About Gregorywhitehead

Building Kitchens That Live Outside

Gregorywhitehead is a Scottsdale kitchen remodeling company, and a large share of the kitchens we work on sit outside the house. That is not unusual here. Between October and May a patio is the most pleasant room most families have, and even in summer plenty of people cook outdoors after the sun drops behind the McDowell Mountains. A kitchen that gets used that much deserves the same care as the one indoors, and it has to survive conditions an indoor kitchen never sees.

The trouble is that a lot of outdoor kitchens are built as if they were indoor cabinets with a grill dropped in. Painted doors, dark polished stone and wood framing look fine at handover. Then the first July arrives, and by the third one the doors are spotted with rust, the grout in the tile top is packed with dust from a haboob, and the stucco has a crack running up from the sink cutout.

How We Approach the Work

We start by looking at the patio at the hour you actually cook, because orientation decides more than any product choice. A cook zone against the east wall of a south Scottsdale ranch house is a completely different place at six in the evening than one out in the open on a west facing lot in Pinnacle Peak.

From there we choose materials for exposure. Pale granite, quartzite or porcelain for the top. 304 stainless or UV stabilized polymer for the cabinet boxes. Steel stud or block framing with cement board and stucco underneath. Outdoor rated appliances, with ventilation built into the island base when there is gas inside it.

What You Can Expect From Us

• A frank read on your existing island. If the frame is sound and only the top and doors are worn, we will say so rather than quote a full rebuild.
• Permits pulled for the utilities. Gas, electrical and plumbing work goes through the City of Scottsdale with inspections, and we prepare HOA submittals for planned communities such as McCormick Ranch and DC Ranch.
• Straight talk about summer builds. Stucco and mortar do not like 110 degree afternoons. We will tell you when a project is better scheduled for the cooler months.

Get in Touch

Call (480) 623-9677, or write to us at 1455 Thomas Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. We are happy to look at a patio, a half finished island or a set of plans from another designer.