Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet News and Press

Home and Decor
August, 2006

Outdoor kitchen popularity is on the rise.

Take it Outside

Taking off in the United States' Sunbelt (south and southwestern states) and migrating to the far reaches of the Great White North, the trend of outdoor entertaining is taking its permanent place on patios, balconies and in backyards with the introduction of the outdoor kitchen.

The experts behind Michigan-based Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet say the outdoor living space is becoming the focus of innovation, installation and renovation. It's just a matter of time before the outdoor kitchen is as common as its indoor counterpart, and in some cases, it's already more elaborate, featuring conveniences once exclusive to the indoors, and then some.

From the basics, like tiled flooring, cabinets and countertops; and essentials from stoves, ovens, grills and refrigerators, all the way to the kitchen sink; to additions like pizza ovens, bars, beer taps, fireplace and full-out entertainment centers with sound systems and even televisions, outdoor entertaining is brought to a whole new level of luxury and convenience.

"The gourmet outdoor grilling experience should provide homeowners with the means to enhance their outdoor living by allowing the gourmet to have more opportunities to laugh, eat, drink and be with family and friends," says Geoffrey Bullard, chief designer of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet.

According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, United STates homeowners spent more than twice the amount on exterior home remodeling and renovation in 2004 than went into new home construction. Consumers pent record amounts on outdoor furniture and hearth products in 2005, and $40 billion on upgraded landscaping and gardens.

"If you speak with any developer of any decent-sized property anywhere in the Sunbelt, they will say the outdoor kitchen is a must," says Pete Georgiadis, president of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. "It's gone from an interesting feature to being equivalent to a family room or good indoor kitchen up in the north." Canadians are hot on their heels, he adds.

Something those north of the border will really appreciate is the fact that these custom outdoor kitchens are designed and constructed as permanent installations as well as moveable pieces that are made to withstand the harsh winters, so there's no such thing as an "off season" and no need to pack up after Labour Day. Kalamazoo's cabinetry is waterproof and hoseable for easy cleaning. Additional features like warming coils installed beneath countertops mean snow and ice won't stifle your appetite for grilling, and the kitchen is ready for year-round use with the flick of a switch.

"Indoor kitchen designs have trended toward a more open feeling for years," says Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet designer Russ Faulk. "The lack of walls outdoors can be a kitchen designer's dream-come-true.

"With an outdoor kitchen, every workstation can have a fantastic view, and designers have the freedom to place and arrange counters and storage in any configuration imaginable."

Says Faulk, the same techniques for defining open-concept indoor living spaces are used by outdoor design professionals. "Seating groups and moveable screens can be used as they are indoors, but new possibilities are created outdoors by a potentially larger scale and wider variety of live materials."

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet handcrafts stainless steel grills and outdoor kitchens. The product line includes free-standing grills, grill islands, built-in grills and outdoor kitchens — all custom-built and personalized to the needs and tastes of outdoor gourmet entertaining enthusiasts. Its grills have been dubbed the "Hummer" of grills. Based in the United States, Kalamazoo offers its products in Canada.

Order online at www.kalamazoogourmet.com.

Working hand-in-hand with landscapers, architects, kitchen designers and builders, Kalamazoo's outdoor kitchens leave nothing to be desired in terms of fashion or function, and can be designed with or without hardscape surrounds as you create a luxurious outdoor living space. Start by getting your quote [by calling 1.800.868.1699]... CAD drawings for your custom kitchen are created for a fee [of $1,000 US], which will be credited back to your custom kitchen when you order.