A grill on the patio is a good starting point. An outdoor kitchen is something else entirely. When a pool area is designed with a full outdoor kitchen — built-in grill, counter space, refrigeration, storage, and maybe a sink — the backyard stops being a place you visit on warm days and becomes a genuine extension of your home that gets used from Memorial Day through October and beyond.
Outdoor kitchens have become one of the most requested additions to Rhode Island backyards over the past several years, and for good reason. The combination of a pool and an outdoor kitchen eliminates most of the friction that breaks up a perfect summer day — the trips inside for food, the missing utensils, the cooler that’s never in the right place. Everything you need is right there.
Here’s how to plan an outdoor kitchen addition to your Rhode Island pool area the right way.
Design It Around How You Actually Entertain
The most important question to answer before you start planning materials and appliances is: how do you actually use your backyard? The right outdoor kitchen for someone who hosts large weekend gatherings is different from the right kitchen for a couple who grills on weeknights.
Be honest about your entertaining style:
- How many people do you typically have over at once?
- Do you do serious cooking outside, or mostly grilling?
- Do you want to be able to make drinks and keep food cold poolside?
- Will you use this space in cooler months, or primarily during peak summer?
The answers shape the size, layout, and features of the kitchen. A casual griller who hosts 8 to 10 people needs a solid grill station, some prep counter space, and a mini fridge for drinks. Someone who regularly hosts 30 or more and takes outdoor cooking seriously will want a much more developed setup — double burners, a larger grill, sink, storage, and perhaps a bar area.
Essential Components to Consider
A well-planned outdoor kitchen in a Rhode Island pool area typically includes some combination of the following:
Built-in grill: This is the anchor of any outdoor kitchen. Stainless steel construction is standard for durability and weather resistance. Size it for how you cook, not just how it looks.
Side burners: Useful for cooking sides, sauces, or boiling water without running inside. Even a single side burner meaningfully expands what you can prepare outdoors.
Refrigeration: An outdoor-rated refrigerator or beverage cooler keeps drinks and perishables at hand without traffic in and out of the house. This single addition changes how a backyard gathering flows.
Counter and prep space: Adequate counter space on either side of the grill makes outdoor cooking practical rather than cramped. Stone or porcelain countertops are the standard for weather resistance and cleanability.
Storage: Drawers and cabinets for utensils, tools, and supplies keep the kitchen organized and protect equipment from weather.
Sink: Not essential for everyone, but for serious outdoor cooks, a sink with plumbed water access is a significant quality-of-life upgrade.
Material Selection for Rhode Island's Climate
Outdoor kitchens in Rhode Island need to withstand humidity, salt air in coastal communities, summer heat, and winter cold. Material choices that look great in a showroom but deteriorate in New England conditions are a common and expensive mistake.
The safest material choices for Rhode Island outdoor kitchens:
- Frame: Stainless steel or aluminum for cabinets and structural components. Both resist rust and hold up through freeze-thaw cycles.
- Countertops: Porcelain, granite, or concrete. All handle weather well and are easy to clean.
- Cladding: Natural stone, porcelain tile, or stucco. Avoid materials that absorb water and crack when it freezes.
- Appliances: Look for outdoor-rated stainless appliances specifically built for exterior installation.
The Pools Plus Hardscapes Division builds outdoor kitchens using quality materials selected specifically for Rhode Island conditions, integrated with the patio and pool design so the finished result looks cohesive rather than assembled piece by piece.
Plan for Utilities Before You Build
One of the most common planning mistakes with outdoor kitchens is not accounting for utilities until construction is underway — at which point routing gas lines and electrical runs through finished hardscape becomes expensive and disruptive.
Gas, electrical, and plumbing connections should all be planned and roughed in before the patio surface goes down and before the kitchen structure is built. This is a strong reason to work with a contractor who handles both the hardscape and the kitchen as an integrated project rather than two separate scopes.
Pools Plus builds outdoor kitchens as part of comprehensive backyard projects that include the pool surround, patio, and any additional features like fire pits or retaining walls. Coordinating everything through a single team means the utilities, drainage, and design all work together from the start.
The Value of Building It Right the First Time
An outdoor kitchen is a significant investment, and one that’s very difficult and expensive to substantially modify after construction. Getting the layout, size, and features right upfront — rather than compromising and planning to add to it later — almost always saves money and frustration in the long run.
This is where a design consultation before breaking ground is genuinely valuable. The Pools Plus team can walk you through examples of completed projects, discuss what works well in Rhode Island’s specific climate and outdoor living culture, and help you define a scope that matches your lifestyle and budget.
Contact Pools Plus to get started on your outdoor kitchen and backyard living project. Summer in Rhode Island is too short to spend it running inside for everything you need.
