Outdoor Kitchens in Stillwater, MN

Outdoor Kitchens in Stillwater have to suit a different kind of property than the newer suburbs. Stillwater was founded in 1843 as a lumber settlement on the west bank of the St. Croix River, and its downtown historic district holds buildings from the 1860s to 1940. Homes near the old core often sit on smaller lots with mature trees and established gardens. A sprawling island would overwhelm those yards. A well-proportioned grill station, a stone counter and a fire feature usually fit far better.

Matching the house

On an older home the outdoor kitchen should look like it belongs. That usually means:

• Natural stone or brick veneer in tones that work with the existing foundation or chimney
• Simple, solid counter edges rather than ultra-modern profiles
• Cabinet fronts in muted colors, with stainless or marine-grade boxes behind them for durability
• Lighting that is warm and low rather than bright floodlights

If your property is in a designated historic area or near the downtown district, ask the city whether exterior work in your yard needs review before you finalize a design. We can provide drawings and material samples for that conversation.

Small-yard layouts

Grill station against a garage or fence wall. A single run with a built-in grill and a couple of drawers takes up a narrow strip and leaves the yard open.

Corner kitchen with bar seating. Tucks into an L where two walls or fences meet.

Fire feature in place of a full kitchen. For some Stillwater lots, an outdoor fireplace or gas fire table with a small prep counter is the right scale.

Wherever it goes, the grill still needs the clearances its manufacturer lists from walls, fences and overhanging branches.

Trees, fire and the 25-foot rule

Older neighborhoods mean big trees and close neighbors. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's recreational fire guidance calls for wood fires no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high, at least 25 feet from buildings and combustible materials, and portable outdoor fireplaces at least 15 feet away. On a compact Stillwater lot, 25 feet can be hard to find, which makes a gas fire feature worth considering. Cities can adopt stricter rules than the state, so check Stillwater's before you plan around wood.

Snow, freeze and summer heat

Stillwater averages about 42 inches of snow a year and roughly 14 days above 90 degrees. Counters, veneer and grout all have to handle freezing and thawing, and water lines have to be drained before winter. Washington County is in frost Zone II, where Minnesota Rule 1303.1600 sets a 3-1/2 foot minimum footing depth, which we follow for pergolas and roofed structures.

Digging around old properties

Older lots can hide old foundations, buried lines and tree roots. Before any trench for gas or power, Gopher State One Call needs at least 48 hours notice, not counting the day of notice, weekends or holidays. We make that call and route lines to spare major tree roots where possible.

Services

We build custom outdoor kitchens, outdoor kitchen countertops, grill islands and BBQ stations, outdoor kitchen cabinets, covered outdoor kitchens and pergolas, and outdoor fireplaces and fire features, sized to the property.

Call (612) 451-0418 for a free estimate. We will walk the yard, note the trees and the house materials, and give you a written quote with a layout that fits.

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