🖼️
The project:
We transformed an unused outdoor corner into a Mediterranean-inspired pizza oven station designed for family pizza nights and entertaining. Using reclaimed timber, rendered finishes, tiled benchtops and custom firewood storage, with also hidden storage for all the kids balls and outdoor toys. We have created a functional space that feels like a holiday retreat in our own backyard.
- Materials:
Materials purchased from Bunnings
- 90 × 45mm Outdoor Framing H3 Treated Pine (2.4m lengths)
- Zenith 8G × 25mm Galvanised Countersunk Rib Head External Timber Screws (500 pack)
- Crommelin Brick & Render Sealer
- White Knight 500ml Pot Belly Black High-Temperature Heat Resistant Paint
- Exterior waterproof silicone
- Door hinges
Additional materials used
- Pizza oven sourced from Facebook Marketplace
- Reclaimed timber used for the shelving
- Travertine tiles for the benchtop and splashback sourced from Facebook Marketplace
- Cement sheeting marketplace
- Latches for the hidden doors
- Large rubber wheels from eBay.
- Tools:
Tools used
- Milwaukee drill/driver
- Milwaukee impact driver
- Circular saw
- Mitre saw
- Jigsaw
- Cordless angle grinder
- Tile cutter
- Caulking gun
- Drill bits and driver bit set
- Spirit level
- Tape measure
- Carpenter’s square
- Clamps
- Hammer
- Rubber mallet
- Utility knife
- Trowels for applying render and tile adhesive
- Grout float
- Paintbrushes and rollers
- Sandpaper and sanding block
- Bucket and mixing paddle attachment
- Safety glasses, gloves and dust masks
Most of the tools used for this project were my husband’s Milwaukee tools and equipment, which I happily “borrowed” for the build! 😄
- Step 1:
I’ve always dreamed of having a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor pizza oven area for our family to enjoy. Before we started building, I used ChatGPT to help sketch out my vision and create a detailed design plan to convince my husband, to help bring the project to life.
Together, we refined the design to include rendered finishes, reclaimed timber shelving, a tiled benchtop and built-in firewood storage. Once we had a clear plan, it was time to start building the frame.
- Step 2:
Step 2: Building the frame
With the design finalised, we began constructing the frame that would support the pizza oven and benchtop. Using H3-treated pine framing timber, we carefully measured and built the structure to suit the size of the oven and allow enough space for food preparation and storage.
We wanted the pizza oven station to feel like a permanent feature in our backyard, so we incorporated open shelving and a custom arched firewood storage area to create a Mediterranean-inspired look. We also included 6 large rubber wheels so if we need to move the station it can be moved.
Once the frame was assembled, we secured everything with galvanised exterior timber screws and checked that the structure was level and strong enough to support the weight of the oven, cement sheeting, tiles and render.
Seeing the framework take shape was the moment our original idea started to become a reality.
- Step 3:
Step 3: Installing the cement sheeting
Once the frame was complete, we covered the structure with James Hardie Villaboard cement sheeting to create a solid, weather-resistant base for the tiles and render. To reduce waste and make use of materials we already had, we also incorporated some reclaimed blue board and cement sheeting into the build.
Each sheet was carefully measured and cut to fit around the pizza oven, shelving and firewood storage area before being secured to the timber frame with galvanised screws. Taking the time to get this step right was important, as it formed the foundation for the finished look.
As the cement sheeting went on, the project really started to come together and we could finally see the shape and scale of our outdoor pizza oven station. With the structure complete, it was time to move on to tiling and rendering.
- Step 4:
Step 4: Restoring the pizza oven
Before installing the pizza oven, we gave it a new lease on life. After sourcing it second-hand from Facebook Marketplace, we thoroughly cleaned and removed surface rust to prepare it for painting.
Once the oven had been sanded and cleaned, we applied White Knight Pot Belly Black high-temperature paint to refresh the finish and protect it from the elements. It was amazing to see how a few coats of paint completely transformed the oven and brought it back to life.
- Step 5:
With the structure complete and the pizza oven restored, it was time to transform the frame into the Mediterranean-inspired entertaining area we had envisioned.
Before rendering, we applied fibreglass mesh tape to all of the joints and joins between the cement sheets to strengthen the structure and minimise the risk of cracking over time.
Using Dunlop Trade Acrylic Render, we then carefully applied two coats over the cement sheeting to create a textured, rendered finish. This step completely changed the look of the project, turning the timber frame and cement sheeting into a seamless outdoor feature.
Originally, we planned to paint the completed render. However, once it was finished, I loved the soft off-white colour and natural texture, so we decided to leave it unpainted and simply seal it with Crommelin Brick & Render Sealer to protect it from the weather.
- Step 6:
To add warmth and character to the pizza oven station, I used reclaimed travertine tiles sourced from Facebook Marketplace for the benchtop and splashback.
Using Davco SMP Evo Tile Adhesive, I carefully laid each tile and allowed them to set before grouting. I chose Dunlop Ready-To-Go grout in the colour Travertine, which complemented the natural tones of the render and timber shelving.
Repurposing the tiles not only helped keep costs down but also added to the Mediterranean feel I wanted to create. Once the grout had cured, the benchtop and splashback completely transformed the space and brought the entire project together.
- Step 7:
Step 7: Grouting the tiles
Once the tiles had set, I grouted the benchtop and splashback using Dunlop Ready-To-Go grout in the colour Travertine. I chose this colour because it complemented the soft off-white render and the reclaimed timber shelving perfectly.
Grouting was one of the most satisfying stages of the project, as it brought all of the individual tiles together and really enhanced the Mediterranean look I had envisioned from the beginning.
After the grout had cured, the benchtop and splashback were complete and the pizza oven station was finally starting to feel like a finished outdoor entertaining space.
- Step 8:
With the building work complete, it was time for my favourite part of the project: styling the pizza oven station and finally bringing my original vision to life.
Once the travertine tiles had been completed, we carefully positioned the restored pizza oven on top, transforming it into the centrepiece of the space. To ensure smoke wouldn’t collect under the patio or affect our neighbours, we also extended the flue using additional pieces sourced from Facebook Marketplace.
I then added reclaimed timber shelving, stacked firewood and decorative pieces to create a warm and inviting Mediterranean-inspired entertaining area. To finish the space, I purchased a fire tool set from Bunnings and incorporated plants in vintage terracotta pots to soften the area and enhance the rustic, European feel I had imagined from the beginning. Every detail was chosen to complement the soft off-white render, travertine tiles and restored pizza oven.
One of my favourite features is that the station is not only beautiful but also incredibly functional. The built-in storage provides the perfect place to hide away outdoor toys and the endless collection of balls that comes with family life, helping to keep our outdoor area tidy and organised.
What started as an idea and a rough sketch had finally become a practical and inviting outdoor space where our family can gather, cook pizzas and make memories together for years to come.
