How Expert Masonry Can Accentuate an Outdoor Kitchen and Dining Area in Aldie, VA

A full-scale convenient outdoor kitchen and outdoor dining area would give you more reasons to spend time outside, and make dinnertime at home so much more enjoyable in Aldie, VA. Whether entertaining guests or enjoying dinner with the family, al fresco cooking and dining is one of the best parts of the warmer months. To make this area of your landscape feel like yours, expert masonry can elevate the overall appearance and ensure the longevity of your outdoor kitchen/dining area.

Stone Pillars

Masonry details can emphasize the durability and permanence of your outdoor kitchen, such as stone pillars for a pergola that provides shade over the kitchen and your workspace. Then, if it is of interest, other aspects of the landscape could be tied visually, for a fully cohesive, upscale look, by incorporating similar stone pillars, for example, in other areas of your outdoor living space.

Mixed Materials

With so many choices for masonry, you can make your outdoor kitchen stand out by using a variety of materials. Natural stone and its various shapes, sizes, textures, and colors can form your backsplash, bar, or cooktop. The built-in bar stools could be made with stone, for instance.

The look of stone could be repeated in the careful selection of pavers for the outdoor kitchen and connecting patio flooring. Complementary, artistic masonry elements could be repeated for the design and construction of the outdoor fireplace and any built-in seating areas that invite people to watch your magic in the kitchen or join you by the fire’s warmth.

Banding

Whatever material you select for your outdoor kitchen flooring, one way to accentuate expert masonry is to opt for contrasting banding. Setting a large rectangular band within your patio pavers, for instance, could involve a much different design, color, size, and/or texture than your main pavers. You can treat this area similar to a rug under a dining table, or use it to define the cooking and seating areas. Similarly, a border of accent paver could help to delineate the various activities—where you cook, where you eat, where you relax.

Natural or Rustic

Give your outdoor kitchen a natural or rustic look with large earth-hued stone or blocks. Accent the area with some wood, such as for a pavilion or pergola. Using large grout lines and using concrete or granite for the countertop will complete the look.

Stone Blocks

A modern outdoor kitchen may be made of smooth stone blocks, providing a permanent solution for a landscape feature that will experience a lot of use over the coming years. The same or similar materials can be repeated to create a nearby fire pit, the construction of an outdoor bar, or retaining wall that delineates the various activities of your patio.

Low stone walls around the border of your outdoor kitchen could serve as extra seating, or as a place to set your glass or plate down. If you want to add an outdoor television to your kitchen, one of the walls could be taller than the rest to provide a platform for an entertainment center, perhaps as part of a built-in outdoor fireplace.