Palos Heights Outdoor Kitchen Design

Outdoor Kitchens Designed for Effortless Entertaining

Thoughtfully designed outdoor kitchens that elevate how you gather, cook, and host — all seamlessly integrated into your landscape.

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Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design in Palos Heights

Bret-Mar Landscape, Inc. brings more than 40 years of experience to Palos Heights outdoor kitchen design, turning underused outdoor space into a well-designed outdoor kitchen built for the way you entertain. As a second-generation, family-owned firm serving Chicago's southwest suburbs, we treat every outdoor kitchen project as an extension of your home, designed around your different needs and built with quality materials made for Chicagoland seasons.

A well-designed outdoor kitchen becomes the heart of your outdoor living space. It gives you a comfortable dining area for a dinner party, plenty of room for large gatherings, and an inviting outdoor oasis for hosting all season long. Because our background is in landscape design, we design each kitchen to feel like a natural part of your yard while giving you a full-fledged kitchen that stands up to real use.

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Create an Outdoor Destination You’ll Love Coming Home To

An outdoor kitchen transforms your backyard into a true extension of your home.

Whether you’re hosting summer gatherings or enjoying a quiet evening outdoors, a well-designed kitchen brings comfort, functionality, and style together in one cohesive space.

Designed for Hosting, Built for Everyday Use

From casual family dinners to entertaining guests, our outdoor kitchens are designed to support the way you live.

Every layout is planned with flow, durability, and long-term enjoyment in mind, so your new outdoor kitchen works as hard as your indoor kitchen.

Outdoor Kitchens Tailored to Your Lifestyle

Custom Outdoor Kitchens

Fully customized layouts featuring premium appliances, countertops, storage, and seating — designed to complement your home and landscape.

Built-In Grilling & Cooking Stations

  • Integrated grills, pizza ovens, prep areas, and bar seating designed for both performance and visual harmony.

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Built for Entertaining and Large Gatherings

If you love to host, we design your outdoor kitchen around it. A dedicated bar area, a large dining table, and generous counter space give guests room to spread out, while smart placement keeps the cook part of the conversation instead of stuck behind the grill. When you cook for a crowd, the right outdoor kitchen appliances mean fewer extra trips back to the traditional kitchen inside.

‍ ‍Popular features for entertainers include:

  • BBQ islands and a kitchen island that double as serving and prep space

  • Wine storage, ice makers, and outdoor refrigerators to keep drinks cold and close

  • An outdoor bar with seating for guests to gather while you cook

  • Built-in grills and a new grill setup sized for large gatherings

  • A pizza oven for cooking a delicious meal that keeps guests engaged

  • Outdoor kitchen cabinets and storage space so everything has a place

We design the ultimate outdoor kitchen around your wish list, whether that means a compact setup or a full-fledged kitchen built for a crowd.

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, safe food handling matters most when you are grilling for a group, which is one more reason a well-planned cooking area with proper prep and cold storage pays off.

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Functional Features That Make Cooking Easy

The best outdoor kitchens are comfortable enough that no one wants to head indoors. We build in shade and comfort so your space works from a hot afternoon into a cool evening.

Popular additions include shade sails and pergolas for midday cover, ceiling fans mounted under covered structures to keep air moving, and an outdoor fireplace or fire pit that extends the evening once the sun goes down. These touches turn a simple patio into an outdoor oasis your guests actually want to stay in.

Quality Materials That Stand the Test of Time

The materials you choose shape both the look and the lifespan of your outdoor kitchen. We combine natural stone, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and other weather-resistant surfaces that hold up through Chicago area winters and summers. Building with quality materials protects your investment and supports the long-term home value of your property, all while keeping maintenance low.

Add Fire Features and Outdoor Living Elements

Fire features are a popular choice for good reason. Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces give guests a warm gathering point after dinner and add a striking focal point to the overall design. Paired with your outdoor kitchen and the surrounding landscape, these outdoor elements turn a simple patio into an outdoor living space you will enjoy far more of the year.

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Our Palos Heights Outdoor Kitchen Design Process

We keep every step clear so your project stays on track, and we stay with you every step of the way.

  1. Design consultation. The first step is a conversation about your goals, your cooking habits, and your project budget, followed by a look at your outdoor space.

  2. Custom design. We refine your wish list into a final result built around your yard, from material selection and appliances to shade, seating, and fire features.

  3. Build and installation. Our team handles the foundation, gas lines, and local building codes with the quality craftsmanship your project deserves.

  4. Final walkthrough. We finish with a walkthrough focused on the small details and your complete satisfaction.

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Serving Palos Heights, Palos Park, Orland Park, and Beyond

We design and build outdoor kitchens for homeowners across Palos Heights, Palos Park, Palos Hills, Orland Park, Homer Glen, and the surrounding southwest suburbs of Chicago. Our local roots mean we understand the homes and yards throughout the area and design each project to fit right in.

 Experience Outdoor Living Ambiance

A professionally designed outdoor kitchen enhances both daily living and long-term property value.

Our design-led approach ensures every element feels intentional — from materials and layout to lighting and finishes.

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Meet the Team

  • A man with a beard sitting outdoors in a garden, smiling at the camera, wearing a gray cap with a logo and a blue shirt, surrounded by green plants and a red building in the background.

    Adam

    CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

    Adam was raised in the landscape industry and developed an early fascination with heavy equipment and hands-on construction. From a young age, he was drawn to understanding how things work—spending hours building and rebuilding projects with Legos, which naturally evolved into a passion for operating equipment and constructing outdoor spaces. He joined the family business after studying Agriculture and Soil Science at South Dakota State University, where he was also a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity. Adam oversees the operations side of the business, managing project construction and field execution. Outside of work, he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys spending time with his dog, Charlie, and ice fishing.

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling next to a brown dog with black markings, in front of a bush with pink and green hydrangea flowers.

    Ashley

    PRESIDENT

    Ashley grew up in the landscape industry and studied Landscape Architecture and Business at South Dakota State University, where she was also a NCAA Division I equestrian athlete. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Landscape Illinois and is a past president of the organization. Ashley is passionate about landscape design and the ability to thoughtfully design outdoor spaces to enrich people’s lives—creating environments that encourage gathering and reflect pride of ownership. Outside of work, Ashley and her husband, Tim, enjoy spending time outdoors with their three dogs, hiking and fishing. She also competes in jumper competitions with her horse, Stella.

  • An older man with white hair and a mustache smiling outdoors, standing in front of blooming pink and cream hydrangea flowers and green foliage.

    Kurt

    LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    An avid outdoorsman, Kurt developed an early passion for land management. He studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he met his wife, Sharon. Kurt leads the development and care of the nursery grounds at Bret-Mar, taking great pride in growing and nurturing plants that go on to thrive in clients’ landscapes. Outside of work, he enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family on fishing trips.

  • A woman with glasses smiling and sitting on a large rock in a garden, with a white dog with its tongue out beside her. The garden has green trees, shrubs, purple flowers, and large rocks.

    Sharon

    LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

    From an early age, Sharon knew she wanted to pursue a career in the landscape industry. Her first job, while in high school, was at a garden center, where she developed a strong passion for plants and horticulture. She studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also met her husband, Kurt. The landscape industry remains a lifelong passion for Sharon, and she enjoys spending time in her garden harvesting vegetables and cut flowers alongside her dog, Elly.

  • The final result turned out even better than we ever imagined. Every detail was tailored to our exact taste, and we couldn’t be happier. We absolutely love everything they did and are so, so happy with the outcome. We would recommend Bret-Mar without hesitation and are already looking forward to working with them again in the future.

    — Michelle M.

  • Ashley, Bailey and Adam were a pleasure to work with on our stone wall project. Very responsive and helpful during the design and implementation. Will definitely use Bret-Mar again!

    — Marie

  • We have worked with Bret-Mar landscape for several of the projects in our yard and their work is top-notch. The entire team and crew at Bret-Mar goes above and beyond in their attention to detail, professionalism, communication & care throughout the project. Our yard has become a feature of our property and we are so grateful that Bret-Mar brought our vision to life.

    — jrse08

  • We are absolutely thrilled with the beauty and natural look of the landscaping. Sharon was very knowledgeable, professional and responsive. The staff and workers were friendly, courteous, and experienced. We highly recommend Bret-Mar for all your landscaping needs.

    — Roseanne G.

  • Bret-Mar always does such beautiful work, and not only do you get to enjoy the improved living space, it also ends up paying off as a great investment! We've had them do several improvements to our yard over the years. Now we are downsizing and moving to a condo, and so we listed our home for sale. We ended up getting much more money for our house than we expected, and the first couple who came to see it bought it!

    - Timothy M.

  • We recently had our front yard designed and installed by Bre-Mar. We had worked directly with Sharon.  She followed up on the project from start to finish.  Our vision, due to her knowledge, expertise, and professionalism provided us with a front yard that we are so proud of.  It truly exceeded our expectations.

    - Karen

  • I have used the services of Bret-Mar Landscape for the past eighteen years - from landscape design in both my front and back yards, brick paver installation, the design and installation of a pond and waterfall, and selection of mature trees for planting.

    Everyone at Bret Mar is thoughtful and really listen to a client's wants and wishes when planning.  Their suggestions are creative and very natural looking. I look forward to my next project.  It's always enjoyable working with them.  They treat me like I am their only client.

    - Dawn B.

Transform the Way You Entertain Outdoors

Let’s design an outdoor kitchen that feels effortless, refined, and built to last.

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