Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet News and Press

Garden Design
November/December, 2008

Top honors in the 2008 Oasis Award for Outdoor Kitchen Design goes to a stylishly sustainable design in Florida.

Stylishly Sustainable

Winner of the 2008 Oasis Award for Outdoor Kitchen Design

An eco-friendly take on a Florida gulf coast retreat creates the perfect spot for outdoor entertaining and more.

Landscape designer Richard De Angelis and business partner Mifflin Hollyday of Dragonfly Design and Detail didn’t have to venture far to find inspiration for their Oasis Award-winning design. "We mulled it over for a few months then decided to base our concept in an area we know best – Blue Mountain Beach – where we live."

Choosing their beloved beach community, located in Florida’s panhandle between Destin and Panama Beach, may have initially been a tough call but what to include in their design was not.

"Sustainable living is important to us. So we knew that we wanted to incorporate that in our design. The vegetable garden and chicken coop – promoting the Slow Food Movement – were a must," said Hollyday.

The judges particularly liked that element of this innovative outdoor space.

"This was a very exciting entry," said National Kitchen and Bath Association President Sarah Ann Busby.

Deborah Krasner, author of The New Outdoor Kitchen, agreed, "The overall design of the project is fascinating because it integrates so many elements of living a good life lightly on the earth."

Another important consideration for the designers – the outdoor kitchen area. "The kitchen is the centerpiece of this concept. It has to be, since it is the primary cooking area for the family living there," said De Angelis.

So naturally the question begs, if the kitchen is outside, where are the living quarters? "A vintage Airstream trailer!" said De Angelis.

Situated on a beachfront lot, with views of the Gulf of Mexico, is a two-level platform sheltered by a galvanized aluminum roof. The platform is screened in so that the Airstream has porch space. A spiral staircase leads to an area underneath the platform used for raising American Bantam chickens which provide organic eggs and restful cooing.

"This project represents a new thought process in design. It is future-forward but with a Bohemian atmosphere," said furniture designer Richard Frinier.

Adds Chef Art Smith, "I feel that the design represents the way of the future, with eco-friendly use of the Airstream trailer as a prefabricated house and its sustainability with the garden and chicken coop on site as a primary source for food."

The outdoor kitchen and formal dining area are located just steps away from the multi-level platform, with ample room for a family meal or entertaining.

The kitchen itself accommodates multiple cooks and is outfitted with equipment from Kalamazoo’s Custom Outdoor Kitchen Collection. This includes Kalamazoo’s flagship hybrid grill, ample refrigeration, a wok-ready cooktop, lobster boil, warming drawers and enough weather-tight cabinetry to serve the family’s needs.

"This is a great demonstration of all that an outdoor kitchen can be. And at the same time, it is so practical that the owners use this as their everyday cooking kitchen," said Garden Design’s Editor Emeritus Bill Marken.

Multiple, distinct seating areas provide perfect spots for intimate conversations, each with a sunset view of the Gulf.

In keeping with the eco-friendly design, walkways and parking are constructed with native materials including natural stone, coral rock and wood decking. In addition, recycled barrel roof tiles are used to make the ever popular fire pit.

An inverted ancient Florida cypress tree is a main focal point, used as a cooling water feature that De Angelis said, "makes you feel as though a couple of degrees have fallen off the thermometer."

While certainly not conventional, this concept adds a fun, new twist to an old favorite – the beachfront home – and might be summed up best by landscape architect Mario Nievera "I find it to be a surprising and enjoyable design."

Visit www.OasisAward.com
See this year’s runners-up and find more information about the only national award focused exclusively on recognizing excellence in outdoor kitchen design.