Outdoor Kitchens in Excelsior, MN

Outdoor Kitchens in Excelsior start with a measuring tape. The city has only about 0.63 square miles of land and more than 1,200 housing units packed onto it, many of them on narrow lots near the lake. A sprawling U-shaped kitchen that works in an outer-ring suburb rarely fits here. What does fit is a well-planned, compact layout that leaves room to move, keeps smoke away from the neighbors and looks like it belongs next to a house that may be older than most of the region's suburbs.

Built where the lake was first settled

Settlers from upstate New York founded Excelsior in 1853, a year after Lake Minnetonka got its official name, and the town incorporated in 1878. Many Victorian-era houses survive, and the Water Street commercial district is on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is known for enforcing building rules meant to protect that character, so outdoor work here is something we plan with the house and the neighborhood in view.

Layouts that work on an Excelsior lot

• Straight-run islands: a single run along a fence or the house wall, with the grill, prep space and storage in a line, keeps the center of the yard open.
• L-shaped corners: tucking the kitchen into a corner of the patio gives a second counter for serving without eating up the yard.
• Drop-in grill carts upgraded to built-ins: a short masonry or cabinet surround around a quality grill can look permanent in a space a few feet wide.
• Bar-height counters: a raised ledge lets guests sit or stand on the far side, doubling as a privacy edge between yards.
• Vertical storage: tall weatherproof cabinets hold tools, propane accessories and cushions in a small footprint.

Matching the look of an older home

On a Queen Anne or a turn-of-the-century cottage, a stark modern island can look out of place. We often suggest materials that echo the house: brick or natural stone veneer to match a foundation, painted or wood-tone cabinet fronts in the house trim color, or a soapstone or honed granite top instead of a glossy surface. If you have a newer home, the same compact rules apply, but the palette can be sleeker.

Fire features when space is tight

Minnesota fire code requires a recreational wood fire to be at least 25 feet from buildings and combustible material, and a portable outdoor fireplace to be at least 15 feet away. On a small Excelsior lot those distances can rule out a wood pit entirely. Gas fire tables and properly vented gas fireplaces are often the practical answer, and the city may have its own rules on top of the state's, so we check before we design one in.

Permits, utilities and neighbors

New gas lines, circuits and plumbing generally need permits, and a roofed cooking area or pergola may need zoning review for setbacks on a narrow lot. Excavation also requires a Gopher State One Call locate at least 48 hours ahead. On small lots we also think about where smoke drifts, where the grill vents, and how work crews and deliveries reach the backyard without crossing a neighbor's property.

Request a design visit

Call (612) 451-0418 to schedule a walk-through. We will measure the space, talk through what you want to cook and how many you host, and give you a free written estimate with a layout that fits.

Get a Free Estimate