Outdoor Kitchen Contractor in Austin, TX
Custom outdoor kitchens designed and built for the way Austin lives outside. Built-in grills, stone masonry, and covered structures, with the gas, electrical, and plumbing all handled in one build. Veteran-owned, 5.0-star rated, with over 20 years of design-build work across the greater Austin area.
Austin gets more than 300 sunny days a year and mild winters, so a backyard kitchen earns its keep month after month. A well-built outdoor kitchen turns the patio into a real room: a built-in grill, a stone island with prep space, a sink, a refrigerator, and seating where friends gather while you cook. Thrive Landscape and Design is a veteran-owned, design-build landscaper with over 20 years building outdoor living spaces across Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, and we hold a 5.0 Google rating from 70+ reviews. As an outdoor kitchen contractor, we design the layout, build the masonry, set the appliances, and coordinate the gas, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins, all from one team. We match the stone island to your home's exterior, from Austin White limestone in Westlake Hills to the stacked stone common across the Hill Country. Most custom builds run from roughly $12,000 for a straight run to $40,000 or more for a large covered kitchen, and every estimate is itemized and free. Our permit and code work follows the City of Austin Development Services and Travis County Development Services standards.
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- 500+ Projects Completed
- 20+ Years Experience
- 5.0 Google Rating
Explore Our Full Hardscaping Lineup
Patio Construction
Paver, flagstone, and stone patios built on stable bases that drain and hold up to Texas heat.
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Fire Pits & Fireplaces
Stone fire pits and outdoor fireplaces that pair with a kitchen for a true backyard gathering space.
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Paver Installation
Interlocking pavers for patios, courtyards, and pool decks, set on a compacted, draining base.
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All Hardscaping Services
See the full range of patios, kitchens, fire features, pavers, and walls we build in Austin.
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Our Process
Free On-Site Consultation
We meet you in the backyard and talk about how you cook and entertain. Do you grill for two or host twenty? We look at where the gas, water, and power can run, where the sun and wind sit, and how the kitchen ties into the patio and the house. You get honest layout options and a clear, itemized written estimate, with no pressure to decide on the spot.
Design, Appliances & Approvals
We lay out the island, pick the grill, sink, refrigerator, and any pizza oven or side burner, and choose stone that matches your home. If you want a pergola or roof, we design it with the kitchen so it all lines up. Then we handle the City of Austin or Travis County permits for the gas and electrical, plus any HOA design review in Steiner Ranch, Lakeway, or Westlake Hills.
Utility Rough-In & Base
This is the work you never see, and it is where a kitchen is made or broken. We run the gas line, the GFCI-protected electrical circuits, and the water supply and drain for the sink, all before any stone goes up. Outdoor outlets and gas work need permits and licensed trades, so we bring in our plumber and electrician and pour a solid, level base for the island.
Masonry, Countertops & Appliances
We build the island in masonry or a steel frame, then face it in stone, brick, or stucco to match your home. We set the weather-rated countertop, drop in the grill, sink, refrigerator, and storage, and trim out the doors and drawers. If a pergola or roof is part of the plan, the posts and footings go in with it. Every connection is tested before we move on.
Cleanup & Final Walk-Through
We clean the site, haul off all debris, and leave the patio ready to use. Then we walk the finished kitchen with you, fire up the grill, run the water, and show you how every appliance works and how to care for it. You end with a clean space, tested utilities, and an outdoor kitchen you can cook in that same night.
Custom Outdoor Kitchen Builders
Travis, Luis and the crew did an amazing job on our front yard landscaping. Travis had a vision that we could've never come up with on our own. They were communicative, hard working and had incredible attention to detail. We were really impressed with our experience and will… Read more
We’ve been very impressed with Travis and his team at Thrive Landscaping. From the initial design consultation through revisions and installation, the entire process was smooth, thorough, and high quality. We needed an HOA-compliant design that improved drainage and reduced… Read more
Travis was very responsive on the pricing . Luis and the crew did an amazing job and fixed a lot of problems that the prior firm had created. Very pleasant group and seem to want to please clients.
Great people providing outstanding service. Our yard has never looked better. And best of all, they stand behind their work. If something needs attention after the job is finished, they’re right on it.
After interviewing several companies, we chose Thrive Landscape to create some hardscaping for our back yard. They installed stone paving for our patio and pool area, a gravel area for our fire ring, and a raised gravel pad for a greenhouse. Everything looks great! We had a good… Read more
Thrive replaced some dying plants in a white rock bed and left it clean and beautiful. You would never know they had been in the rock bed at all - no dirt, no disruption - they left it better than they found it!
Our neighbor a few houses down had Thrive do his property and we liked how it looked, so we decided to contact them to see what it would cost to do our house. Wanted to get rid of the sand burrs and decided to do stone, rock and mulch for the whole yard in front of the house. I… Read more
We have used Thrive landscape for several projects over the past two years. They have delivered outstanding service, careful attention to detail, and impeccable service and care after the project was complete. Travis Odom is outstanding, and his vision helped us transform our… Read more
We were very pleased with Thrive from the initial bid to the completion of the project. We had our front yard and backyard landscaped. Communication was excellent and when a couple issues occurred they were quickly resolved. The onsite crew was great to work with and were… Read more
Excellent service and advice. Knowledgeable, on time, communicative owner, and crew. This is the place you want to call for your landscaping needs! We are extremely satisfied with the outcome and will use the service again. Thank you Travis and crew.
I was really pleased with Thrive. Travis arrived exactly on time for the quote, had a great design, and was able to start quickly once the plans were approved by my HOA. The crew was polite and worked quickly. They left the whole worksite very neat, and my front yard now looks… Read more
Had grass that was dead, Travis and his team transformed my backyard in a few days!
I am a repeat customer of Travis's. He recently transformed my front yard. The design was perfect for what we wanted to accomplish and the crew did high quality work which included clean-up. I will keep coming back to him in the future.
Thrive is a very professional and excellent business - they did a wonderful job on my project and I couldn't be more pleased with the end results. Will definitely use them again!
I had an outstanding experience with Thrive. Quality, honesty, value and customer service were phenomenal! Exceeded my expectations!
Swapped out black stone that were killing my plants with mulch. Added a bunch of plants and sod. Also got my irrigation and stone walkway complete. I say it is all looking great.
I don't know where to begin. Travis and his team provided an amazing landscape design, strategy, and results on our backyard for my 50th birthday celebration. Travis was patient and very detailed with his quote and made sure he covered every detail with me. Once we decided to… Read more
I’ve done two projects with these guys to include a landscaping project where I added sod, metal planters, and plants. The second was a fence repair and both turned out great. They were fairly priced, scheduled quickly, executed on time, and worked through my lunch list at the… Read more
We chose Thrive Landscaping after a friend of ours used them for their own backyard and we could not be happier with our decision. Travis and team were incredibly professional, thorough and communicative the entire time. They added new grass, flowers, gravel and lights to our… Read more
Travis with Thrive Landscape & Design did an amazing job redesigning our backyard! They were hard-working, timely, responsive and appreciated their craftsmanship they put into the project. The space looks better than we imagined — highly recommend!
Wow! Travis and his team did an amazing job refreshing our back yard! They were professional, prompt, respectful and above all had an eye for detail! It was an absolute pleasure working with them to create our dream back yard! I highly recommend Thrive Landscape and DESIGN… Read more
Our project was the tear-out, re-design and rebuild of a fairly substantial deck. Great experience with Travis Odom and Thrive Landscape. Travis is congenial, professional and great to work with. The guys on site did excellent work. We’re very happy with the finished product and… Read more
Mr Travis Odom made an excellent, unique, and original cedar fence design that we ended up using.
Great design and construction for my landscaping project. Travis and his crew were very attentive and detailed. They also took on board our feedback and we’re very willing to evolve their designs.
Travis did a great job fixing the drainage along the side of my house! Was very responsive, timely, and reasonably priced. Would reach out to again for any future landscaping needs.
Travis was very responsive and did an excellent job designing our difficult yard. We LOVE the end result and can’t wait to do phase two. Can’t say enough how happy we are with the design!
Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design
Built Around How You Cook & Entertain
Every outdoor kitchen we build starts with a stone island sized to your space, then fills out with the appliances and features you choose. Here are the pieces clients put together most often. We size and connect each one during a free design visit.
Request A QuoteA built-in gas grill is the heart of most kitchens. From there you can add a side burner, a smoker, a pizza oven, or a built-in barbecue, all plumbed to natural gas or propane and set into the island so the cook top stays clean and flush.
A sink with running water, a weatherproof refrigerator, storage drawers, doors, and a trash pull-out keep the cooking outside, where it belongs. We rough in the water, drain, and power so you are not running back and forth to the house mid-meal.
The island is faced in stone, brick, or stucco to match your home, with a weather-rated stone or granite countertop and room for bar seating. On Hill Country homes we match Austin White or cream limestone so the kitchen looks original to the house.
A pergola or covered roof shades the cook, keeps rain off the grill, and protects the appliances. Pair the kitchen with an outdoor fireplace or fire pit and you have a true backyard room you can use through Austin's long, mild outdoor season.
Why Choose Thrive Landscape and Design?
One Team, All Utilities
We coordinate the gas, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins along with the masonry and appliances, so you are not chasing three separate trades to get one kitchen built.
Stone Matched To Your Home
We match the island and veneer to your home's exterior, from Austin White limestone to Hill Country stacked stone, so the kitchen looks built with the house, not bolted on after.
Permits & HOA Handled
Gas and electrical work needs City of Austin or Travis County permits, and a covered kitchen often needs HOA review. We handle the paperwork in Steiner Ranch, Lakeway, and Westlake Hills.
Veteran-Owned, 20+ Years
We are a veteran-owned, design-build landscaper with over 20 years in Central Texas and a 5.0 Google rating from 70+ reviews. You work with the team that designs and builds your kitchen.
Austin’s Go-To Outdoor Kitchen Builder
We design and build outdoor kitchens across Austin and the surrounding Hill Country, from lakeside lots in Lakeway and Steiner Ranch to backyards in Dripping Springs and Bee Cave, with full attention to local stone, utility, permit, and HOA requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Austin, a custom outdoor kitchen built into a stone island usually runs from roughly $12,000 to $20,000 for a single run with a built-in grill, a small sink, storage, and a stone countertop. Larger L-shaped layouts with premium appliances, a refrigerator, and a covered structure commonly land between $20,000 and $40,000 or more. A simple modular setup can start lower. The big cost drivers are the appliances, the stone, how far we run gas, water, and power, and whether you add a roof. Every estimate is itemized and free.
A full build starts with a masonry or steel-framed island finished in stone to match your home, topped with a weather-rated countertop. From there we set the appliances you choose: a built-in gas grill, a side burner, a sink with running water, a refrigerator, storage drawers and doors, and trash pull-outs. Many clients add a pizza oven, a smoker, or a bar with seating. We size the layout to how you cook and entertain, then build the gas, electrical, and plumbing in from the start.
Yes. As a design-build contractor we coordinate the full utility rough-in: the natural gas or propane line to the grill and burners, the electrical circuits for the refrigerator, lighting, and outlets, and the water supply and drain for the sink. Outdoor outlets must be GFCI-protected by code, and in Austin no gas work is exempt from a permit, so we pull the right permits and bring in licensed plumbers and electricians. Routing all three at once, before the stone goes up, keeps the build clean.
Most outdoor kitchens run about three to six weeks from the start of construction to the final walk-through, plus design and approval time up front. A modular island on an existing patio can go faster. A large custom kitchen with a covered structure, long utility runs, and a stone countertop takes longer, especially when appliance lead times, a permit, or HOA review are involved. We start the paperwork early and give you a realistic schedule in your written estimate.
Yes, and on Hill Country and Austin-stone homes this is one of the first things we plan. Central Texas homes are often clad in Austin White or cream limestone, and we match the island, counters, and veneer to that stone so the kitchen looks original to the house. We pull samples, match color and texture, and pick grout and mortar to suit. If your home uses a different stone, brick, or stucco, we source a finish that ties the kitchen into the home and the landscape.
Usually, yes, for the parts that matter most. The masonry island itself may not need a permit, but the gas line, the electrical work, and any plumbing almost always do. In Austin no gas work is exempt from a building permit, and outdoor electrical and water connections fall under the code too. A covered roof can also trigger review, and lots over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone carry extra steps. We handle the City of Austin or Travis County permits and coordinate the licensed trades.
Yes. Premium communities like Steiner Ranch, Lakeway, and Westlake Hills run a design review process, and an outdoor kitchen with a pergola or roof almost always needs approval before work starts. We prepare the drawings, material samples, and site plan the board asks for, submit the package, and answer their questions. We have moved projects through HOA review across the west-Austin lake communities, and we build that timeline into your schedule.
Absolutely, and in Central Texas a cover is one of the best upgrades you can make. A pergola, a louvered roof, or a solid covered structure shades the cook from the summer sun, keeps rain off the grill, and widens the days you can use the kitchen. A cover also protects the appliances and countertop, which extends their life. We design the cover and island together so the posts, footings, gas, and lighting line up, and we handle any permit or HOA review.
