Poolside Pavilion and Outdoor Kitchen in Comal County

This Comal County backyard had a pool and plenty of Hill Country sky, but no shade and nowhere to cook or gather near the water. We built a freestanding pavilion at the edge of the pool with a stained wood ceiling, an outdoor kitchen, and bar seating, so the family can grill, watch the game, and keep an eye on the pool from one covered spot.

The challenge

A pool deck in full Texas sun is hard to enjoy for long in the summer. The homeowners wanted a covered place right next to the water where they could cook, eat, and hang out without running back and forth to the house.

What we built

A freestanding pavilion set at the edge of the pool deck. White columns carry a shingled hip roof, and the underside is a stained tongue-and-groove wood ceiling with recessed lights and a ceiling fan. Lantern sconces on the columns light it up after dark. It follows the same approach as our San Antonio patio covers: sized to the space and finished so it looks like it belongs with the home.

Under the roof is a full outdoor kitchen with a stone-veneer base, a built-in grill, storage, and a long bar-height counter with seating for the crew. A TV mounted on the stone wall is easy to see from the bar. It's the kind of layout we plan for our outdoor kitchens in San Antonio: everything within reach of the cook, with room for guests to sit and talk.

The result

Shade, a place to cook, and a place to gather, all a few steps from the pool. The pavilion gives the backyard a center, so swimmers, cooks, and guests end up in the same spot instead of scattered between the yard and the kitchen inside. If you're curious how a project like this goes from the first walk-through to the finished build, here's how our process works.

Ready for something like this?

Thinking about a pavilion or outdoor kitchen like this in the Hill Country? We're happy to walk the space with you — request a quote.