Custom Outdoor Kitchen: ‘Dave’s Pizza,’ Built Into a Hillside
A brown stucco Mattone Barile Grande over a fire brick fireplace, wrapped in stacked stone counters with two grills, all tucked into a terraced California hillside. Here is how it came together, step by step.
- Built By
- The Shortes Family
- Location
- California
- Oven Style
- Fire Brick Barrel
- Photos & Videos
- 31 Photos
- Homeowner Review
- ★★★★★
Build Time-Lapse
Watch This Custom Outdoor Kitchen Come Together
From a block firebox to fires in the oven and the fireplace, in about 60 seconds. Press play, or grab the slider and scrub through the build yourself.
This custom outdoor kitchen was built into a terraced hillside in the Shortes family’s California backyard. A Mattone Barile Grande sits on top of a fire brick fireplace, with curved stone counters, a sink, two grills and a “Dave’s Pizza” chef on the oven face. Here is how it came together, photo by photo.
Step 1 of 9
Step 1: Build the Fireplace Firebox
The kitchen sits against a hillside retaining wall. It starts low: a cinder block box with a fire brick floor, then a fire brick back wall and arch. That firebox becomes the fireplace under the oven.
Step 2 of 9
Step 2: Pour the Hearth Over the Fireplace
Rebar went across the top of the fireplace arch, and a concrete hearth slab was poured over it. The firebrick cooking surface went on top in a herringbone pattern.
Step 3 of 9
Step 3: Raise the Fire Brick Barrel
The foam form went onto the firebrick cooking surface and fire brick went up over it, with a brick arch and chimney in front. The barrel got a scored mortar coat, then a smooth gray coat.
Step 4 of 9
Step 4: Lay Out the Kitchen Walls
Block counter walls with arched bays went out on both sides, curving around the oven. Wood forms and rebar went on top for poured counters, with block-outs for a sink.
Step 5 of 9
Step 5: Pour the Concrete Counters
The counters were poured in place, wrapping around the oven and fireplace on both sides.
Step 6 of 9
Step 6: Add the Doors and Stone
A Dave's Pizza chef went on the oven face. Rustic wood doors with black strap hinges went on the cabinet bays, and stacked stone veneer went on the whole base.
Step 7 of 9
Step 7: Stucco, Stain and a Stone Chimney
The chimney got a stone jacket and a black cap. The oven face and counters were acid-stained a deep brown to match the stone.
Step 8 of 9
Step 8: Set the Grills and Finish
A gas grill and a round cooking disc went into the counters, and a wheel-crank grill joined them later. The fireplace got a grate, and the kitchen was done.
Hover over the dots (or tap them on your phone) to see what makes this custom outdoor kitchen one of a kind.
- Stone ChimneyA stacked stone chimney with a black cap rises behind the oven.
- Stained Stucco OvenThe Grande barrel is finished in deep brown acid-stained stucco.
- Fireplace BelowA fire brick fireplace sits right under the oven hearth.
- Gas GrillA stainless gas grill is built into the left counter.
- Wheel-Crank GrillA wood-fire grill with a crank wheel to raise and lower the grate.
- Stained Concrete CountersPoured concrete counters, stained to match the oven.
- Stacked Stone BaseStacked stone veneer wraps the whole kitchen.
- Rustic Wood DoorsArched plank doors with black strap hinges.
- Built Into the HillsideThe kitchen tucks against a terraced California hillside.
BeforeFinished
Drag across the photo (or just move your mouse) to go from bare block walls to the finished custom outdoor kitchen.
Step 9 of 9
Step 9: Fire It Up
Fires in the oven and the fireplace at the same time, with both grills ready on either side.
Plan Yours
Custom Outdoor Kitchen Ideas From This Build
Stack the fire. A fireplace under the oven gives you two fires in one footprint. Want that look? See our outdoor fireplace with pizza oven ideas.
Let the hill shape the kitchen. The counters curve along the retaining wall, so the whole kitchen faces the patio.
Mix your cookers. Pizza in the middle, a gas grill on one side and a wheel-crank wood-fire grill on the other. For a crank grill of your own, see our Uruguayan Grill.
Make it yours. A painted “Dave’s Pizza” chef, stained counters and rustic plank doors are what make it custom. For more, see this step-by-step guide on how to build an outdoor kitchen, or another California DIY outdoor kitchen dug into a hillside.
Good Questions
Custom Outdoor Kitchen FAQ
What makes an outdoor kitchen custom?
It is built for one yard and one family. This one curves around a hillside wall and puts a fireplace under the pizza oven, with stained concrete counters, stacked stone, rustic wood doors and two grills.
Can you put a fireplace under a pizza oven?
Yes. The Shortes family built a fire brick fireplace first, then poured the hearth slab over its arch and built the oven on top. See more ideas for an outdoor fireplace with pizza oven.
Which oven kit did the Shortes family use?
Mattone Barile Grande · Package 3. It is a fire brick barrel oven built over our foam form, with an 18.5-inch interior ceiling and room for three 10-inch pizzas at once. See the kit.
What counters work in a custom outdoor kitchen?
Poured concrete is a good fit. It can follow any curve, and acid stain gives it color. These counters were formed in place on the block walls, then stained a deep brown.
Can you build a custom outdoor kitchen yourself?
Yes. Every step here is block, concrete, stone and stucco work. Our FREE plans walk you through the oven, from the hearth to the chimney.
How long do you cure a new pizza oven?
Plan on about a week of small, gradually bigger fires to drive the moisture out. Skip it and the oven can crack. See our pizza oven curing guide for the full schedule.
Your Turn
Build Your Own Custom Outdoor Kitchen
The Shortes family turned a California hillside into a custom outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, a fireplace and two grills. Every one starts with the same kit and plans. Start with our free plans and materials list, then finish it your way. Ready to start? See the Mattone Barile Grande, or compare all of our pizza oven kits.
