Outdoor Kitchens & Lanais

Overview

In Southwest Florida, much of life happens outside. Breakfast on the lanai, an evening by the pool, friends gathered while something cooks on the grill. A well planned outdoor space can become the room you use most.

SeaGlass custom builds outdoor kitchens and renovates lanais. As with our indoor work, Terry Booth, a Certified General Contractor, leads every project, and our own carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tile setters, and stucco and drywall installers do as much of the work as possible.

Outdoor projects often connect to the rest of the house. A lanai renovation may tie in with a new kitchen or living area, and is sometimes part of a broader plan described on our whole home renovations page.

Design possibilities

An outdoor kitchen should be planned like an indoor one. Where does the cook stand? Where do guests gather? Is there room to set down a platter beside the grill? A grill, a sink, refrigeration and generous counter space are common starting points, with other features added as the space and budget allow.

Shade and air movement matter as much as appliances. Many homeowners spend their time on a covered lanai, so placing the kitchen where it is sheltered from afternoon sun and rain can make it far more pleasant to use.

A lanai renovation might update flooring, ceilings, lighting and fans, or reconsider how the space opens to the interior. Coordinating finishes with the rooms inside helps the lanai feel like part of the home rather than an afterthought.

Lighting extends the day. Task lighting at the grill, softer light for dining and careful lighting near the pool all help the space work after dark. Power for fans, speakers or a television is easiest to plan from the start.

Think too about the view from inside. A lanai is seen through windows and sliding doors all day, so its lines, colors and lighting should feel related to the living room and kitchen they face. When indoor and outdoor finishes speak to each other, the whole home feels larger and more connected.

Materials and craftsmanship

Outdoors, Southwest Florida tests every material. Intense sun, heavy summer rain, constant humidity and, closer to the coast, salt air all affect cabinetry, countertops, hardware and finishes. Choices that would last for decades indoors may not suit an exposed lanai.

We discuss materials for cabinetry, countertops, tile and hardware with these conditions in mind. Our countertops and finishes page covers the surfaces we work with, and our custom cabinetry page explains how we approach built cabinetry.

Craftsmanship outdoors is also about water. Counters and floors should shed rain, joints should be properly sealed and electrical work must suit wet locations. Because our own plumbers and electricians do this work, it is coordinated with the build from the start.

How SeaGlass approaches outdoor living

We begin with a free consultation. We talk through the lanai, the sun and shade across the day, the existing utilities and how you like to entertain.

Design and selections take place in our Bonita Springs showroom, where our designers help you choose materials and finishes within your budget.

During construction, Terry Booth manages the project and our in house trades carry out the work. Outside specialists join only where particular expertise is required. Permits are typically required for work that changes plumbing, electrical, gas or structure, and as the contractor we handle them.

Exterior work in condominium and HOA communities often needs association approval, and rules vary from community to community, so we plan for that early. We also schedule with hurricane season and the summer rains in mind.

The finish is careful, with a walkthrough together before your first evening outside. When you are ready, request a consultation.