Biltmore Square Main Living Areas
Paradise Valley Outdoor Kitchen
Every detail of this outdoor kitchen was crafted around the wife’s cooking rituals and heritage, honoring tradition with a gas cooktop in place of a grill.
Inspired by her hometown of Axochiapan, Mexico, it features handmade clay tiles, Saltillo flooring, and a custom mosaic of the city’s coat of arms. Vintage corbels, rustic wood shelving, and weather- tolerant porcelain-clad cabinetry and counter-tops blend charm, durability, and functionality.
Designed for year-round entertaining and to complement the home’s architecture, while layered copper and iron lighting create a warm, inviting ambiance, uniting culture, craftsmanship, and heartfelt connection.
Project Completed: 2025
Before
The original courtyard was a blank canvas with endless potential. Before the design could be brought to life, the aging patio had to be addressed. The gutters were old and worn-out while the patio surface was cracked and uneven. With only partial protection from the elements, the space was mostly unused and offered no aesthetic appeal.
The project goal was to transform the patio into a vibrant outdoor Hacienda kitchen that reflected the client’s deep connection to her Mexican heritage.
Plans & Renderings
A covered structure would provide year-round entertainment space, with added security from a custom decorative metal railing and gate. To accomodate both, the plan was to demolish existing courtyard walls and remove a section of the old metal shed roof. A beautiful oak beam from the old structure would be carefully dismantled and repurposed for the new roof columns.
The kitchen would be fully equipped for cooking rituals with the selection of a gas cooktop. To avoid costly excavation, a new gas line would creatively be routed across the home’s flat roof and down the backsplash wall. Custom porcelain-clad cabinetry and Calacatta Gold Satin porcelain slab countertops would offer durable, weather-resistant storage and workspace. Every material was chosen to withstand the elements while still feeling handcrafted and personal. What was once a bare courtyard is now a year-round gathering place that is both deeply cultural and highly functional for entertaining.
