Handmade Original Projects: Pizza & Grilling Cart

Handmade Original Projects:  Pizza & Grilling Cart

As I've said before, I am a Pinterest junkie. I love to scroll through and get inspired by other people's ideas and posts. Over the years I have created more than 50 boards of various topics such as, "Outdoor Ideas," "Bathroom Remodel," "Projects to Try," and "Wall Art." I definitely don't make all the ideas I save, but I can honestly say I've made quite a dent in it. I just love making stuff! So a lot of the projects I've done are inspired by ideas I may have seen on Pinterest or DIY shows on TV (Joanna Gaines is my soul sister, and Chip is my inspiration that I can do hard things too).

I have to admit this was a total labor of love, and I went way beyond building a basic grilling platform. My son and his wife were moving back to the area after living in the New England area for years, where they fell in love with New England style pizza. It's completely different from any pizza you will get from Dominoes or other similar chains. It's a thin crust, wood burning oven fired pizza that they adored. So as a house warming gift I decided to buy them a portable wood fired pizza oven so they could try to make their own at home. My son's wife is an amazing, adventurous cook and I was sure she would be able to figure out how to make the best New England style pizza. But then I realized they would need a table or something to put the pizza oven on outdoors while cooking. I researched premade grilling platforms and carts and tables, but didn't love anything I could find. So I decided to build them what I had in mind. And of course, when I make things for people I love, I go big. And this little idea turned into a huge project that took weeks to make. But again, I loved every minute of it. From imagining it to designing it to building it and putting on the finishing touches I was one happy girl.

Pizza & Grilling Cart - getting started with some pressure-treated lumber:

It's starting to take shape...

Because there was going to be a wood burning pizza oven on top of the cart, I designed it so a large part of the top was covered in tile that could withstand high heat. The tiled section is where the pizza oven would be used.

Good stain makes all the difference!

I used a wood burning tool to draw a "Pizza" inscription on it for them, and then decked out the cart with hooks and handles, cup holders and bottle openers, and a bar to hold random items.

It was a HUGE hit!