Home Decor, Building an Outdoor Kitchen
Back in October, HHjr and I started talking about building an outdoor fireplace…
He has a residential remodeling business, and even though his talented crew can do just about anything, they mainly do kitchen and bath makeovers, and tile installations. The fireplace was not something he was interested in doing, so I contacted a local hardscape company. Even though we met with them right away and discussed what we wanted, it took several weeks of calls and emails before we got a bid. We decided to get several other landscapers to bid for comparison but had no luck, no action…
Finally in December HHjr declared, “I’m just going to build it myself!”
“Yay!” I was shouting in my head, as I really wanted him to do it all along
“This way, we can design it as we go, and get exactly what we want” he said, “plus business slows down in December as no one wants their home torn up during the holidays, so it will keep my guys busy.”
“Perfect!”
And to us, it is!
It started with an idea, and a couple of rough sketches
Digging the foundation
Pouring cement
Building the foundation
Assembling the fireplace kit
Rain delays actually gave things time to set and cure
Next came the foundation for the pizza oven
The fireplace and the littles got dressed for Christmas
The day after Christmas the cement slab base for the pizza oven went in
Assembling the pizza oven kit
The oven kit and the fireplace kit were like large cement legos,
the kits are designed to ensure the finished structure will be safe,
they have curved stones that guide the smoke up the chimneys
and not out into the patio
A box was built to enclose oven so that it could be covered in stone
Pizza oven chimney foundation
Time for the stone,
it was fascinating watching them figure things out
The Big Green Egg is surrounded by a stone counter with plenty of space to set platters, tools or the chef’s beverage 😂
Some days were pretty miserable, either wet or cold
Mantels were cut from leftover stone, cemented in place, with wood supports until cement dried
Now it was ready for finishing the hearth and grouting the stone
All done!
Close up of the fireplace
Close up of the pizza oven
Big Green Egg station
First fires to break it in slowly
We are hoping to have pizzas any day now!
Juicy Details
fireplace kit/Firerock
pizza oven kit/Cuore Wood Fired Ovens
🔥 🍕 🔥
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Dishing it & Digging it, Between Naps on the Porch,
Merry Monday Make it Pretty Monday Celebrate and Decorate,
Delicious Dishes Recipe Party Oh My Heartsie Girl Full Plate Thursday
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What a terrific project Jenna! I know you’ll be cookin’ up some incredible meals out there. Enjoy!
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yes, thanks Johanne, we are so excited, but it will have to wait a few days, the wind chill here this morning is 18 degrees!
Wow!!!!
Wow, Jenna! How amazing is that?! I love how you decorated it, even in the sketches. That’s definitely going to be a game changer for you & HHjr. How fortunate you were to be able to work with him on getting this project completed.
We have had so much fun, well I had fun and he had alot of work, but it turned out so fantastic! He has lots of recipe ideas already, planning on a lot of iron skillet dishes in the pizza oven besides just pizza, yum!
That is just fabulous!! You are going to enjoy outdoor dining for years to come. Plenty of spots for multiple chef’s beverages, LOL!!!
thanks Carole, our friends are already lining up for an invite!
Brilliant, can’t wait to see what you produce now.
Me too!!
Wow! All that hard work has paid off! Fabulous my friend! Absolutely fabulous!
I can smell the pizza already!
Thanks Nancy, they worked really hard!
Wow, it is gorgeous!!!
Can’t wait to see some of the fabulous meals you make out there.
thank you, and yes, I have a feeling there is some serious cooking ahead!
I am both totally impressed and completely knocked out by this massive project. Kudos to all! And no one deserves it all that a wonderful cook! Bravo!
thanks Jeanie, he is very excited about cooking even more now!
WOW, so happy for you. It looks great, enjoy.
Thank you Betty, we will!
Wow! Just wow! HHjr did a wonderful job. Does he work on the coast?
ha ha, no, too hard to bring his crew down…
Bravo to everyone involved in this project!! It’s sure to bring hours of enjoyment and great meals!
thank you Rosie, we are excited!
It’s so beautiful, and will be so much fun to cook on and hang out around! Love seeing the grandies 🙂 <3 ENJOY all of it and all of them!!!
thanks Jodi!
AWESOME!!!!! What a great job Jenna, your son and his crew made your dream come true! I love looking at each step of the way and how you dressed the new addition for the holidays. Your adorable grands I’m sure can’t wait to make their own pizzas. I think it looks fabulous on your back patio and you’ll love the fireplace as well. Our son has a fireplace and they love it and use it for cooking hotdogs. Fun family time making memories. I couldn’t be happier for you. Enjoy……..
We are thrilled with the way it turned out, looking forward to lots of enjoyment out there! Wish you lived closer!
How thrilling your outdoor kitchen is finished Jenna, it looks great! I’d be having pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! It looks like you thought of everything, especially a spot for the Chef’s beverage 😉 You’re so fortunate to have a son in the business. I see lots of pizza parties in your family’s future. ♥
He’s got big plans for cooking all kinds of things…I may not ever have to cook again! Thanks Mary, food or no food, it is going to be a wonderful spot to relax with family and friends
Jenna, how fabulous it looks! I can smell a wood fire pizza right now. I know that you and HHjr will enjoy it so much! How wonderful to have a son to work with on this project and get it exactly the way you both wanted it!
thanks, and yes, we had a lot of fun…well I had fun and he had a lot of work!
Kudos to your son and his crew for taking on the project and doing a FANTASTIC job!! I can’t wait to see the pizzas!!
He baked cornbread in the pizza oven last night, it was so good!
That’s fantastic! What an amazing piece of craftsmanship! It looks wonderful with the fires lit inside. Wow!
thanks Lorraine, we are so excited, it turned out even better than we were hoping!
Oh Jenna, the outdoor fireplace, pizza oven, and built-in green egg, is a work of art!! Your son and his crew worked their magic and soon you’ll be making pizzas and grilling and smoking meats. I know you’re thrilled and proud of your son’s work. However, your pretty design started it all. The littles look so cute in their Christmas attire, too.
thanks Kitty, they did an amazing job!
Beautiful!! Great job with your designing and Ryan’s business building! Can’t wait to see it in person!
Thanks Vicki, we are looking forward to having a gathering soon!
Fantastic! I know that you are thrilled that your son decided to take on the job and what a job it was. I know the two of you can’t wait to start cooking outdoors once all the cold weather is behind you.
It looks absolutely stunning! Anytime you want to keep those men busy send them to my house to build me one. They did a fantastic job!
haha, thank you! They stay really busy, I was lucky to get them!
Pretty amazing Jenna. I have always wanted an outdoor fireplace and pizza oven. I think it’s great your son took on the project. You paintings and sketches are perfect. What a treat to be able to sit outdoors and stay cozy. and cook.
What a glorious space! I’m sure y’all will enjoy it in all seasons.
thanks Hope, we are excited!
Everyone must have a Big Green Egg station! i love how pretty it turned out…. you will love it, and I can’t believe they were able to finish considering we’ve had such awful weather!!!
Let us know the first meal you cook in your new outdoor kitchen. BTW we tried to figure out how to cook pizza in the Big Green Egg, and we fail every single time!
I know, it was brutal working in those conditions but Ryan was determined to get it done! He has already baked cornbread in the pizza oven, hoping to experiment with pizzas this weekend.
Jenna, this turned out perfect! You are going to enjoy this space so much! I can’t wait to show this to Mr. Bleu…he is dreaming of building one of these soon.
Thank you Shannon, we are so thrilled how it turned out and can’t wait to start experimenting with the pizza oven and having gatherings out there!
Wow!! This turned out spectacular!! 🍕👍❤️ I saw a photo on IG and was so happy to see the photo of the finish! Happy for you, Jenna! 💗 I look foward to some great pizza recipes from you! 👍
Thanks Jill we are super excited, hoping to try pizzas this weekend!
Hi Jenna, wow you two worked so great together and have your beautiful outdoor kitchen. I love that you have a handy son and was able to make what you drew out. I know you will make some great food out there. Thanks for sharing this at our Cooking and Crafting with J&J. Enjoy the week.
Julie xo
Thank you Julie, we are thrilled by the results, hoping to really break it in this weekend!
What a blessing to have a talented husband. Woo Hoo! I am loving your outdoor kitchen and the pizza oven is amazing. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. You are one of this Sunday’s features. Have a great weekend.
oh thank you!