Clay Stark is revolutionizing backyards across Northwest Arkansas with customized, bulletproof outdoor kitchens that transform ordinary patios into resort-like culinary spaces. As founder of Kitchen Outdoors, Clay brings commercial-grade craftsmanship to residential settings, creating gathering places where families connect over food and conversation.

The magic begins with GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)—a material with triple the strength of traditional concrete at 12,000 PSI. These kitchens feature stunning natural finishes like hand-hewn Canadian pine (complete with authentic axe marks) or Italian slate. What truly sets Kitchen Outdoors apart is their gold-standard lifetime warranty on all stainless steel equipment. As Clay puts it, "I want to sell you ONE grill, not one every few years."

Unlike typical construction projects that require multiple contractors and headaches, Kitchen Outdoors handles everything from design to installation. Clay's team pre-assembles each kitchen in their shop, ensuring perfect fit before installing on-site in just six hours. Most surprisingly, these outdoor kitchens require minimal infrastructure—just space and a foundation, with no need for water or electricity connections.

The podcast reveals how these spaces transform lifestyle patterns. Rob, a custom homebuilder and satisfied customer, confessed he hasn't cooked indoors since installing his Kitchen Outdoors space. "We don't even go out to eat as much anymore because we'd rather just throw something on the grill and have people over," he shared.

Clay offers options for every budget and space constraint. From simple five-foot units to elaborate L-shaped designs with islands, each kitchen is fully customizable while maintaining the same bulletproof durability.

Ready to transform your outdoor space into a culinary gathering place? Visit kitchen-outdoors.com or find them on Facebook. Mention the B-Team Podcast for a special discount on your dream outdoor kitchen that will change how you entertain and bring your family together.

More About this Episode

Outdoor Kitchens: Why They’re the Ultimate Upgrade for Your Home (and How to Get Them Right)

When we started talking about outdoor kitchens on the podcast, it hit all of us just how much this idea has evolved and how much it's become a serious, high-value feature for homes.

We didn’t grow up with this stuff. Back East, you had a rusty Weber, maybe a fire pit. You cooked outside because it was summer and you didn’t want to heat up the house.

Now? An outdoor kitchen isn’t just a grill you push against the fence. It’s a real, integrated living space. It’s a selling point. It’s where families gather, eat, talk, and make memories.

It’s a true investment in your home and in your lifestyle.

We wanted to share what we’ve learned about why outdoor kitchens are so popular right now, what actually defines a good one (spoiler: it’s not just slapping in a grill), and why working with a local, custom builder like Clay Stark of Kitchen Outdoors is a smarter way to go than trying to DIY or buy prefab.

Because at the end of the day, outdoor kitchens aren’t about showing off. They’re about making your home a better place to live.

Outdoor Kitchens Aren’t Just a Trend: They’re a Lifestyle Shift

We’ve seen the demand firsthand building homes here in Northwest Arkansas.

Outdoor kitchens used to be considered more of a luxury feature or an afterthought. Now, they’re a key part of how people envision using their outdoor space.

Homeowners want their backyard to feel like an extension of the home itself: a place to relax, entertain, and truly enjoy.

Clay said it best when he told us:

“The philosophy behind Kitchen Outdoors is creating those family connections.”

That’s not marketing fluff. That’s exactly what this does.

When you have a beautiful, functional outdoor kitchen, you’re not just grilling burgers. You’re hosting friends, cooking with family, and creating moments that make the house feel special.

What Actually Counts as an Outdoor Kitchen?

One thing that stood out in talking with Clay is how most people misunderstand what an outdoor kitchen even is.

If you ask folks, they’ll say, “Oh, I have one already. I’ve got a Blackstone, a grill, and a mini fridge out back.”

But that’s not an outdoor kitchen. That’s a collection of appliances.

A real outdoor kitchen is an integrated, unified space that brings everything together:

  • Cabinetry
  • Cooking stations (grill, griddle, pizza oven, smoker)
  • Storage for utensils, trash, and accessories
  • Refrigeration
  • Sinks and plumbing
  • Electrical hookups
  • Counter space to prep and serve

It’s designed for the way you actually want to use it, not just scattered appliances with nowhere to set your plate.

That’s the difference.

Why This is Booming in Arkansas (and Beyond)

Our part of the country is perfect for this.

We’ve got long spring and fall seasons. Even our winters are mild enough for outdoor use most of the year.

When we build custom homes here, clients want to use that outdoor space. Pools, fire pits, decks and yes, outdoor kitchens.

Rob pointed out that people are deliberately making their backyards a destination:

“We took some dead space in my backyard and reimagined it and made it where it was workable.”

That’s what this is about.

Transforming wasted space into a reason to stay home, invite friends over, and enjoy what you already own.

The Headache of Doing It the Old Way

We all know how complicated it can get if you try to cobble together an outdoor kitchen the traditional way.

If you’re a homeowner managing this yourself, or even a builder coordinating it, here’s what you’re dealing with:

  • Framing (metal or wood)
  • Countertops (granite, concrete, tile)
  • Appliances (grill, griddle, fridge)
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Stone or siding finishes
  • Scheduling five different subs to show up in the right order

It’s not just expensive. It’s a mess.

As builders, we’ve done that approach. And it works but it’s a huge coordination headache.

That’s why partnering with someone who only does this, who does it right, is a no-brainer.

Here’s the part that surprised us most: working with a true outdoor kitchen specialist actually makes the process easier while giving you more customization.

Clay and his team at Kitchen Outdoors don’t do prefab boxes. They don’t ship you a kit with instructions in six languages and tell you to figure it out.

Instead, they sit down and actually design it around your needs.

When Rob worked with them for his house, he had:

  • A pizza oven he wanted to keep
  • A smoker he didn’t want to replace
  • A vision for an island so guests could gather around

Clay didn’t blink. He took those bullet points, sketched a design, texted it back for approval, then built it in his shop.

He even adjusted the design five days before install when we decided to add that island.

That level of service is why custom doesn’t have to mean complicated.

Quality Materials Make the Difference

Another major lesson for us: most people don’t think about what an outdoor kitchen is made of.

They think about what it looks like on day one, not how it’ll hold up five years from now.

Clay’s kitchens use GFRC—Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete.

Here’s why that matters:

  • Standard concrete has ~3,000–4,000 PSI compressive strength.
  • GFRC is ~12,000 PSI.
  • It includes fiberglass fibers that dramatically improve crack resistance and tensile strength.
  • It’s lighter, stronger, and designed to last outdoors for decades.

These aren’t your cracked driveways or rotting wood frames.

It’s all built to stand up to the elements in Arkansas—sun, rain, wind, hail.

And it’s beautiful.

They use real wood grain molds (even with axe marks from old Canadian pine) so you get the look of rustic timber without the maintenance nightmare of real wood.

Or you can choose their new stone finish that mimics Italian slate.

Local Means Better Service and Support

We also want to talk about the local factor.

You can order outdoor kitchens from big box stores or online sellers.

But when something breaks? Good luck.

When Clay sells you a grill or a griddle, he’s selling premium Summerset or Alert Distributing equipment, with lifetime warranties on stainless components.

And he’s not just giving you a manufacturer’s 1-800 number. He is your warranty service.

If a burner goes bad, you call him. He shows up.

That’s the kind of local support you can’t get from buying online.

Built for Real Homes, Not Just Mansions

One myth we’ve heard from listeners is, “My yard’s too small for this.”

Not true.

Clay’s got standard quick-ship designs for smaller spaces:

  • Five-and-a-half-foot units
  • Eight-foot units

These still give you premium cabinetry, real concrete tops, integrated grills and griddles, and high-end finish.

You don’t need a giant pool deck to make it work.

As long as you’ve got a foundation, you can have an outdoor kitchen.

The Impact on How You Live

We can tell you from experience, installing one of these changes how you use your house.

Rob doesn’t even cook inside much anymore.

It’s not just about summer BBQs. It’s about pizza nights with the kids, bourbon with friends, even just spending time outside on weeknights.

It also adds measurable value to your home.

When buyers see an integrated, beautiful outdoor kitchen in your listing, it’s a selling point. It’s a line item.

You’re not spending on something that depreciates. You’re investing in something that improves your property.

The Process Is Easier Than You Think

We love how straightforward Clay’s process is for homeowners and builders alike:

  1. Define your wish list. Pizza oven? Sink? Fridge? Trash pullout? Tell him what you want.
  2. Get a custom design. He’ll sketch it up for your exact patio and budget.
  3. Pre-built in the shop. It’s assembled once for perfect fit.
  4. Installed on site in hours. No waiting on 6 different trades for weeks.

It’s faster. It’s less stressful. And it’s better.

We also know budgets matter.Not everyone wants or needs the top-of-the-line mega setup.But there are options for every price point, and Clay even offers financing to spread the cost over time.That opens up this kind of project to way more people. Another reason we’re big believers in working with someone like Clay?

He’s local.

He’s invested here.

He’s not some national franchise selling standardized boxes. He’s a craftsman and a perfectionist who lives in our community, who stands behind his work, and who’s grown by word of mouth because he actually delivers.

If you’re even curious about what an outdoor kitchen could look like at your house, just start the conversation.

We promise it’s worth it.

Mention the B-Team Podcast and they’ll knock 10% off.

We’ve seen enough of these projects and lived with them ourselves to know outdoor kitchens aren’t a passing trend.

They’re how families make the most of their homes. They’re how builders set themselves apart. And when you do them right, they’re one of the best investments you can make. 

Don’t settle for a half-baked setup. Build something you’ll love for years to come. That’s why we’re big believers in local, custom, and built-to-last. Because if you’re going to do it, do it right.