Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Press Release

Landscape Architects: Outdoor Kitchens Popular In 2010;

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet™ Offers Design Advice

Chicago, Ill. – April 4, 2010 - With warmer temperatures becoming more common, homeowners are planning their outdoor projects. One of the most popular will be the addition of the outdoor kitchen.

A recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects finds 94 percent of responding residential landscape architects rating outdoor kitchens as a popular design trend for 2010.

“Many people are making plans right now for their outdoor spaces,” said Russ Faulk, vice president of marketing and product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. “We are seeing a big trend of people turning their backyard into an oasis — creating a gathering point for family and friends.”

He said he sees the trend continuing, especially as the outlook for the economy improves.

Outdoor kitchens began as little more than a built-in grill, but have quickly become more sophisticated, now featuring refrigeration, sinks, prep areas and pizza ovens in addition to the grill.

Outdoor kitchens extend a home’s living area, differentiate it in a tight real estate market and are comparable to an indoor kitchen or bath remodel in terms of return on investment.

Make it low maintenance - An outdoor kitchen should be easy to live with; choose materials that weather the elements and are easy to care for and clean.

• Pretty isn’t always the best choice. The best looking countertop might be the one that gets hottest in the sun. Test material samples by leaving them in direct sunlight for several hours
• Grease-resistant flooring such as porcelain tiles and unfinished stone tile is a must to keep the cooking area free of slippery conditions
• Stainless steel is ideal material for keeping things sanitary in the outdoors

Let there be light - Make lighting a primary consideration.

• Pay particular attention to properly illuminating the grill for cooking after dark. The grill hood should not block task lighting from the cooking area
• Grease-resistant flooring such as porcelain tiles and unfinished stone tile is a must to keep the cooking area free of slippery conditions
• Ambient lighting illuminates the kitchen, dining and living spaces and creates drama throughout the entire area

Room to work - Most outdoor kitchens suffer from a lack of counter space.

• Even the smallest outdoor kitchen needs at least three feet of open counter space. It lets you stack plates and serving dishes, store cooked food and serve your guests

Nature has a say - Watch the movement of the sun, prevailing wind direction, and water drainage patterns before deciding on the outdoor kitchen’s location.

• A smoky grill up wind of a dining area can ruin a dinner party
• Trying to watch TV in an outdoor living room with the setting sun at one’s back is virtually impossible

Gimme Shelter - Protect the kitchen, and yourself, from sun or rain with a sheltering structure.

• Sheltering structures include large umbrellas, pergolas and screened-in areas with shingled roofs
• Some can contain lighting or ceiling fans that circulate air and discourage flying insects. Installed heating units extend use of the kitchen into cooler months

Actively sought after by designers from across the country for outdoor kitchen design guidance, Russ Faulk regularly teaches outdoor kitchen design classes to members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. He is vice president of product development for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet and is based in Chicago, Ill.

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Media Contact:
Chris Mordi
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet
Phone: 312-423-8714
E-Mail: cmordi@kalamazoogourmet.com