What if your favorite room in the house wasn’t inside at all?

It could be waiting just beyond the back door.

A thoughtfully designed outdoor living space becomes an extension of the home—a place where family naturally gathers, neighbors feel welcome, and everyday moments become the ones people remember most.

For Michael Mecham, every backyard holds that kind of potential. 

Nearly three decades of experience building outdoor kitchens helped shape Michael’s vision for what outdoor living could be. After overseeing production for a national manufacturer and building outdoor kitchens across Utah, he realized he wanted to do things differently. Instead of the cookie-cutter kitchens he was making for the manufacturer, he envisioned outdoor living spaces that looked like they had always belonged with the home, thoughtfully designed around the families who would use them.

“I wanted to build outdoor kitchens my way,” Michael said. “I wanted to give clients something they loved that would last a long time.”

Outdoor Kitchen Concepts grew from that vision. Over the years, Michael’s commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer service has earned him a loyal following throughout Utah, along with three consecutive years of recognition in the Best of SLC Awards, including Top 3 finishes in 2024 and 2025 and a Bronze Award in 2026. His work has also been recognized within the construction industry, including multiple certificates of recognition from Pentalon Construction for commercial projects.

Every Backyard Tells a Different Story

No two families use their homes the same way.

For one homeowner, the backyard becomes the gathering place for neighborhood barbecues. Another dreams of Sunday dinners outside with the extended family. Some parents want to relax after work while their children play nearby. Others picture grandchildren roasting marshmallows around a custom firepit.

That’s why Michael doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all outdoor living spaces.

Every project is custom built on-site to complement both the home and the people who live there. Whether it includes a custom outdoor kitchen, built-in grill, pizza oven, firepit, or all of the above depends entirely on how each homeowner wants to use the space.

Designed Around the Way You Live

Because every family is different, every design consultation begins with listening.

After hearing the homeowner’s dreams for the space, Outdoor Kitchen Concepts creates detailed 3D renderings, allowing homeowners to see the finished project, make adjustments, and feel confident before the first materials are ordered.

To simplify the process even further, Michael became both a licensed general contractor and a licensed mechanical contractor. His team manages nearly every stage of construction, from custom outdoor-rated framing and gas lines to countertops, appliances, electrical work, and exterior finishes.

Instead of juggling several contractors, homeowners work with one experienced team from beginning to end, creating a space that functions beautifully for years to come.

Built to Become Part of the Home

Michael often says he wants every project to look like it belongs with the house, rather than something that was tacked on as an afterthought.

That philosophy influences every decision, from layout to materials.

Powder-coated aluminum side panels reduce maintenance while standing up to Utah’s changing seasons. Every project is built on-site rather than installed as a prefabricated unit, creating a finished space that feels like it has always been there.

The goal has never been simply adding an outdoor kitchen.

It’s creating another room of the home.

A Reputation Built One Backyard at a Time

For Michael, success isn’t measured by how many projects he completes. It’s measured by the people who recommend him afterward.

Seven years after receiving his first online reviews, Michael continues to maintain a perfect five-star rating. Referrals from homeowners, builders, landscape designers, and past clients have allowed Outdoor Kitchen Concepts to remain consistently booked months in advance.

Murray Gardner, president of Gardner Group Park City, has partnered with Michael on more than a dozen outdoor kitchen and fire pit projects over the past 15 years.

“On every single occasion Mike has hit it out of the park,” Gardner said. “His work is of the highest quality, and he has been on time, every time.”

For Michael, that kind of recommendation represents years of trust earned through craftsmanship, communication, and doing exactly what he promises.

The Details Homeowners Remember

Although Outdoor Kitchen Concepts uses modern technology throughout the design process, Michael still considers himself an old-school contractor.

He arrives early for meetings, communicates with homeowners throughout construction, and leaves every job site cleaner than when his crew arrived.

Those habits have helped shape the company’s reputation just as much as the finished projects themselves.

Michael also believes every challenge offers an opportunity to improve. Over nearly three decades in the industry, that mindset has helped Outdoor Kitchen Concepts continue refining both its craftsmanship and the experience it provides homeowners.

Looking Ahead

Despite nearly three decades in the industry and a schedule that is often booked six months in advance, Michael has little interest in becoming the biggest contractor in the market.

Instead, he wants to continue doing what inspired him to start Outdoor Kitchen Concepts in the first place: creating outdoor living spaces that reflect the families who use them.

Whether homeowners envision a quiet place to enjoy morning coffee, a backyard built for entertaining, or a complete custom outdoor kitchen where family naturally gathers day to day, every project begins with the same idea:

The favorite room in the house doesn’t always have four walls.

Sometimes, it’s waiting just beyond the back door.