Custom Outdoor Kitchen Options Compared: How to Choose The Right OLF for Your Next Project

Designing and building outdoor kitchens has become more complex as clients arrive with highly specific ideas pulled from Pinterest and social media. Many of those designs push beyond standard builds, increasing planning time and on-site labor.

Outdoor Living Foundations offers a modular approach that helps streamline outdoor kitchen installations without limiting customization. Their pre-built cabinet systems allow contractors to assemble layouts quickly while still matching detailed design requests.

If you have not worked with OLF products before, choosing the right system can feel unclear. This guide breaks down the three Outdoor Living Foundations options so you can select the best fit for your next project and get materials delivered directly to your job site.

Choose Your OLF Layout and Design

The layout, planning, and installation process will vary depending on which OLF option you choose. Use the links below to review the installation guides for each option and determine which one best fits your project requirements.

Spec Sheet vs. Customer Assembled vs. Custom Outdoor Kitchens

Feature	Spec Sheet	Customer Assembled	Custom
Customizability	Low. Fixed models.	Medium. You choose modules and configure on-site.	High. Built to your submitted plan.
Design Time	Minimal	Moderate. You plan the layout and sequencing.	Low to moderate. You supply specs, OLF produces drawings and plans.
Layout Freedom	Preset footprint	Flexible footprint but limited by modules and field decisions	Full freedom with your measured space and project requirements
Appliance Placement	Predetermined by the model.	Determined by you during layout.	Defined in drawings with appliance dimensions and cabinet dimensions shown
Utility Coordination	Basic. You coordinate in the field.	More field coordination. You choose entry points and plan clearances.	Highest coordination support. Utility landing zones are shown on drawings.
Site Verification Step	Basic fit check	Required for layout accuracy	Built in step. Site dimensions verified against drawing before production.
Change Control	Limited. Model choice drives everything.	Changes are possible, but can create rework	Changes handled during drawing phase before sign off and production
Cutting/Cutouts	Minimal. Typically limited to fit adjustments.	Yes. You lay out appliance positions and cut panels on site.	Usually yes. Appliance positions are planned, and some items can be precut based on the custom order.
Installation Speed	Fastest Overall	Fast once the layout is set, slower on the front end.	Fast on-site after sign-off, slightly different assembly process.
Risk of Job Site Rework	Low	Medium to high if layout or appliance specs shift.	Appliance specs shift Low if site verification and sign off are done correctly.
Skill Level Required	Entry to intermediate	Intermediate. Strong layout and measurement skills matter.	Intermediate to advanced. Coordination is easier, but accuracy in specs is critical.
Lead Time	Fast once selected and ordered.	Fast once modules are ordered.	After sign-off, it ships in about 5 to 7 business days, per your notes.

1. Spec Sheet Modular Option

This option uses four preset outdoor kitchen designs, making it ideal for clients who want a finished solution without making detailed layout or appliance decisions. You choose a model, confirm fit, and install using the provided spec sheet instructions. Because the layout is fixed, flexibility is limited to finishes and appliance selection within the model’s constraints. In return, planning time is minimal, on-site cutting is limited, and installation moves quickly with fewer variables.

2. Customer Assembled Modular Option

This option allows you to build an outdoor kitchen using individual preset modules instead of a fixed design. You select the modules based on the appliances and features your client wants, then plan the layout and assemble everything on site.

It offers more flexibility than a preset model while remaining faster and more cost effective than a fully custom modular build. Layout decisions, appliance placement, and panel cuts are handled by the contractor during installation, which makes it well suited to projects with tighter spaces, mixed appliance lists, or remodel conditions.

3. Custom Modular Outdoor Kitchen

This option is designed for projects that require a fully custom layout built around specific client requirements. You submit a sketch or set of plans, and OLF produces the modules and coordinated drawings needed to accurately execute the design. While this process involves more upfront planning and a slightly longer lead time, it reduces layout risk, simplifies utility coordination, and speeds up on-site installation for complex builds.