The perfect blend of entertaining space and storage shed
Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion Shed
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Building a Town, a Business and a Shed
When Greg Ostertag retired from basketball after 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz, he and his wife, Shannon, eventually settled near Mount Vernon, Texas. The town was looking a bit tired—mostly empty storefronts downtown, just one restaurant.
“But we went ahead and moved here anyway,” says Greg. “Then Shannon came to me with the idea that she had to buy this building and try to put some life back into the town.”
The building was the century-old barbershop, and the project gave birth to new businesses: a coffee shop and The Ostertag Group, a design and construction company.
Shannon next targeted the old general store. To get that job done, she called in someone she knew could handle it: her ex-husband Henry Ruelas, a longtime contractor. His and Shannon’s son, Trevor, also joined the crew.
“I can’t get enough of it,” says Trevor, who plans to study construction management in college.
The general store, like all old buildings, contained secrets: the usual whiskey bottles and newspapers inside the walls, but also human bones buried beneath it. Those bones remain a mystery, but everyone agrees that the building is haunted.
Since the reopening of the general store, The Ostertag Group has tackled several more projects in Mount Vernon, including our latest shed. Read more about the Ostertags and Mount Vernon.
More scenes from the outdoor kitchen pavilion shed build
Meet Greg
Greg Ostertag is a 7-foot-2 center who played alongside John Stockton and Karl Malone. They reached the NBA Finals in back-to-back years in 1997 and 1998, falling both times to the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. Ostertag grew up in Texas and returned there following his playing career.
Ostertag’s sister, Amy, suffered from kidney disease and Greg didn’t hesitate to offer one of his kidneys to help save his sister’s life. He donated his kidney in 2002 and became the first NBA player to return to the court after an organ donation. Ostertag has since become an advocate for organ donation.
Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion Shed
This is the largest shed Family Handyman has ever created in the 60 years we’ve built sheds and shown how to build sheds. We joined storage and outdoor living with our latest shed, the outdoor kitchen pavilion shed, for the Ostertag family to enjoy when they have time away from their latest project. Don’t forget to check out these outdoor kitchen kits for cooking up a storm.
Discover 5 ways to make your outdoor space feel like home with these tips.
Outdoor Cabinet
Storage space is usually measured as floor space. By that standard, this shed is similar to any 8 x 10-ft. shed. But wall space often matters more, and that’s where this shed shines. With about 350 sq. ft. of surface, these walls can support large shelves and all your yard gear.
Outdoor Kitchen
We chose ready-to-assemble outdoor cabinets to make our outdoor kitchen installation fast and easy. See Taste of Home recommend items for the outdoor kitchen and how you can add the same items to your home.
Check out these 12 inspiring outdoor kitchen ideas
Hearth and Home Backyard Kitchen
This outdoor kitchen has a rustic feel with a brick wall and stained wood cabinets. But you're hardly roughing it, considering this kitchen comes with a dishwasher! The fireplace is a focal point and can be used for cooking and keeping the area warm when the temperature drops.
Low Profile Backyard Kitchen
This backyard kitchen is tucked along a wall so it doesn't take up a lot of valuable space. The window over the sink breaks up the long wall and allows you to keep an eye on what's going on in the yard! If space is your concern, this is a great option.
Light and Bright Backyard Kitchen
The choice of light-colored bricks makes this outdoor kitchen appear less clunky than it would if darker bricks had been used. Laying the floor paver bricks diagonally to the kitchen gives the area a more casual feel, whereas if the pavers ran the same way as the bricks, it would've look stuffy.
Impromptu Backyard Kitchen
Maybe you don't have a lot of occasions when you'd want an outdoor kitchen, so why bother? One way to temporarily move food prep and cooking outside is to create a work surface (here it's simply a board placed on top of a wood pile to form a workbench) and bring out your most-used cookware and utensils. When the party is over, pack up and head back inside.
Beachy Vibe Backyard Kitchen
This California outdoor kitchen features a chandelier for post-sunset dining and a heater lamp to chase away evening chills. With a setup like this you won't ever want to leave your backyard. The only concern is that everyone will always want you to host so that they can also enjoy this beautiful kitchen.
The Whole Package Backyard Kitchen
This full feature kitchen with split-level bar is smartly located between the garden entrance and patio doors of the main house. It efficiently includes café seating, food prep area, large under mount sink/dishwasher, and an under counter refrigerator. Photo: Surrounds Landscaping
All Decked Out Backyard Kitchen
This backyard kitchen was built on an extensive deck that is also home to a hot tub! If you've got the backyard space to try something like this you'll be well-rewarded for your efforts; the combination of a deck, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen is sure to make your space shine. Photo: Courtesy of American Deck & Sunroom
Grillzebo Backyard Kitchen
What's a grillzebo? It's a sheltered space, similar to a gazebo, designed for grilling. You and your guests can relax in the shade while the food cooks; it's a great option if you want to make sure your backyard is the right mixture of functional and social.
Galley Backyard Kitchen
An old wooden boat is repurposed as outdoor shelves as part of an outdoor kitchen. There's plenty of room for food prep or setting up a buffet and this setup can be used as a plant potting station, as well. It's a beautiful setup. Photo: The Owner Builder Network
Movable Feast Backyard Kitchen
If you want an outdoor kitchen that you can take with you when you move, RusticWoodWork will custom-build you a portable grill table with cabinets. You can pick between Western red cedar, mahogany and white oak when designing yours. Photo: RusticWoodWorx
Seeking Shade Backyard Kitchen
If you don't have any shade in your yard, that doesn't mean you can't have a outdoor kitchen. Multiple umbrellas keep the sun from beating down on guests seated along the countertop of this lovely kitchen. Look for umbrellas that can tilt and put them in portable stands so you can get the most out of them. Photo: The Deck and Patio Company
Oval Oasis Backyard Kitchen
This poolside outdoor kitchen is perfectly designed for family gatherings and entertaining. It's spacious and yet it doesn't overtake the whole yard. One unique feature you don't see often is the integrated umbrella stand. Photo: The Deck and Patio CompanyDartboard Cabinet
A solid-wood dartboard cabinet typically starts at $150, and at that price you’re getting one made of pine; you’ll pay much more for a premium hardwood. For the same cost, you can build a better one yourself, such as this one, which is stylish, durable and easy to make. Here’s how we built this dartboard cabinet. There are no fussy miters or fancy joinery, and it’s made from standard board widths, so you don’t need a table saw. And if the aged-steel door panels don’t suit your style, you can substitute plywood panels to match the surrounding wood.
Plus: More Backyard Games You Can Play With the Family
Lawn Dominoes
Take your love of dominoes to the great outdoors by whipping up a super-size set that will get you on your feet in the sweet sunshine. This tutorial shows you everything you need to add this to your repertoire of backyard games.
Jumbo Puzzle
What's better than gathering around an intimate table after dinner and playing a game like Jenga? Now, you can make a backyard puzzle with just a few boards and a saw. You may have noticed some restaurants and parks have added an interactive space to their patios and open areas with this game, among others. Now it's your turn to build the game yourself.
Giant Connect Four
If you loved Connect Four as a kid, you're going to love it even more as an adult in XL size! It makes a great game both for the kids, as a family or for those late-night backyard parties. Home Depot has everything you need to DIY. Here are 8 more projects for backyard fun. Photo: Courtesy of Imgur
Backyard Bowling
Bowling isn't just meant for a rainy day. Take the game outdoors by building a lane in your backyard! This backyard trend is sure to keep the kids in the fresh air too! Here's some inspiration for building your own private lane. Photo: Courtesy of Imgur
Life-size Chess Board
Ready to take your game of chess to the next level? Make it an active event by creating your own life-size chess board that will wow your guests. Just be sure you can beat them! Check out this tutorial. Here's how to build a chessboard for your home, too.
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is a classic summer fun game that's perfect for entertaining guests at a party, or just passing the time with your family. Strike up some friendly competition by installing a court yourself. Here's a great tutorial to check out that's fun to look at, too!
Lawn Yahtzee
Are you up for a game of lawn Yahtzee? Why not! Get the family together to play this exciting game outdoors on the grass. This tutorial shows you how to whip the game in no time. (Or you can buy the dice here.) If your type of pastime is playing a good game, then you'll love these 26 cool ideas for game rooms. Photo: Courtesy of Walmart
Lawn Scrabble
Wordsmiths rejoice! You can take your love of Scrabble to the backyard and when you play this version of the game, you exercise your body and your brain. Here are the easy peasy instructions. (No time to DIY? You can buy the game here.) Speaking of Scrabble, here are some fun gifts you can make with original board game's tiles.
Ladder Golf
Ladder golf is the kind of game that's fun for all ages. You'll need a little hand-eye coordination, but pretty much anyone can play. Here's how to make your own DIY ladder golf game. If regular golf is more your speed, work on your golf game at home by sectioning off a piece of your yard for a putting green.
Life-size Fooseball
If you're planning on having some big parties this summer, or even if you just have a big family, life-size Foosball is almost a must for your backyard games. It's interactive, entertaining and makes for a lot of laughter! Check out this tutorial to make it yourself. Photo: Courtesy of imgur
Cornhole Set
Cornhole, or bean bag toss, is a fun game that's great for buddying up with a friend and playing against another duo. And while you can find the game online or at many stores, it's also really easy to make. In fact, you can likely make a much better one than you can purchase! Here's how to build a set that will last you for many backyard games to come.
Lawn Twister
Twister is always fun but you may not want to get your indoor game dirty by using it outside. So, keep your store-bought set indoors and try out this super easy project! Speaking of your lawn, here are 11 tips to keep it lush all summer long. Photo: Courtesy of Instructables/stevemoseleyOutdoor Kitchen Pavilion Shed Plans
We built the shed to measure 15 feet high, 16 feet wide and 20 feet deep to provide plenty of room for guests to move around in the pavilion. Here are the full project details on how to build an outdoor kitchen pavilion shed.
Why We Chose LP Outdoor Building Solution Products
This project includes a lot of cedar lumber, which is mostly sheltered from the weather. For the more exposed elements, we chose LP Outdoor Building Solutions shed products. They’re made with LP SmartSide, offering all the warmth and beauty of traditional wood along with outstanding durability. LP SmartSide Trim and Siding products are also easier to work with and come in both smooth and cedar textures, which nicely matches the rough-sawn cedar.
Watch how we built the outdoor kitchen pavilion shed in the video below.
Check out some of the amazing sheds we’ve built through the years.
