Father’s Day Reflections: A BBQ Upgrade, Years in the Making

Lisa Simopoulos
Jun 13
2 min read

I know there are women love to BBQ—myself included—but generally speaking, it’s often the men who gravitate toward the grill. Maybe it’s something primal—who knows? Either way, when I think of grilling, I think of my dad, brothers and my husband, beer in hand, chatting with the other men while tending to the fire.

So in honor of summer—and all the fathers and father figures in our lives—I thought I’d spotlight this classic Father’s Day activity.

Sixteen Years of Grilling, Gathering, and Good Times

It’s funny how quickly sixteen years can fly by. What started as a solid, L-shaped outdoor BBQ—complete with a grill, fridge, storage, ample prep space, and bar seating—became the heart of so many family gatherings. Birthdays, Father’s Days, casual weeknights—it’s seen it all.

But eventually, the signs of age started to show. The counters separated. The fridge stopped working. Stucco flaked and cracked. And with full southern exposure at the top of a hill, this space had taken a beating from sun, wind, and rain.

We always meant to build a structure over it. But life got busy, as it does. So we finally decided it was time to give this space the attention it deserved.

A Few Thoughtful Upgrades

My husband loves his Traeger, so initially I considered incorporating it into the BBQ footprint. But doing so would have meant changing the layout—and going down a rabbit hole we weren’t ready for. So I drew up simple plans for a structure that would complement our home without complicating the space.

Post placement was a bit of a puzzle, but we found a smart solution: two posts on the bar area and two along the back side. We added a metal gabled roof, which not only ties in beautifully with the house, but also keeps the area a solid 20 degrees cooler from June through September—a total game changer during grilling season.

To enhance comfort and usability, we installed LED lighting and a fan (a bonus for keeping bugs at bay!). The old countertops were swapped for heavy-duty quartzite, the stucco patched and refreshed, and appliances upgraded. As a final touch, we added leftover slate stone from the property to the post bases, tying the look in with the landscape, and painted everything the same white as our home’s trim.

Why It Was Worth It

It’s not a dramatic makeover—it’s still the same BBQ space that’s hosted so many great times. But now it functions better, feels more cohesive, and looks truly 'finished'. And for anyone wondering: the smoker found the perfect home just behind the main BBQ, still part of the action, but without taking up precious counter space.

Like many home projects, we had that familiar moment at the end: Why didn’t we do this sooner?

This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating around a refreshed space—still familiar, just better. A small but meaningful reminder that with a few smart improvements, the spaces we love can keep growing with us.