You might want to consider a sear zone, if you don't have one in your grill. We bought a floor model outdoor kitchen which didn't have one, so we purchased a stand alone unit.

If I was building custom, I'd definitely add one in. Steaks are so much better with that 1,600 degree searing heat. For larger cuts, you can sear them then transfer them to your regular grill to continue on low heat.

I think I've read about some people here that have used refrigerators that aren't outdoor rated, but they've been under thatch roofs or something. They are a lot cheaper, so maybe someone can tell you for sure. You could buy 3 or 4 of them for the price of one outdoor rated one for the prices I've seen. I have heard a lot of good things about the sear zones that scrapula mentioned, so I bought a grill with one. It isn't installed yet. Is the grill from Sam's a stand alone, or a built in?

Thanks scrapula and stmiddlebrooks my grill does have a sear zone, its a 3 burner + sear stand alone with rotisserie. I plan on taking the shelves off the sides and butt the cabinets up to the grill cabinet. It still looks good and I think it will blend in with the other stainless appliances

We used a regular fridge from Costco and plan to store it inside thru the winter. We made sure there was enough cleanance under it that we could set it up on blocks a couple inches so it would never sit in water. I've heard that's what causes the most wear on them. We really wish we would've put in a trash compactor or built in garbage. Also, I don't know if you plan on adding a bbq light, but DH is very glad I insisted on this! We LOVE our marine stereo & speakers! Make sure you have plenty of electircal outlets. We also wish we would've added a towel rack or paper towel rack somewhere.
I think that's it- here's a picture of ours. It was just finished in June.
{{!gwi}}

It looks great Sharla, Mine is under a patio roof, living in Louisiana thatÂs almost mandatory. I have 6 can light, but I am thinking about adding 1 more halogen can over the bbq. I have speakers on the patio already, they are hooked to my inside sound system. I also have cable run for those Monday night football games. Someone on the outdoor cooking forum suggested a trash compactor, I think that will be added to my plan. I plan on having 4 electrical outlets spaced out along the backsplash. Will also add a wood fired pizza oven, but that will have to come later.
Thanks all, keep those ideas coming, I really appreciate the feedback

You mentioned my idea with the TV. A flat screen would look nice. We have a Sam's club BBQ too like yours and will do the same thing when we build our outdoor kitchen. Keep us posted as to how the BBQ works. The portables are alot less expensive.

mitchcarnie, I have had the BBQ for about a year and a half. Works as good now as it did brand new. Stainless steel still looks great, I have a little rust on the hardware for the door for the tank storage, its inside, so can't see it. I now keep the hardware inside the door coated with a little light oil. Seems to do the trick. I do plan on putting a flat panal LCD tv outside. Looking at using one made for outdoors, we have so much humidity in Louisiana, not sure anything else will last long. Below is the link for the tv.

Here is a link that might be useful: backyard stuff

Okay, this is the post I was looking for. If msehome is still online I'd love to see how the bbq worked out. Also, for you DIYers, was it a lot less expensive to DIY or was it comparable in cost to the units you can pick up at the home shows.

Check the link below for lots of help. DIY is much cheaper. I did mine for about $2500. It would have been $7500-8500 if I would have had someone else do it.

Here is a link that might be useful: BBQ help

I built mine for about 1/2 of what I was quoted, not counting the appliances. Here is a list of the appliances:

- Lynx 54" grill with sear
- U-line 24" fridge
- Summit 24" Kegorator with double tap
- Some no-name ice maker (big mistake - will replace with U-line clear Ice with drain).

Here is a picture. Its still a work in progress. I still have to install the Faux wood beams, wood faux the yellow beam and lots of little details. My bar is totally under-roof and screened on one of my covered veranda's. It seats 10 people comfortably and has about 130sqft of counter space. The theme is south-seas.

Wow,

Those are amazing examples. I wasn't thinking about something as elaborate, until now. This site is going to cost me extra $$ again, I just know it!

I saved a bundle by purchasing a floor model off the showroom floor. It only cost $11,500, but would have been about $20,000 to build. We looked at a lot of outdoor kitchen places, just to get ideas. When we saw this particular floor unit, it was too good of a deal to pass up.

We are building a pool house with some of the same "goodies" you have. I was going to order a Frankin Ice maker FIM35 rated for outdoors but you indicated you had some problems. Can you share before I pull the trigger and purchase this one. I also am going to pick up a Summit fridge and Kegorator. Have you had any problems with that Keg from Summit. Also any I wish I would have done this or purchased that. Since this is in a pool house pavilion structure I will have to lock the keg at night do you lock yours? Thanks for your input.
Connie

Do not buy the Franklin Ice maker. That is what I have and its a piece of junk. Get an ice maker that has a drain. I did not understand the need of a drain when I purchased the Franklin. I will never buy another ice maker without a drain. Here is what is bad about the Franklin:

- No matter how much I adjust the cube size it does not make small enough cubes for them to fall out off the freeze grid individually. Instead, they fall out a a sheet of ice cubes that can be broken up easily. This problem causes other problems.

- They say it will make 50lbs of Ice a day and holds 24lbs at a time. This is probably true, however, once the tray is half full the sheets of cubes fall off the freeze grid and lay on the shut off switch, thus stopping ice production.

- It melts the ICE way too fast. I have to drain the water from the ice tray every other day. Ice makers melt the ice on the bottom to keep the ice fresh.

- Because there is no drain, the impurities which will not freeze fall back into the water reservoir. Over time, you will have to clean them out. If the ice maker has a drain, they will be flushed out as waste and not allowed to re-enter the ice maker.

Regarding the Summit - Its a pretty good fridge, but its low quality construction and the company will tell you that it may not hold temperature outside. If you want a kegerator that gives you the maximum amount of room, then summit is your best option. Don't waste your money on the SS cover. Its ugly and low quality SS. Even though they say its designed for built-in, it really isn't. It still vents to the back and all they do is add insulation to the fridge. There also is no light and the auto defrost feature does not work well. However, it does hold temperature, so far very well. And in the end that's what is important.

If U-line would remove the hump in back of their fridges I would have used them as the kegerator. I am ordering the U-line ice maker since the Franklin is so bad.

Kitchenshock, awesome room! What are the dimensions? We have a covered patio-type space we are thinking of redoing -- I'd love to do something like what you have done there -- just trying to figure out how much room it would take. Also, how many walls do you have, and what's your floor?

On the refrigerator, if you are going to build it in under your counter and decided to use one that is not UL rated, just make sure you have some ventilation. You should look at the Danby 4.5 cu ft. . It only runs about $325 (at least here in Houston) and its a great little machine!