8 Impressive Grills That Will Elevate an Outdoor Kitchen
These eye-catching grills and smokers bring a dose of beauty, style and innovation to cooking setups
Dave Grimm
4 July 2020
I'm a contributing writer and copy editor for Houzz. I have a degree in journalism and have worked as a writer and/or editor for newspapers, blogs and other publications for the last 30+ years. I'm also a DIYer who loves to cook, garden and beautify our home with my wife. We live near Denver and spend winters looking forward to hanging out on our deck by the barbecue with friends.
I'm a contributing writer and copy editor for Houzz. I have a degree in journalism... More
As we find ourselves spending more time at home, it’s tempting to look at our backyards and consider a revamp. For a more extensive outdoor upgrade, a new outdoor kitchen can elevate the use and enjoyment of an outdoor space. And for many of us, no outdoor kitchen would be complete without a grill.
We’ve pulled together a collection of grills, smokers and other outdoor cooking tools that would bring a major dose of style and beauty to your existing patio or planned remodel. We chose them with an eye for the new, the eye-catching and the innovative — and all will help you step up your outdoor cooking game.
We’ve pulled together a collection of grills, smokers and other outdoor cooking tools that would bring a major dose of style and beauty to your existing patio or planned remodel. We chose them with an eye for the new, the eye-catching and the innovative — and all will help you step up your outdoor cooking game.
1. Kamado Grill Perfected
The Shokunin, released by Kalamazoo in the summer of 2019, is a modern version of the popular kamado charcoal grill — typically an oval ceramic unit.
The Shokunin is 48 inches tall, which is taller than other kamados, and includes three fire levels (two more than most kamados), giving the cook greater control of the heat and the ability to roast, sear or smoke. Those wanting a cooler cooking temperature, which might be used to smoke large cuts of meat for long periods or even to cold-smoke cheese, can build their fire on the bottom level, for instance.
Kalamazoo has improved on the basic kamado’s insulation and built in four air vents for better cross-flow ventilation. Finally, it added some nice ipe wood touches that give the stainless steel finishes modern flair.
Cost: Starting at $5,995.
The Shokunin, released by Kalamazoo in the summer of 2019, is a modern version of the popular kamado charcoal grill — typically an oval ceramic unit.
The Shokunin is 48 inches tall, which is taller than other kamados, and includes three fire levels (two more than most kamados), giving the cook greater control of the heat and the ability to roast, sear or smoke. Those wanting a cooler cooking temperature, which might be used to smoke large cuts of meat for long periods or even to cold-smoke cheese, can build their fire on the bottom level, for instance.
Kalamazoo has improved on the basic kamado’s insulation and built in four air vents for better cross-flow ventilation. Finally, it added some nice ipe wood touches that give the stainless steel finishes modern flair.
Cost: Starting at $5,995.
2. Stunning Steel
Arteflame builds its beautiful, modern grills with a base of Cor-Ten steel — which will patinate to the beautiful rust color shown here over time — and a carbon steel cooktop. The cooktops range from about 20 to 40 inches across, and the grills from 20 to 38 inches tall. The shape of all the company’s grills makes it easy for more than one person to cook at the same time, and the grill itself can also double as a fire pit.
Arteflame builds its beautiful, modern grills with a base of Cor-Ten steel — which will patinate to the beautiful rust color shown here over time — and a carbon steel cooktop. The cooktops range from about 20 to 40 inches across, and the grills from 20 to 38 inches tall. The shape of all the company’s grills makes it easy for more than one person to cook at the same time, and the grill itself can also double as a fire pit.
The grills burn wood or charcoal from the inside, which focuses more heat on the cooktop.
Cost: From about $600 for the 20-inch grill to about $2,000 for the 40-inch grill.
Cost: From about $600 for the 20-inch grill to about $2,000 for the 40-inch grill.
3. Colorful Choices
You might want a grill that brings more than basic stainless steel to your color palette. Hestan’s Aspire line offers built-in and stand-alone gas grills in some unusual colors, including teal, orange, pink and blue, in sizes ranging from 30 to 42 inches. But they’re not just about looks; they are also loaded with thoughtful features, including a spring-assisted lid, heavy-duty materials and halogen lighting inside the grill. The coolest feature, though, is a two-sided tray of ceramic disks that radiate heat for cooking. When the disks get caked with food drippings, the tray can be flipped over so excess food burns off.
You might want a grill that brings more than basic stainless steel to your color palette. Hestan’s Aspire line offers built-in and stand-alone gas grills in some unusual colors, including teal, orange, pink and blue, in sizes ranging from 30 to 42 inches. But they’re not just about looks; they are also loaded with thoughtful features, including a spring-assisted lid, heavy-duty materials and halogen lighting inside the grill. The coolest feature, though, is a two-sided tray of ceramic disks that radiate heat for cooking. When the disks get caked with food drippings, the tray can be flipped over so excess food burns off.
In this photo of a freestanding grill from Hestan’s Aspire line, you can see how color can elevate the design.
Cost: From about $3,000 for a 30-inch unit to about $4,600 for a 42-inch model with rotisserie.
Cost: From about $3,000 for a 30-inch unit to about $4,600 for a 42-inch model with rotisserie.
4. Updated Drum Style
Those with a smaller grill budget can take heart: Gateway Drum Smokers are designed to be comparatively affordable, user-friendly grills that burn wood or charcoal and make it easy to turn out flavorful foods.
Gateway designed its drums as smokers more than grills, but as smokers that cook hotter and faster than typical smokers — so a brisket that might take 16 hours in a regular smoker might be done in four hours on a Gateway. It will handle any food you might cook in a regular smoker, but it will cook it faster, and the barbecue pros winning awards with them will tell you it also cooks it better.
These grills look great too: They come in vivid red and blue, along with matte charcoal and gray. All are attractive and modern, in a retro design that harks back to drum pits from another time. They have adjustable intake and exhaust pipes for precise temperature control.
Cost: $742 for a 30-gallon model; $1,111 for a 55-gallon model.
Those with a smaller grill budget can take heart: Gateway Drum Smokers are designed to be comparatively affordable, user-friendly grills that burn wood or charcoal and make it easy to turn out flavorful foods.
Gateway designed its drums as smokers more than grills, but as smokers that cook hotter and faster than typical smokers — so a brisket that might take 16 hours in a regular smoker might be done in four hours on a Gateway. It will handle any food you might cook in a regular smoker, but it will cook it faster, and the barbecue pros winning awards with them will tell you it also cooks it better.
These grills look great too: They come in vivid red and blue, along with matte charcoal and gray. All are attractive and modern, in a retro design that harks back to drum pits from another time. They have adjustable intake and exhaust pipes for precise temperature control.
Cost: $742 for a 30-gallon model; $1,111 for a 55-gallon model.
5. Sit, Grill, Eat
JAG Grills took the idea of friends gathering around the grill and ran with it. The company’s wood- and charcoal-burning table-and-fire pit combo has a grill grate in front of each place setting to get everyone cooking. After dinner, as the evening cools, you can remove the grill grate and turn the table into a fire pit to keep everyone comfortable. The wooden sections are also removable for easy cleaning. JAG offers a six-seat option that is 4 feet, 2 inches wide and an eight-seat option that is 7 feet, 6 inches wide.
Cost: From $1,200 for the six-person table to $2,500 for the eight-person table.
JAG Grills took the idea of friends gathering around the grill and ran with it. The company’s wood- and charcoal-burning table-and-fire pit combo has a grill grate in front of each place setting to get everyone cooking. After dinner, as the evening cools, you can remove the grill grate and turn the table into a fire pit to keep everyone comfortable. The wooden sections are also removable for easy cleaning. JAG offers a six-seat option that is 4 feet, 2 inches wide and an eight-seat option that is 7 feet, 6 inches wide.
Cost: From $1,200 for the six-person table to $2,500 for the eight-person table.
6. Stone-Oven Performance
The Lynx Grills Napoli outdoor oven capitalizes on a time-tested truth: Stone ovens perform beautifully in cooking a wide range of foods, from pizzas to braised lamb shanks to pineapple upside-down cake.
The Lynx Grills Napoli outdoor oven capitalizes on a time-tested truth: Stone ovens perform beautifully in cooking a wide range of foods, from pizzas to braised lamb shanks to pineapple upside-down cake.
Lynx built this attractive stainless steel gas-burning unit with a stone interior for even cooking at temperatures reaching 700 degrees. It’s available as a built-in or stand-alone unit and is 30 inches wide.
Cost: $4,539.
Cost: $4,539.
7. Porcelain Beauty
Fire Magic’s premium Diamond series offers loads of style and features. The sleek lines and porcelain-coated exterior set these grills apart from the usual stainless steel look. They also allows cooking with charcoal or smoking with wood chips in tandem with high-output gas burners. They have a rotisserie unit that can handle large roasts and stores easily when not in use. The “Magic” window allows the chef to monitor the cooking without having to open the lid. The grills come as stand-alone or built-in models with grill sizes ranging from 30 to 48 inches.
Cost: $7,699 for the 48-inch model.
Fire Magic’s premium Diamond series offers loads of style and features. The sleek lines and porcelain-coated exterior set these grills apart from the usual stainless steel look. They also allows cooking with charcoal or smoking with wood chips in tandem with high-output gas burners. They have a rotisserie unit that can handle large roasts and stores easily when not in use. The “Magic” window allows the chef to monitor the cooking without having to open the lid. The grills come as stand-alone or built-in models with grill sizes ranging from 30 to 48 inches.
Cost: $7,699 for the 48-inch model.
8. A Grill With Muscle
The American Muscle Grill by Summerset Professional Grills was designed with the classic look of the Detroit muscle cars of days past — even the control panel is reminiscent of a backlit ’60s car radio — but it also includes some modern features. For one, it is a multifuel grill, meaning it can burn wood, charcoal, propane or natural gas. That might mean chefs opt for cooking with gas, or they might use the gas burners to ignite their wood or charcoal to bring more smoke flavor to the result.
While this grill’s nice features and beguiling design come at a hefty price, this grill would be a proud centerpiece to finish off a premium outdoor kitchen. It is available as a freestanding or built-in unit, in sizes ranging from 36 inches to 54 inches.
Cost: $8,750 for the 36-inch model; $12,150 for the 54-inch model.
The American Muscle Grill by Summerset Professional Grills was designed with the classic look of the Detroit muscle cars of days past — even the control panel is reminiscent of a backlit ’60s car radio — but it also includes some modern features. For one, it is a multifuel grill, meaning it can burn wood, charcoal, propane or natural gas. That might mean chefs opt for cooking with gas, or they might use the gas burners to ignite their wood or charcoal to bring more smoke flavor to the result.
While this grill’s nice features and beguiling design come at a hefty price, this grill would be a proud centerpiece to finish off a premium outdoor kitchen. It is available as a freestanding or built-in unit, in sizes ranging from 36 inches to 54 inches.
Cost: $8,750 for the 36-inch model; $12,150 for the 54-inch model.
Plus, a Hot Accessory
FireBoard was mentioned by a few sources as a top-notch temperature-control solution. It is cloud-connected, Bluetooth-capable and voice-activated, with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, so the average griller will have all the info needed to monitor temperatures with up to six probes at once.
Better yet, the FireBoard 2 Drive model is able to plug into a fan, which can adjust the temperature of, say, a kamado grill or other smoker. Imagine being able to adjust your outdoor grill temperature from your indoor kitchen. That kind of control can allow any backyard chef to simply relax and enjoy the day.
Cost: $189 for FireBoard 2 with two probes; $249 with FireBoard 2 Drive with two probes. The fan accessory is $59.
More on Houzz
Your Grill Season Checklist
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for outdoor cooking products
FireBoard was mentioned by a few sources as a top-notch temperature-control solution. It is cloud-connected, Bluetooth-capable and voice-activated, with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, so the average griller will have all the info needed to monitor temperatures with up to six probes at once.
Better yet, the FireBoard 2 Drive model is able to plug into a fan, which can adjust the temperature of, say, a kamado grill or other smoker. Imagine being able to adjust your outdoor grill temperature from your indoor kitchen. That kind of control can allow any backyard chef to simply relax and enjoy the day.
Cost: $189 for FireBoard 2 with two probes; $249 with FireBoard 2 Drive with two probes. The fan accessory is $59.
More on Houzz
Your Grill Season Checklist
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for outdoor cooking products
Related Stories
Kitchen Guides
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
Here are key kitchen dimensions that will help you design like a pro
Full Story
More Room Guides
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Take a leaf out of these elegantly designed, beautiful prayer rooms on Houzz
Full Story
Decorating Guides
What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer?
From furnishing working drawings to beautifying the home, find out how an interior designer plays multifunctional roles
Full Story
More Room Guides
Turn One Room Into Two With These Genius Ideas
Carve out an extra room within your home with these fab room-splitting tips and tricks
Full Story
Bedroom Guides
What Are the Ideal Wardrobe Measurements?
Here are dimensions for different types of wardrobe designs that ensure maximum functionality and storage
Full Story
Architecture
These Indian Homes Know How To Combat Harsh Climate
See how these homes by SPASM, Kumar Moorthy & Associates and JPLUSDARCHITECTS mitigate the ramifications of harsh climate ahead of time
Full Story
Architecture
How to Find an Architect That's Right for You
Make the construction and renovation of your home a pleasant and memorable journey by selecting the right architect
Full Story
Bathroom Guides
Step-by-Step: A Guide to Renovating Your Bathroom
Planning to renovate your bathroom? Learn about the different stages involved in the remodelling process
Full Story
Living Rooms
30 Best Sofa Designs
This guide gives a rundown of sofa types that will leave you spoilt for choices
Full Story
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
both have their advantages... I enjoy the cleanliness and ease of using gas, as well as charcoal and hard wood for a different flavor profile/ smoking. I have a gas grill and a kamado; love them both.
Opposed to pellets. They seem like a processed wood running through a sieve.
We love our Traeger!
outdoor kitchens have always been impressive for me