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Design process and outdoor kitchen installation

One contact from the first call to the first fire. Here is what happens at each step, and what we commit to.

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01 The place

How to design an outdoor kitchen: start with the place

A FREILUFT kitchen is made to order, so the design comes first and the outdoor kitchen installation comes last. In between are clear steps, with one contact at Ensch Outdoor Living: we plan with you, order from the manufactory in Germany, organize shipping and deliver the kitchen. We set the cabinets and stone worktops; Florida-licensed contractors make the foundation and the connections.

Good design starts with the place: the sun at the hours you cook, the wind, the paths from the house, the view from the table and the connections for water, power and gas.

Close-up of a tapered oak and black steel leg under an open firewood shelf of an outdoor island

02 Preparation

What to prepare for the consultation

  • Photos of the space from several sides, and a site plan or survey if you have one
  • Where water, power and gas are today
  • How you cook and host: a few people or many, wood fire, grill, pizza or all of it
  • Your architect, pool builder or landscape designer, if you work with one

Bring your team in early. We plan together with them, and the kitchen fits the house, the pool and the garden from the first drawing. For ideas on shapes, see the layouts; for architects and builders, the trade information.

03 Step by step

The process, step by step

Nine stages, each with a clear next step and a commitment we keep.

  1. Request

    Tell us about your place and your plans, in the form or by phone. We reply personally within one business day.

  2. Consultation

    You get a 20 to 30 minute call or video consultation about your space, your plans and your timing. Afterwards, request material samples to hold the aluminum, the finish and the stone.

  3. Site visit and design

    We measure on site: base, slope, water, power and paths. Then we plan the kitchen in 3D, and you receive a design and a fixed quote within 10 business days of the site visit.

  4. Quote and layout approval

    Your quote lists every position, the schedule and an overview of the warranty. Production starts once the layout drawing is approved; after that the layout can no longer be changed. What decides the price is explained in our guide to outdoor kitchen cost.

  5. Production

    The cabinetry is made to order in the FREILUFT Manufaktur in Nordwalde, Germany. There is a unique manufactory number on every kitchen, and you receive updates with photos from the manufactory while your kitchen is being made.

  6. Sea freight

    The kitchen travels by sea from Germany to Florida. We organize the shipping and confirm the delivery date with you.

  7. Installation

    We set and level the cabinets and place the stone worktops. Florida-licensed contractors make the foundation and the gas, power and water connections and apply for the permits; we prepare the drawings and documents they need. We can recommend licensed Florida contractors we work with.

  8. Handover

    At handover: the first fire together, an introduction to use and care, a care set, the warranty documents and the registration of your appliances. Details on the warranty by Ensch Outdoor Living LLC.

  9. Care and service

    We stay your contact. We offer a care check before the hurricane season in May and before the main outdoor season in November, and a service visit within 10 business days of your request.

04 Installation

Outdoor kitchen installation with licensed Florida contractors

Before the kitchen arrives, the base has to be ready: a firm, weather-resistant, non-combustible base; gravel is not suitable. Water, power and gas lines are prepared to the positions in the layout drawing.

On site, every cabinet is set on adjustable leveling feet with a plinth height of 3 9/16 to 5 1/8 in (90 to 130 mm). The standard plinth levels a slope of up to 1 9/16 in over 39 3/8 in (4 cm over 100 cm). Then the stone worktops, the grill-and-fire element and the appliances go in, and licensed trades make the connections.

Dark gray outdoor kitchen with a wood fire, cutting board, herbs and a glass-door cooler in low sunlight

05 Aftercare

After the handover: care and warranty

Clean aluminum and the coating with mild soapy water, clean natural stone without acids, and lubricate the hinges twice a year. For small chips and scratches, use a touch-up paint pen, included with every original delivery. More on the PureAlu Cabinetry System.

Your kitchen is covered by the warranty by Ensch Outdoor Living LLC. Built-in appliances carry the warranties of their US manufacturers, listed separately.

Design and installation: questions and answers

Frequently asked questions

The kitchen is made to order, shipped by sea and then installed. We give you a schedule with your quote, keep you informed during production and confirm the delivery date once the kitchen ships.

Start with a design consultation.

Tell us about your home, your timing and the place for your kitchen. We reply personally within one business day. Currently planning kitchens in Florida (where we work); for projects in other states, we offer a video consultation.

Step 1 of 3
  1. About you
  2. Your project
  3. Timing and scope
About you

Five digits. We use it to check whether we currently build in your area.

  • Made to order
  • 5/16 in (8 mm) marine-grade aluminum
  • Planned in Florida
  • Warranty by Ensch Outdoor Living LLC

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