outdoor kitchen and outdoor lighting vernon hills, il

Backyard design is about creating a space that works effortlessly through heat, humidity, and freezing temps. From the glow of layered lighting to the structure of a custom outdoor kitchen, every detail should feel built for how you actually live outside. We specialize in outdoor kitchen and outdoor lighting installations in Vernon Hills, IL that blend form, function, and four-season performance.

What Is Best for Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting does more than just brighten up the night—it defines your space, adds structure, and extends the use of your backyard long after the sun sets. Whether you're dining al fresco with friends or enjoying a quiet evening around the fire feature, the right lighting transforms your outdoor living space into a warm, welcoming retreat. At Joe and Tony Landscaping, we design and install landscape lighting with intention—every fixture, every angle, every glow plays a role.

Here in Vernon Hills, IL, you're dealing with four true seasons. That means cold, snowy winters, hot, humid summers, and everything in between. The lighting systems we install are built to withstand those extremes. We work with premium-grade, weather-resistant fixtures that hold up beautifully over time—no rust, no fading, no unexpected outages when it matters most.

LED lighting is the go-to choice for nearly every project we take on. It's long-lasting, energy efficient, and available in a wide range of color temperatures and beam spreads. You get consistency, control, and cost savings without sacrificing atmosphere. For walkways, driveways, and entry points, low-voltage lighting ensures visibility and safety while preserving that soft, understated look you want after dark.

We also love using accent and uplighting to sculpt the nighttime view. Trees take on a dramatic presence. Architectural columns cast bold, inviting shadows. Outdoor kitchens glow with just enough light to cook and socialize comfortably. The effect is layered, dynamic, and grounded in how you actually use your space.

Smart controls give you full command of the scene. Set different lighting zones, adjust brightness levels, or automate seasonal schedules right from your phone. With integrated timers and motion sensors, your lighting system becomes effortless—on when you need it, off when you don’t, and always adding to the experience.

Every lighting plan we create is tailored to your property. We consider sightlines, activity zones, natural features, and elevation changes to make sure every fixture adds purpose—not clutter. Whether you’re enhancing a new backyard design or upgrading an existing one, we bring the same sharp eye and custom approach. No template work. No shortcuts. Just well-planned outdoor lighting that looks great and performs all year.

The Best Base for an Outdoor Kitchen

A solid foundation is essential for any outdoor kitchen, especially in our area, where freeze-thaw cycles can affect structural integrity. At Joe and Tony Landscaping, we don’t just build for how your space looks today—we plan for the long haul.

Start With a Stable, Drainage-Friendly Base

We begin with grading to move water away from the kitchen construction area, protecting your investment from future damage. Once that’s done, we install a compacted base using crushed gravel or stone. This layer provides strength, resists shifting during seasonal temperature swings, and ensures proper drainage below the surface—key factors for a durable outdoor kitchen.

Layer With Pavers or Concrete for Strength

After creating the sub-base, we move to the visible surface. Depending on the project, we install either concrete or pavers rated for freeze-thaw durability. Both are excellent options, and our team helps guide the selection based on how the space will be used. Pavers offer design versatility and work beautifully with natural stone accents. If you're integrating patios, walkways, or a fire feature nearby, we ensure the transitions feel cohesive.

Plan for Utilities From the Ground Up

We don’t treat utilities as an afterthought. We coordinate every detail of your utility integration—from the gas line for the grill to water and electrical lines for appliances, lighting, or your outdoor pizza oven. Everything is positioned with precision, inspected by licensed contractors, and installed to meet current codes. With the infrastructure set before construction begins, your outdoor kitchen functions seamlessly without retrofits or awkward workarounds.

Build to Endure Midwest Winters and Summer Gatherings

Materials matter. We only build outdoor kitchens with structural elements designed to withstand our region’s climate. The pavers, base materials, and finishes we use are selected specifically for longevity and performance. You get clean lines, level surfaces, and peace of mind knowing your space is built to handle both foot traffic and seasonal extremes—without shifting, cracking, or wearing prematurely.

Designed by a Landscape Designer With Purpose

Everything we build starts with a design-first approach. Our landscape designer considers how the kitchen relates to the rest of your backyard—the plantings nearby, the connection to walkways or patios, the view from your interior spaces. This isn’t just a structure; it’s a destination within your landscape. And it all starts with the right base.

How to Mix and Match Exterior Lighting

There’s a certain art to lighting a backyard well—and it doesn’t come from buying everything in the same finish. The best outdoor lighting creates rhythm and atmosphere while giving each part of the space its own moment. At Joe and Tony Landscaping, we treat lighting as a design layer, not just an add-on. It enhances your outdoor kitchen, highlights your natural stone features, and pulls the entire backyard together.

Light Zones Based on How You Use the Space

The key to mixing and matching outdoor lighting is zoning. Each area of your landscape—your outdoor kitchen, dining space, fire feature, and walkways—serves a different purpose. So, the lighting should be intentional for each zone. A low-glow path light might work wonders near your natural stone walkways, while more focused, architectural lighting could be used to uplight trees or cast dramatic shadows near vertical features.

In your outdoor kitchen, we typically install task lighting—clean, direct light that helps illuminate counters and prep areas. But a few steps away in the lounge area? That’s where warm accent lighting or sconces take over. It’s about designing each lighting experience to match the vibe and function of that area.

Cohesion Through Color Temperature and Quality

Just because fixtures vary doesn’t mean the lighting should feel chaotic. We keep things cohesive by selecting fixtures with similar color temperatures—usually in the 2700K to 3000K range for a soft, welcoming glow. Whether it’s a path light, uplight, or recessed fixture, maintaining a consistent tone ensures the lighting feels curated, not cluttered.

We also pay close attention to fixture quality. All products we install are built for long-term performance and can handle the temperature shifts and precipitation typical of our area. Cheap fixtures create inconsistent lighting, fail prematurely, and become visual distractions. We don’t go there.

Accents, Layers, and Design Balance

Once the foundational lighting zones are in place, we focus on layered interest. Uplighting natural stone columns, spotlighting trees, or softly grazing the façade of your outdoor kitchen with a subtle wash of light adds that extra depth. We use accent lighting strategically to break up the uniformity and draw the eye across the space.

The mix doesn’t just come from different fixtures—it comes from height, intensity, direction, and spread. We don’t want your entire backyard glowing like an airport runway. We want drama. Subtlety. That sense of welcome that only well-executed lighting design can deliver.

Designed to Flow With Your Landscape

As landscape designers, we see lighting as part of the larger composition. It’s not just about fixtures—it’s about how light interacts with plantings, reflects off natural stone surfaces, and transitions between hard surface features. When we design lighting, we’re thinking about how it lives in your backyard every evening—not just how it looks on a layout sketch.

What Material Is Heat Resistant for an Outdoor Kitchen?

Not all surfaces are built to handle the heat—literally. Your outdoor kitchen has to look incredible, but it also needs to stand up to real-life use: grilling, searing, ambient summer temps, and the intense sun we see in our area. At Joe and Tony Landscaping, we build every outdoor kitchen with materials that are chosen for both their high-end look and their heat resilience. This is where function meets elegance—and we don’t compromise on either.

Natural Stone: Built for Heat, Styled for Luxury

Natural stone is our go-to for heat-resistant surfaces. It doesn’t just withstand high temperatures—it thrives in them. Whether you’re working around a built-in grill, outdoor pizza oven, or other cooking appliances, natural stone surfaces can take the heat without cracking, fading, or showing wear. We use it for cladding, columns, and finishes around your outdoor kitchen to deliver that grounded, timeless look that only natural stone can offer.

Not only does natural stone perform beautifully, but it also develops character over time. It weathers naturally and gracefully, adding depth and texture to your space season after season.

Countertops That Can Handle the Heat

For countertop surfaces, we recommend using dense, outdoor-rated slabs that are known for heat resistance and outdoor durability. Depending on your design preferences and the overall landscape palette, we’ll recommend options that complement the natural stone elements in your outdoor kitchen and pair well with the rest of your backyard features.

We avoid anything too porous or prone to discoloration under heat exposure. Every surface we install is chosen for its performance first—then tailored for the aesthetic.

Structural Materials That Won’t Back Down

The structure beneath your outdoor kitchen matters just as much as what’s on the surface. That’s why we use weather-tested construction techniques and high-performance materials that won’t warp or shift from temperature changes. Our team builds each component—grill islands, counter runs, seating walls—so they feel permanent, not pieced together.

This means no melting surfaces, no bubbling finishes, and no mid-season headaches. Just a beautifully built outdoor kitchen designed by a landscape designer who understands how climate, use, and design must all work together.

Designed for Cooking, Hosting, and Living Outdoors

This isn’t just about functionality—it’s about lifestyle. When you’re entertaining guests in your backyard, the last thing you want to worry about is whether the surface under your wine glass can handle the evening sun. Every material we use in your outdoor kitchen is selected to support how you live outside—whether that’s hosting dinner parties, unwinding with a drink, or gathering around the pizza oven with your family.

Do All Outdoor Light Fixtures Need to Match?

Matching every single outdoor light fixture one-to-one can make a backyard feel flat or overly uniform—especially in a luxury outdoor space where character matters. At Joe and Tony Landscaping, we’re not in the business of cookie-cutter design. We create layered, intentional lighting that feels custom-built because it is.

Cohesion Over Uniformity

Lighting doesn’t need to match—it needs to flow. The goal is harmony, not sameness. We’ll often mix different styles of fixtures across your backyard: path lighting with a natural finish, sleek sconces around your outdoor kitchen, and soft uplighting tucked among the plantings. Each one plays a role, but they’re all part of the same visual story.

What keeps it cohesive? Tone, finish, and beam temperature. Even when you blend different styles, the lighting feels unified when it’s designed to work together. We focus on warm white tones across the board, typically in the 2700K to 3000K range, to keep the ambiance relaxed and welcoming.

Let the Fixtures Serve the Space

Different zones of your landscape have different needs—and they deserve different lighting solutions. You may want recessed lighting beneath countertops in your outdoor kitchen, but those same fixtures would get lost along a walkway. Instead, we might use low-voltage path lights with wider spread near plantings or install a couple of dramatic uplights to cast shadows off a nearby natural stone retaining wall.

The mix isn’t just aesthetic—it’s functional. We think about how each light fixture performs in its space and how it contributes to the overall experience.

Material Matters in the Midwest

Matching finishes might look sharp out of the box, but they don’t all wear the same way. In our area, where snow, rain, and humidity all have a say, we recommend durable, weather-resistant materials that age well. That may mean a brushed bronze sconce near the outdoor kitchen, paired with matte black path lights that hold up through winter. Function first. Design layered in.

And yes, we install lighting with materials and finishes made for our climate—not just trendy catalogs. We make sure what goes in your backyard is going to look just as good after five years of Midwest weather as it did on day one.

Designed by a Landscape Designer Who Gets It

You’re not just hiring someone to install fixtures. You’re hiring a landscape designer to create a mood, a rhythm, and a vibe you can feel from the moment the sun goes down. That’s why we don’t rely on matching sets or pre-packaged lighting layouts. We walk your property, talk through how you’ll use the space, and build something that’s unique to you—and still completely functional.

Designing the Perfect Backyard: 10 Outdoor Kitchen and Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Vernon Hills, IL