Before and after: see how a couple created this stylish outdoor kitchen filled with clever features

If your BBQ has seen better days, follow this couple's lead and transform your patio with an incredible DIY outdoor kitchen

blue outdoor kitchen with bar stools
(Image credit: Heather Rimmer)

Whether you live in sunny California or cloudy UK, outdoor kitchen ideas have spiked in popularity all over. This savvy couple has truly inspired us to get in on the trend with this fully kitted-out stylish blue DIY outdoor kitchen transformation.

Thanks to some breezeblocks, a little imagination, and a lot of hard work, Heather Rimmer and her partner turned their ordinary garden into an extraordinary space. The couple, who documented the project on Instagram @life.at.no.27, were inspired to take on the challenge after their old 15-year-old BBQ finally gave up. 

'We’ve always been huge BBQ fans. Come summer, we’d cook dinner out there most nights, even braving the wet British weather on occasions,' says Heather.

DIY outdoor kitchen 

Before

garden patio

(Image credit: Heather Rimmer)

'An outdoor kitchen had been on our minds for a couple of years but it wasn’t until mid-way through the first lockdown when our 15-year-old BBQ finally gave up, that we decided to get planning.'

The couple pulled together a couple of designs they liked to create a unique outdoor kitchen that they built themselves from scratch. The final design included space for a BBQ, pizza oven, and a countertop with bar stools. If you're on the lookout for a new BBQ too take a look at our best BBQ.

'The BBQ structure was primarily built out of breeze blocks, rendered with cement and then painted,' says Heather. 'We had absolutely no experience with bricklaying or rendering, we just watched lots of tutorials online and gave it a go!'

After

Pizza oven in outdoor kitchen

(Image credit: Heather Rimmer)

'The worktop is made out of concrete, which we'd poured into a wooden frame made mostly out of furniture board. For the wooden screens around the back, we utilised cheap roofing battens by spacing them out on timber legs, and then attached them to our fence.'

Creating an outdoor kitchen is always going to be an expensive project, however, the couple kept costs down with a few clever tricks.

outdoor kitchen with herb boxes

(Image credit: Heather Rimmer)

'We were quite resourceful with materials; using wood, sand and cement from previous projects,' says Heather. 'That said, we saved some money by ordering in bulk from as few suppliers as possible – heavy things cost a lot to deliver.'

BBQ utensil storage

(Image credit: Heather Rimmer)

'The BBQ and best pizza oven were the most expensive items, but we think they're worth it.'

Overall the project cost £1,300 to complete, which is a fraction of what many similar outdoor kitchens of this standard would usually cost.

outdoor kitchen breakfast bar

(Image credit: Heather Rimmer)

If you are tempted to have a go at creating your own outdoor kitchen too, take a look at a guide for how to design an outdoor kitchen

It is the finishing touches that make this project something really special. In the center of the countertop is space to hold ice to keep drinks cold. Next to the BBQ, Heather and her partner built in a clever sliding storage solution to store cooking utensils.

One of our favorite touches has to be the herb planters. The planters full of rosemary and even chilies are ready and waiting to spice up the pairs next dinner.

Outdoor pizza ovens

Love how Heather and her partner have added a pizza oven to their outdoor kitchen? You can get a slice of the action too with today's best pizza oven deals. 

Rebecca Knight

Rebecca has worked as a homes and interiors journalist for over four years, and is currently the Deputy Editor on Ideal Home online. Previously, she was the News Editor across the Future homes and gardens brands, including Gardeningetc.com. She lives in a rented flat in South London where she makes the most of window boxes to create small container gardens. Inside she has a jungle of houseplants in nearly every room which she does her best to keep up with regular watering and repotting.