Outdoor Kitchens in Shorewood, MN

Outdoor Kitchens in Shorewood are usually long-term projects for long-term owners. Census figures show about 93.2% of homes here are owner-occupied and 92.0% of residents were in the same house a year earlier. When people expect to live somewhere for decades, the questions change. Less "what looks good this year" and more "what will still work, clean up easily and be repairable when a part wears out."

Decisions that pay off over twenty years

Choose a structure that will outlast the appliances. Grills and refrigerators eventually need replacing. The island around them should not. We build bases with frost-depth support and use stone, masonry or marine-grade cabinet boxes that hold up for many seasons.

Leave room to swap equipment. Cutouts sized to standard grill dimensions, removable access panels and service clearance behind appliances make a future replacement a simple swap instead of a demolition project.

Pick finishes that age gracefully. Honed stone, natural bluestone and brushed stainless hide wear better than high-gloss surfaces. A porcelain top or sealed dense stone handles freeze-thaw better than porous surfaces.

Designing for every stage of life

Shorewood's median age was 46.7 in the 2020 census, and about 70% of households were married couples. Owners at that stage often want a space that works for family gatherings now and stays comfortable a decade out. Features worth considering:

• Counters at standard kitchen height, with a lower section for sitting while you prep
• Wide, level paths from the house door to the grill, without steps where possible
• Good task lighting for evening cooking, on a switch inside the house
• Pull-out drawers instead of deep cabinets that require kneeling
• A covered area for shade, since a pergola or roof makes the space usable at midday

A city on the south shore

Shorewood incorporated in 1956 from Excelsior Township, partly to avoid annexation by its neighbors. It wraps around the southern shore of Lake Minnetonka along Highway 7 and includes the lake islands of Spray and Shady, plus part of Enchanted Island. For island properties, we plan how materials and appliances get across before we quote, because that affects layout choices and scheduling.

Winter routine, kept simple

A kitchen you will use for decades should be easy to close each fall. Appliance maker Kalamazoo recommends draining sink lines with the supply valves shut and taps open, blowing out the remaining water, and winterizing ice makers before temperatures fall below 45°F. We install shutoffs where you can reach them and show you the routine at handoff, so it takes minutes each year rather than a service call.

Permits and utilities

Gas lines, new electrical circuits, plumbing and roofed structures generally need permits from the city. Shoreline lots may have additional setback and coverage limits. We check before designing and handle the permit process. Every dig also starts with a Gopher State One Call request at least 48 hours ahead.

Talk with us

Call (612) 451-0418 for a site visit and a free written estimate. We will walk through how you live outdoors now and how you expect to use the space in the years ahead.

Get a Free Estimate