The outdoor kitchen, once a humble and utilitarian space for rudimentary summer grilling, is now the all-season star of the al-fresco entertaining and dining experience, complete with features that rival and sometimes even outdo its indoor counterpart. Noting that people are spending more time – and money – outdoors throughout the year, Ryan Hughes, president and creative director of the firm that bears his name, says that in luxury outdoor kitchens, “it’s not uncommon for clients to request countertops or cabinetry alone with budgets in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Then there is a long list of luxury elements and enhanced appliances to equip the space in a similar manner as the kitchen indoors and then some.” Some of his clients, he adds, are requesting multiple grills or ovens and a variety of amenities, including illuminated cabinets with soft-close doors, wine refrigerators, televisions, seating for large numbers of guests and special lighting, all with the goal of creating what he calls “memory-making entertainment.”
Hughes and his team designed one such kitchen in their Modern American project that is housed in a pavilion chock full of experience-creating elements. The kitchen has a wall pizza oven, a ceramic smoker and multi-burner gas grill set against a quartz backsplash with floating shelves that face a high dining counter that has waterfall countertops and mitered corners. The pavilion also has a lounge with a massive television and cushioned sectional seating. “It’s the epicenter and heart of the outdoor space surrounded by a fire lounge, a 100-foot putting green and a pickleball court,” he says. Hughes upped the luxury ante in his Prism Vue entertaining area, where a custom illuminated display space showcases spirits as if they are in a museum exhibit or high-end boutique. The kitchen also has porcelain stone waterfall countertops, a large dining area and lounge and a two-story greenery wall. All-season outdoor kitchens are gaining in popularity and opulence because they allow “homeowners to enjoy vacation-like relaxation in the comfort of their own backyards,” says Amy Bortz, vice president of marketing for RH Peterson Co., which manufacturers Fire Magic and AOG Grills, Real Fyre gas logs and American Frye Designs fire features.
COOL CABINETRY
High-end cabinetry is one way that homeowners and designers are bridging indoor and outdoor cooking spaces. “People are really embracing millwork in all areas of their outdoor spaces, creating multifunctional entertaining spaces that focus on media and unique storage solutions,” says Rianna Ostryhon, design coordinator at NatureKast, a Canadian-based company that makes semi-custom, hand-finished weatherproof cabinetry. “They are pushing the limits beyond a grill cabinet and creating a true second kitchen with purpose-built storage, built-in appliances like dishwashers and microwaves, panel-ready icemakers and refrigerators – one enduring trend is that all spaces have a real focus on entertaining.” The company’s weather-resistant resin doors have the look and feel of stained wood without the upkeep, and its modern Euro line comes in a variety of woodgrains, stone finishes and solid colors.
In addition to base and wall cabinets, NatureKast offers tall cabinets, appliance cabinets and TV cabinets, along with a complementary assortment of trim and moldings – all available in a variety of finishes and styles. These can be ordered to match or complement those in the indoor kitchen, creating a seamless design flow. The company is partnering with a world-renowned hardware manufacturer to bring the first stainless-steel undermount glides to the outdoor market. “We also are working on adding in-drawer lighting – an underutilized but muchneeded feature in often dimly lit outdoor spaces,” says Terry Bakker, NatureKast director of design and marketing.
GRILLS THAT GO THE EXTRA MILE
The grill, the heart of the outdoor kitchen, has become more sophisticated – and climate resistant. “With high-performance grills engineered to withstand the elements and retain heat in cold temperatures, as well as insulated and sealed refrigeration and storage accessories, more homeowners are firing up their outdoor kitchens through all four seasons,” says Bortz. The company’s durable grills, she notes, are made of heavy-duty 304 stainless steel and precision-crafted components to resist rust and retain heat efficiency. Outdoor pizza ovens, such as the Fire Magic Pizza Oven, which can cook everything, including bread and cookies, that can be made in an indoor oven, are becoming must-haves for backyard chefs. So are “smart” grills, such as Fire Magic’s Echelon line that features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing chefs to operate them from a smartphone.
Several Fire Magic grills are equipped with the Magic View window, which allows chefs to monitor the action without opening the grill and letting heat escape. Fire Magic’s warming drawer, made of 304 stainless steel with double-wall insulation and a sealed enclosure, is another fun option: It keeps food – and serving plates – warm. Fire Magic also has introduced the industry’s first induction cooktop that’s designed for luxury outdoor kitchens. The 1,800-watt cooktop is not only energy efficient, but it also provides precise temperature control, that can be set in 10-degree increments, from 150 to 450 degrees. Hughes says that “with all the innovation going on in luxury outdoor living products and functionality, the options for creating experiences or destinations within this epicenter are continuing to grow and expand in every direction.”
firemagic.com, naturekast.com, ryanhughesdesign.com
