We integrate hidden technology that enhances the experience without cluttering the aesthetic.
Layered Architectural Lighting: We utilize three layers of lighting to create ambiance: Task lighting (under-cabinet LED strips for prep areas), Ambient lighting (recessed can lights in the pergola), and Accent lighting (up-lighting on stone pillars or planters). All fixtures are low-voltage, marine-grade, and strategically hidden.
Outdoor Audio & Visual: Our designs incorporate completely weather-proof, dedicated sound systems. We use discrete landscape speakers and flush-mounted sound bars, paired with a hidden, outdoor-rated television enclosure, ensuring robust performance and clean aesthetics.
Integrated Smart Controls: For true convenience, the entire space—from the louvered roof and misting system to the lighting and audio—can be operated via a single remote control, keypad, or smartphone app. This centralized control provides effortless management of the whole outdoor experience.
Specialty Prep and Culinary Zones
While the main grill is the centerpiece, a custom kitchen offers dedicated zones for serious culinary enthusiasts, maximizing efficiency and versatility.
Dedicated Cold Storage and Drawers: We integrate commercial-grade, outdoor refrigeration units and refrigerated drawers to minimize trips back inside. We also include specialty warming drawers and ice machines, all concealed behind cabinetry that matches the kitchen's facade.
Integrated Smoker or Ceramic Grill Niche: For low-and-slow cooking, we build a dedicated, ventilated niche designed specifically to house and support heavy ceramic grills or professional smokers, ensuring proper clearance and seamless integration into the countertop run.
High-Volume Side Burners: We include powerful, high-BTU side burners that function as a true outdoor cooktop, perfect for large-pot boiling, frying, or preparing sauces without taking up space on the main grill surface.
By focusing on these dedicated thermal, technological, and comfort elements, Jim Savage Construction ensures your investment functions as a luxury, usable extension of your home, not just a seasonal grilling station.
Modern Outdoor Patio with a View of the Pool
This luxurious outdoor living space is designed for entertaining and relaxation. It features a spacious covered bar area with comfortable seating, a pristine swimming pool, and a separate lounge area. The space offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding desert and distant mountains, creating the ultimate backyard oasis.
The Fully Optimized Kitchen: Maximizing Functionality and Hidden Storage
A true gourmet outdoor kitchen is designed to eliminate the back-and-forth trips to your indoor kitchen. We focus on integrating high-end appliances and smart storage solutions that make cooking outside seamless and enjoyable.
High-End Appliance Integration
We specialize in incorporating appliances that are rated for the intense St. George heat and built for years of service. Going beyond the basic grill, we design your kitchen to be a fully featured culinary hub:
Dedicated Cooking: From high-BTU built-in gas grills and smokers to professional-grade wood-fired pizza ovens, we ensure you have the tools for any style of cooking.
Refrigeration & Prep: Outdoor-rated refrigerators and beverage centers are essential for keeping ingredients fresh and drinks cold, reducing your home's cooling load. We also integrate functional sinks with hot and cold water for quick handwashing and cleanup.
The Power Burner: A high-output side burner is critical for boiling water, searing, or cooking side dishes that require intense heat, adding versatility that a standard grill lacks.
Smart and Hidden Storage Solutions
Clutter detracts from the beauty of your outdoor space. Our designs prioritize intelligent, weather-sealed storage built directly into the kitchen island.
Stainless Steel Cabinetry: We utilize 304-grade stainless steel drawers and doors with weatherproof gaskets. These solutions prevent dust and moisture from reaching your grilling tools, utensils, and serving ware.
Trash and Propane Access: Custom pull-out drawers are designed to discreetly house trash and recycling bins, while vented access doors allow easy and safe access to gas lines and propane tanks.
Hidden Utility Centers: We build concealed pantries and spice racks into the cabinetry, ensuring everything you need is organized and within arm's reach, while maintaining the clean aesthetic of your stone or stucco finish.
Extending Your Season: Comfort and Ambiance in Southern Utah
The St. George climate offers incredible outdoor living, but temperatures fluctuate dramatically. The best outdoor kitchens are designed to be comfortable and usable in both the hot summer months and the cool desert evenings.
Integrated Shade and Cooling
To combat the intense summer sun and ensure comfort during the day, we integrate permanent shade structures directly into your kitchen design:
Pergolas and Covered Patios: We build custom pergolas (often utilizing low-maintenance, heat-dissipating aluminum) or blend the kitchen under an existing or newly constructed covered patio.
Misting Systems & Fans: Strategically placed, high-efficiency misting systems and ceiling fans are integrated into the roof structure, providing essential evaporative cooling without obstructing the aesthetic view.
Fire and Heat Features
When the sun sets, a great outdoor kitchen transitions into a cozy entertaining space with the help of integrated heat:
Custom Fire Pits and Fireplaces: A built-in gas fire pit or stone outdoor fireplace creates a natural gathering point and provides comfortable warmth that extends your use well into the late fall and early spring months.
Overhead Heaters: For direct heat over dining or bar areas, we install efficient, ceiling-mounted radiant heaters that activate instantly, allowing you to enjoy your kitchen even on the coolest evenings.
Layered Lighting: Ambiance is created with layered lighting, including task lighting over the grill, under-counter LED strips, and low-voltage path lights that allow the party to continue safely into the night.
The Luxury Look: Seamless Design and Aesthetic Integration
An outdoor kitchen shouldn't look like an afterthought—it should look like a natural extension of your home. In Southern Utah, where indoor/outdoor living is paramount, we focus on designs that enhance your entire backyard oasis.
Blending with the Landscape
Our goal is to create a seamless transition between your kitchen, patio, and the unique desert environment. We achieve this by thoughtfully selecting materials and colors that complement the existing architecture and the surrounding natural stone.
Color Palettes: We move beyond basic gray and focus on warm, earthy tones and natural textures (like engineered stone veneers and textured stucco) that resonate with the beautiful red rock and sand hues of St. George.
Custom Countertops: The countertop is the centerpiece. We source durable, heat-resistant surfaces like granite or quartzite that not only withstand the sun but also provide stunning visual appeal. We can customize the edge profile and height to serve as both a food prep surface and a casual dining bar.
Flow and Zoning: We design the layout (L-shaped, U-shaped, or island) to define the cooking area while keeping it open to your pool deck, fire pit, or lounge area. This creates a functional outdoor entertaining zone rather than just a place to grill.
Your Custom Journey: Design, Peace of Mind, and Investment
Choosing to build a custom outdoor kitchen is a significant investment. We manage the entire project—from the initial idea to the final inspection—to ensure the process is stress-free and the final result adds substantial value to your property.
Visualize Your Dream Kitchen
We don't just sketch concepts on paper. Our design process allows you to see exactly how your new kitchen will look and function before we ever break ground.
3D Rendering and Walkthroughs: We provide detailed 3D renderings of your proposed outdoor kitchen. This visualization allows you to confirm the appliance placement, countertop height, and the overall look, ensuring you are 100% confident in the design.
Permitting and Utilities: We handle all necessary permits and the technical details of connecting gas lines, electrical outlets, and plumbing. This meticulous planning ensures the project moves smoothly, meets local codes, and guarantees the safety and longevity of your investment.
Value That Lasts
A professionally built outdoor kitchen by Jim Savage Construction is more than just a place to cook; it’s a permanent home improvement that significantly enhances your lifestyle and property value.
Superior Resale Value: Custom, high-end outdoor kitchens are highly sought after in the Southern Utah real estate market. They are a strong return on investment (ROI), often serving as a key selling point that differentiates your home.
Low Maintenance: Built with materials chosen specifically for the desert climate, your kitchen is designed to resist fading, cracking, and insect damage, requiring minimal maintenance—allowing you to spend more time enjoying it and less time worrying about repairs.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub: Poolside Bars and Integrated Media
In Southern Utah, the outdoor kitchen is often the centerpiece of a full backyard oasis that includes a pool and extensive lounge areas. At Jim Savage Construction, we specialize in designing your outdoor kitchen to function as a seamless entertainment hub, maximizing interaction and enjoyment whether you are cooking, relaxing, or hosting a large party.
Custom Bar Design and Poolside Seating
A professionally designed bar area is essential for moving the party outdoors and eliminating back-and-forth trips inside. We design custom solutions that prioritize comfort, flow, and the view:
Elevated Bar Tops: We construct multi-level counters that create a natural separation between the cook’s workspace and the guest seating area. The elevated bar top provides comfortable chair height and conceals the prep sink and cooking mess from view.
Integrated Bar Seating: We build dedicated knee walls and counter overhangs that allow for comfortable, permanent bar stool seating. This transforms the kitchen island into a central gathering point.
Poolside Countertops: For the ultimate resort experience, we design swim-up bar counters that sit flush with the pool’s edge or are accessible from the deck, utilizing materials that are highly resistant to chlorine and splash erosion.
Weather-Proof Media and Smart Integration
The best outdoor kitchens are complete with media for game days or evening movies. We integrate technology with the structure itself to ensure longevity and a clean aesthetic.
Hidden TV Enclosures: We build custom, weather-sealed cabinets and enclosures that house outdoor-rated televisions protecting them from dust, UV rays, and extreme temperatures when not in use. These enclosures can be designed with hydraulic lift mechanisms for a seamless, hidden appearance.
All-Weather Audio: We install high-fidelity, marine-grade speakers that are concealed in the pergola beams, under the bar, or seamlessly integrated into the landscape masonry. This provides rich, consistent audio without visible clutter.
Centralized Controls: All lighting, sound, ventilation, and patio heaters are connected to a single, intuitive control system (via remote or smartphone app), giving you total environmental mastery from one location.
Frequently Asked Questions: Planning & Protection
Q: Do I need a specific permit to build an attached outdoor kitchen in Washington County?
A: Yes. Because most outdoor kitchens involve permanent connections (gas, electrical, plumbing) and structural masonry, they are considered permanent additions and require permitting from the relevant municipal or county building department. As your contractor, we handle 100% of the permitting, engineering submittals, and inspection coordination to ensure full compliance.
Q: How do you protect appliances like the refrigerator and ice maker during the winter?
A: We only install appliances that are built for outdoor use (rated for temperature extremes). For added protection, during the winter we show you how to easily winterize your plumbing lines (draining water from the sink and ice maker lines) and recommend high-quality, custom-fitted vinyl covers to shield units from dust and wind damage during extended periods of non-use.
Q: Can my outdoor kitchen match the stone on my home's exterior?
A: Absolutely. Our selection of natural stone and engineered veneer suppliers offers hundreds of options. We ensure the stone veneer and stucco finishes we use on your kitchen structure either perfectly match or beautifully complement the existing masonry and architectural style of your home, achieving a truly custom, cohesive look.
The Ultimate Guide to 2025 Outdoor Kitchen Trends in Southern Utah
Hello, Southern Utah! Jim Savage here. If you’ve been living in St. George, Ivins, Washington, or anywhere in our beautiful red rock country for more than a minute, you know that our outdoor spaces are just as important as our indoor ones. The sun, the desert breeze, and those spectacular sunsets aren't just a backdrop—they're a part of our daily lives. At Jim Savage Construction, we’ve seen the demand for high-quality outdoor living areas skyrocket, and the outdoor kitchen is at the heart of it all.
As we finish off 2025, we’re seeing some incredible new trends emerge that are perfectly suited for our unique Southern Utah lifestyle and climate. Forget the old portable grill on the patio; today's homeowners are looking for a complete, integrated outdoor culinary and entertainment experience.
Here’s my expert breakdown of the top trends for outdoor kitchens in Southern Utah this year.
1. The Seamless Extension: Blurring the Lines Between Indoors and Out
One of the biggest shifts we're seeing is the complete integration of the outdoor kitchen with the home's interior. This isn't just about having an outdoor space—it's about making it feel like a natural extension of your main living area. We achieve this through:
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