After a long, snowy winter, the return of longer and warmer days means that outdoor gatherings aren’t far behind. 

The advent of COVID-19 five years ago heralded the meteoric rise of outdoor kitchens’ popularity, as bridging the comfort and personality of indoor decor and functionality to the backyard not only extended a family’s living space but also made summertime socializing at a safe distance possible. And it’s a trend that remains a hotly in-demand one for all the perks and personal touches that one project can include. 

In fact, Keystone Custom Decks’ marketing manager Marcus Stoltzfus says that those who want their own outdoor kitchen space by this summer need to book those projects as soon as possible. 

“As soon as the nice weather hits and the green starts pushing up in the lawn, everyone starts thinking about being outdoors and having people over,” he notes.

Keystone’s decades of experience in bringing the expertly and thoughtfully crafted decks its name bears have long ago expanded into including all areas of exterior projects, and outdoor kitchens are no exception. 

“An outdoor kitchen is a great way to bring all of the things that we enjoy from the inside into a space that is shared on the outside,” Stoltzfus begins. “Everything is custom-built and tailored to the clients’ needs. It’s a great way to serve someone who really enjoys things like hosting or even just cooking for your own family. We offer full-custom pieces, and it’s anything from griddles to grills to outdoor refrigerators—anything you can think of, really.”

Just as all tastes, spaces, budgets and expectations are different, so are all the appliances, configurations, features and materials Keystone uses to bring all those unique visions to life. Popular must-haves like grilling stations, outdoor refrigerators with clear doors for a quick assessment of supplies, convenient but unobtrusive storage spaces and especially pizza ovens are all available through the supply vendors that Keystone works with, and working with its expert staff ensures seamless, harmonious visual integration with current exterior and backyard flows and features. 

Plus, with the Keystone team’s exhaustive variety of expertise never more than a call away, clients have access to in-house skilled workers who can do everything to sidestep usability issues early in the planning stage so you’re not cooking with the sun in your eyes or realize too late that a sink is positioned too far from the prep station. Beyond construction, they also service the appliances so everything is up and running by the time for site cleanup. 

“Since we are that one-stop shop, we make sure utilities like propane and electric are flowing smoothly to your new kitchen,” Stoltzfus says.

And while outdoor kitchens elevate not only any property but also their value, they’re an especially useful addition for those who greet the warmer weather with plans to spend it playing master host to gatherings of friends and family. 

“People still love looking at their outdoor space and seeing if they can upgrade it, especially if they love entertaining,” Stoltzfus affirms. “Being able to serve food to your guests in a permanent outdoor space, that really takes your backyard space to the next level.”

Keystone Custom Decks
Serving Pa., Del., N.J., N.Y. and Md. 
Pa. office: (717) 936-9590 
N.Y. office: (315) 227-2288
KeystoneCustomDecks.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 25, Issue 3 (March/April 2025)
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