Thousands of homeowners want to take the
inside out - and vice versa - evidenced by growth of the outdoor
room, which is phenomenal. "Last October I moderated a panel at
the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies on
outdoor living," says Jack Goldman, president of the Hearth,
Patio and Barbeque Association based in Arlington, Virginia.
"The panel included industry insiders form manufacturing, media,
the National Association of Homebuilders and a landscape
architect. It became clear from this meeting that outdoor living
is big business and will continue to grow as more homeowners
turn their backyards into homespun resorts. And according to a
2007 study, nearly three-quarters of homebuyers consider porches
an important feature, and 56 percent consider decks an important
feature indicating a strong trend.
The Big Trend Remodelers everywhere are finding people
want outdoor rooms, ranging from room areas located completely
outside to interior spaces that connect with the outdoors.
"Homeowners connect with nature - both indoors and out," says
Dale Contant, CR, and president, Atlanta Design and Build in
Marietta, Georgia, with 12 years in business. "The 'big' trend
in outdoor rooms is two things: bringing luxurious indoors to
the outside with full kitchens, comfy furniture and wood burning
fireplaces to extend the seasons, but also indoors in sunrooms
where glass walls are all that is separating the indoor space
from the outdoors; allowing indoors the sun, light and full
views of the outdoors."
Contant says he finds considerable
interest in his area involving two-story homes with a terrace
level off the basement, not off the main floor level. "Now,
basements are being finished as additional living areas with a
terrace flowing to the outside; with stone patios and kitchens
creating a totally new level to the house."
Creating Full Working Kitchens "Today we are seeing full working
kitchens with sinks, under counter refrigerators, stainless
steel grills and burners built into stone vanities that look
like indoor kitchen cabinets but in all-natural stone that will
withstand weather."
Contant noted these important steps to
consider in your projects:
Location and Positioning
When you have a terrace level outside the basement or ranch
home, it is much wiser to use stone patios. These last much
longer than wooden decks, with little maintenance. Decks are
used for upper areas with trellzebos, a combination of
gazebo and trellis. Pools and spas also add to the pleasures
of outdoor living.
Lighting is Essential
Lighting is key for night use of outdoor spaces. New
opportunities for technology include outdoor sound systems for
music, and potable gas heaters that can be placed in areas to
extend use of the outdoor space into colder months of the year.
Technology is also providing high end kitchen appliances
designed specifically for outdoor use: cook tops, ranges,
refrigerators, ice makers.
Don't Forget the Porch
The porch, sunroom, etc. is just another component of a client's
goals. One might want an indoor room with the feeling of the
outdoor experience; another may prefer the total outdoor
experience. Both are components to achieve a client's overall
theme or project goal.
Contant concludes, "The number one goal
folks have as a dream is to have a nice comfortable area to go
outside and enjoy. After the job is done, the most important
aspect of the outdoor room to the homeowner is ease of
maintenance and using building materials and products that will
not deteriorate or require upkeep."
Desire for Connection The desire to feel connected to the
outdoors is an idea often heard by Jerry Levine, president, The
Levine Group Architects and Builders Inc. in Silver Spring,
Maryland, with 16 years in business. "An easier connection
between the cooking space and the outside entertaining area is a
frequent request from our clients. In the metro DC community,
people can entertain outside up to seven months of the year."
"Homeowners want spaces that flow in an easy
circle pattern, inside and outside of the house, that connect
food producing activities, food consuming activities and places
to relax and communicate with each other," he says, "The
increase in less formal entertaining has driven a need for the
connection of additional casual spaces. The outdoor room, if
placed properly in relation to cooking and relaxing, works as a
comfortable connection between the old kitchen/dining room set
up. We are also seeing increasing desire for some type of
exterior kitchen facilities. This could be only a gas grill with
a small refrigerator and prep space or a complete cooking set
up."
Whether it's through glass, screen or a
deck, it's the visual connection that is the key," Levine says.
"The convenience of choosing between being totally outside and
partially outside is important. Large windows that are either
fixed or operable allow the feeling of being totally outdoors
and really enlarge the interior space while still actually
staying inside.
Sunrooms Gaining Popularity Sunrooms are more desirable than ever.
"We're finding an increase in covered deck and porch
combinations that minimize the feeling of view and/or natural
light obstructions. There are various challenges in adding such
rooms. Our customers are interested in more open spaces in their
new 'outdoor environments than ever before, whether these are
inside or outside," says Bob Gallagher, vice president/COO of
Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc.
"People want to connect to an alternative
space that allows them to remove themselves from the normal
struggle of the day to day. That alternative space, although a
physical porch, sunroom or deck of some kind, is more than just
a place. It connects them to a retreat or vacation like
emotion."
Gallagher says whatever the "outdoor"
project ends up being; these are almost always motivated by a
need to emotionally feel good and get the family out of the
daily grind. He concludes, "People need balance, even when
sometimes they don't outwardly realize it. Most clients start
off interested in the 'complete' outdoor kitchen, then more and
more balance that interest with cost vs. value and
functionality."
The "Wow Factor" in New Products Considering that appliances are the focal
point of any kitchen, manufacturers are very competitive in
their latest introductions. "People are eager to find the 'wow'
factor in outdoor kitchen products, whether it's grills,
refrigerators or some accessory." Says Craig Friedman, vice
president of eastern Marketing Corp., distributors of luxury
high-end appliances for 20 years, servicing accounts from Maine
to Virginia. "During the last five years we've seen a great
increase in demand for products that not only perform well, but
also create excitement with their unusual features. And
Manufacturers are meeting this demand."
"It's no longer the backyard barbeque of
years past," Friedman says, "but rather a whole new picture.
Companies that design and build for outdoor kitchens are
dedicated to creating products that are efficient, long-lasting,
have professional styling, and are, in some cases, one of a
kind."
Put the "Cool" in the Open-Air Culinary
System "To create a true outdoor kitchen, it was
important to design all the appliances that you would find in a
well-equipped indoor kitchen, plus make them tough enough to
operate and survive in an all-weather environment." That becomes
even more difficult when you're trying to keep things cold on a
blistering hot sunny patio."
"Based on the feedback we are getting from
designers, consumers are requesting outdoor kitchens for
alternatives to the indoor kitchen as a family gathering place.
Consumers love the ability to customize their outdoor kitchens
based on their lifestyles."
The manufacturer is enhancing its outdoor
product line. "These new and improved outdoor products really
round out the Viking outdoor kitchen concept," says Sue Bailey,
manager, product development-major appliances for Viking. "Our
customers now have the ability to prepare an entire meal
outdoors without endless trips back into the home."
Smooth Transition Tying the entire outdoor kitchen together
is easy with outdoor cabinetry. A full array of stainless steel
cabinets provides ample storage and counter space while allowing
consumers the opportunity to customize their outdoor kitchens.
The handles, brushed stainless steel, and other design elements
match with the design of other Viking products for a more
pleasing aesthetic.
To give new outdoor room features the
appearance that they've always been part of a homes landscaping,
many homeowners and builders are turning to manufactured stone
for fireplace surrounds, walls, to compliment cabinetry, etc.
"As a building product stone imparts a sense of stability,
longevity and a connection to nature," says Bob Heath, market
development leader at Owens Corning Masonry Products, LLC. "Few
building materials create as great warmth and appeal than stone
and Owens Corning Cultured Stone provides a great deal of
distinctiveness for the dollar."
Creating this special place for relaxation
and entertaining offers consumers options, keeping in mind that
fifty-five percent of those owning an outdoor room report
"spending more time at home."
