The Complete Guide to Building Your Dream Outdoor Cooking Space With Green Egg

Do you love cooking outdoors but find your patio lacks the features to make it a fully functional and inviting outdoor kitchen? Adding amenities like cabinetry, countertops, lighting and more can transform your space into an outdoor cooking oasis. The centerpiece, of course, is an amazing grill like the Big Green Egg kamado-style ceramic cooker. This versatile grill allows you to barbecue, smoke, bake and more, providing endless inspiration for al fresco meals. With proper planning and design, you can create a dream outdoor cooking space perfect for dinners with friends, family gatherings, and casual weeknight meals.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the planning, design, and building process to create a stellar outdoor kitchen designed around your prized Big Green Egg grill. We’ll cover layout considerations, essential features like cabinetry and electrical, accessories to include, and finishing touches. You’ll find tips for choosing the right Green Egg for your needs, integration ideas, and options for DIY versus hired help. Follow this advice and soon you’ll be hosting neighborhood barbecue battles in your fully-equipped outdoor paradise!

Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen

Careful planning is key to building your ideal outdoor cooking space. Consider the size, placement, layout, essential elements, and design accents that will make your Green Egg the star it deserves to be.

Space Planning and Layout

First determine the overall footprint available for your outdoor kitchen. The typical minimum recommended dimensions are 10 x 10 feet. This allows ample room for grill circulation, counters, and traffic flow. Make sure to position the Green Egg in a spot that allows 3 feet clearance on all sides - this safe distance reduces risks of burns or bumping into hot surfaces.

Play around with different layouts to find one that maximizes functionality. The classic island shape provides counters and storage wrapping around the grill. An L-shaped design is great for fitting into a corner. A U-shape offers abundant prep space and access from multiple sides.

Essential Features

Though layout varies, most well-equipped outdoor kitchens share common elements:

• Grilling station - houses the Big Green Egg or other grills/smokers.
• Sink and running water - makes post-grilling cleanup a breeze.
• Refrigerator or beverage cooler - keeps food properly chilled before and after cooking.
• Countertops - durable and non-porous like quartz or stainless steel.
• Cabinets - provide concealed storage for accessories.
• Lighting - makes the space fully usable at night.
• Ventilation - prevents smoke from overwhelming the area.
• Electrical supply - powers appliances like refrigerators.
• Flooring - materials that can withstand outdoor weather.

Design Elements

With the bones of your layout in place, have fun dreaming up design details that give your Green Egg kitchen personality. Choices like color schemes, textures, seating areas and decor enable you to express your own style.

Select materials and finishes that coordinate with your home and other outdoor living spaces. Mixing stainless steel appliances with warm woods creates appealing contrast. Include comfy seating like barstools around counters or upholstered chairs near a firepit. Ambiance elements like pendant lights or a bubbling water feature add mood. Weather protection such as shade sails keeps your space comfortable all day.

Accessories and Decor Ideas

Fill your outdoor kitchen with items to cook, serve, and entertain in style. Grilling tools like tongs, skewers, and mitts make tending the Green Egg easier. Stock plates, cutlery, and glassware so al fresco meals are a breeze. Include fun comfort touches too - patterned placemats, napkin rings, candles and greenery spruce up counters and tables.

If space allows, incorporate supplemental cooking options to expand your culinary possibilities. A brick pizza oven placed near the grill creates a complete outdoor cooking zone. Side burners give you a stovetop for sautéing veggies or boiling pasta. Under-counter ice makers or wine coolers make happy hour a cinch.

Choosing Your Green Egg Grill

The crown jewel of your outdoor kitchen is undeniably the Big Green Egg ceramic cooker. Available in an array of sizes, this kamado-style grill offers incredible versatility. The thick walls, domed lid and precisely calibrated air flow allow for smoking, searing, roasting, baking and more.

Consider your typical cooking load to choose the right model. The popular Large Big Green Egg can accommodate 6-8 burgers or a 20-lb turkey. To feed bigger groups, upgrade to the XL or XXL sizes. Make sure the grill's proportions fit your layout - smaller Eggs like the Mini are better suited to compact spaces.

Determine the best positioning in your cabinets or island cutout. Allow ample clearance to open the dome and access the bottom vent. Building a wind barrier behind the Egg improves airflow control. Consider accessories like the convEGGtor or extender rings that further expand your cooking options.

Big Green Egg Grill Sizes:

• Mini - up to 4 burgers or 9" pizza
• Small - up to 6 burgers or 12" pizza
• Medium - up to 12 burgers or 13" pizza
• Large - up to 15 burgers or 18" pizza
• XLarge - up to 24 burgers or 16" pizza
• XXLarge- up to 32 burgers or 16" pizza

Building Your Outdoor Kitchen

With layout and components decided, it's time to tackle construction. Assess if a DIY build is feasible or if hiring a contractor is prudent for a polished result. Either way, secure all required permits, especially for plumbing, electrical and permanent structures.

DIY vs Hiring a Contractor

How confident are your construction skills? What’s your budget for the project? The complexity of your design determines if DIY is advisable or if you’re better off hiring a professional. Building cabinets and installing countertops takes patience and proficiency. But tasks like painting, decorating and accessorizing you can likely handle yourself.

For DIY: create detailed plans, assemble tools, and prepare for a slow, careful process. Be meticulous about measurements and allow extra time for adjustments. Don't take shortcuts - it will show in the finished product.

Hiring a contractor brings experience that saves costly mistakes. Their expertise transforms your vision into reality and handles tricky elements like plumbing and electrical. Just make sure to vet qualifications and confirm they are licensed, bonded and insured.

Cabinetry

Cabinetry provides storage space while strengthening the overall structure. Stainless steel offers a sleek look that shrugs off weather. But moisture-sealed wood painted with an outdoor-grade enamel works beautifully too. Opt for drawer bases for easy access versus swinging doors if you can.

Building cabinets from scratch takes patience and carpentry prowess. Another option is using an outdoor modular system that clips together - much simpler for DIY success. Include overhead cabinets for maximizing space or leave walls open to avoid obstructing views.

Countertops

Select a countertop material that stands up to life outdoors but also fits your aesthetic. Durability and low maintenance should be priorities. Quartz or granite resist cracking, scorching and staining while providing a polished look.

Tile is another great option - it's waterproof and easily cleaned. Contrast colorful ceramic tiles with neutral cabinetry. Just note grout requires sealing to avoid discoloration and mildew. Avoid natural stone like marble that's prone to etching and pitting.

Pre-fabricated countertop slabs offer easy installation, or you can pour concrete for a seamless custom look. Match the style of your indoor kitchen for a cohesive appearance if the spaces are visible together.

Sink + Plumbing

An outdoor sink provides much-needed convenience for cleaning up after grilling. Look for models rated for exterior use - some have pre-drilled faucet holes, or you can mount freestanding units on the counter or wall.

Locate the sink strategically - near the Big Green Egg allows easy access when handling messy barbecue. Install a hot-cold mixer faucet and make sure to insulate any supply lines that could freeze in winter.

A pro should handle the plumbing if you lack DIY experience. Consider an instant hot water system so your cleanup water is piping hot. Proper drainage prevents wastewater puddles - emptying into a graywater system is ideal.

Flooring

Floors must withstand the elements while providing safe, even footing. Tile or stone suit wet conditions and offer endless style options. Pour concrete and coat with an epoxy paint for seamless durability.

Composite decking materials like Trex require no sealing against water damage. Match the height to abutting wood decks for a flush transition between spaces. Incorporate drains to prevent flooding and make cleaning a breeze.

Appliances

Complete your outdoor kitchen functionality by incorporating appliances tailored for exterior use. Choose an outdoor-rated refrigerator or beverage cooler to keep drinks icy and perishables fresh.

Consider adding supplemental cooking zones like a pizza oven, gas burners, or propane griddle. Run power to appliances that require electricity. Hardwiring is ideal, or install weatherproof plugs and GFCI outlets positioned safely away from water sources.

Finishing Touches

You've checked off all the essential items from your outdoor kitchen wish list. Now focus on personal touches and safety considerations to complete your Green Egg oasis.

Safety First

Exercise caution when cooking over open flames, especially with kids and pets around. Supervise children and alert others when opening the dome. Store accessories out of reach when not in use.

Check food temperatures frequently to avoid undercooked meats. Keep combustibles away from hot surfaces - position fabric curtains or furniture at a safe distance. Equip the space with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in case of mishaps.

Decorating Your Space

Infuse your outdoor kitchen with personal flair through considered decor. Directly display cherished photos in weatherproof frames or print favorite images on outdoor fabric. Green accents like potted herbs or succulents soften the setting.

Lay patterned dish towels near the sink or showcase ceramic planters of utensils. Affix artwork and inspiring quotes to cabinet fronts with exterior adhesive vinyl. String lights or lanterns encourage lingering into the evening.

Place a vase of flowers on the countertop when hosting or scatter velvety pillows around seating areas. Your personalized touches turn the space into an outdoor oasis where memories are made.

The fully outfitted outdoor kitchen of your dreams awaits. Now it's time to break in the Green Egg and invite friends and family to bask in barbecue glory.

This guide covered key steps for designing your layout, building essential components, and adding special finishing accents tailored to you. The result is a welcoming space where you can gather, cook and bond while enjoying the open air.

We hope you'll fill this outdoor cooking oasis with love, laughter and celebration around the grill. And please come back to share photos so we can drool over your brilliant Green Egg paradise!