Alfresco Living

December 27, 2021

It used to be that outdoor kitchens were grand endeavors as part of larger, luxury homes. These days, outdoor living spaces – not just outdoor kitchens – are more attainable for homeowners, as the desire to include them as extensions of their interiors increases.

Click HERE to view a gallery

Some of this movement was borne out of the pandemic, as people were spending more time outside. According to Ryan Gustafson, founder and CEO of Screen Innovations, other factors have also contributed to homeowners’ growing interest in expanding their living space to the outdoors, including an upswing in remodeling, adoption of healthy home and wellness practices and greater accessibility to outdoor living products and technologies.

“The attention to outdoor living spaces isn’t showing any signs of decline,” added Gustafson. “According to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders, 61.4% of homes started in 2020 came with patios, marking the fifth consecutive year that the share of new homes with patios hit a record high.”

Depending on square footage and budget, these outdoor spaces may include anything from a simple seating area or work-from-home spot to a full-blown oasis with water features, a fireplace and eating and cooking areas. Homeowners are willing to invest more in their outdoor spaces, and some are even spending the bulk of their renovation budget on those rather than their interior projects.

What’s Topping Homeowners’ Wish Lists

As the need for multifunctional spaces grows inside the home, the same goes for the exterior. People want places to relax, entertain, work and exercise, and if they can extend those to the outdoors, even better. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2021 Design Trends report cited enhanced seating areas, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces/fire pits and weather protection for extended use as top choices for outdoor living spaces.

“Besides the kitchen/grilling area, people now want much more from their outdoor living,” said Chris Dreith, CMKBD, owner of the Home Improvements Group in Woodland,Calif. “TVs and sound systems, distinct lounge and dining areas, workout spaces and even sleeping areas will extend the inside life to outside.”

Functioning Spaces. As the schooling-and-working-from-home phenomenon has grown during the pandemic, so has the need for home office and study areas, and those can easily move to the outdoors when weather permits. Homeowners are incorporating Wi-Fi into these outdoor spaces, and they are requiring more outlets. Dreith says furniture may be more specific for these needs, including desks and places for printers, and it helps to be movable. Lighting needs to be included for different uses, including studying, entertaining and relaxing.

“Sound can carry – especially when you don’t want it to – so private areas for business discussions on the phone or computer may need to be designed and blocked so the neighborhood doesn’t listen in,” added Dreith.

Outdoor Kitchens. Cooking and entertaining outside is a must have for homeowners with the means. And they want a lot of the same elements often seen in an indoor kitchen, including power burners, refrigerator drawers, hoods and sinks.According to kitchen and bath project designer Carol Twomey of S&W Kitchens in Winter Park, Fla., outdoor cabinetry has expanded to include base units for various cooking features.

“Of course, the grill remains the centerpiece of many outdoor kitchens; however, we’re also seeing a growing interest in more extravagant additions like pizza ovens, wine fridges, ice makers and side burners,” said Caroline Danielson, director of showrooms, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

She adds that smart technology is also increasingly brought into today’s outdoor kitchens to control everything from lighting to appliances via voice activation and mobile apps.

“These advances are helpful if you need to step inside for a second; you don’t have to worry about overcooking your meal because your smart device will be there to update you,”said Danielson.

Dreith says herb and chef ’s gardens are being incorporated into outdoor kitchen designs, which also include irrigation and water-saving features. Her clients are also asking for storage and prep areas,and pullout faucets are in demand.

Is What’s on the Inside the Same as the Outside?

While some homeowners want to extend the look of the interior of their homes to the outdoor spaces, others use this as an opportunity to create a totally different look and feel. According to Bailey, this decision may also depend on if an indoor kitchen and/or dining area flows directly to the outdoors. If the spaces are separate, it may not be as important to marry the designs, but the exterior of the home also needs to be considered when creating an outdoor space.

What is important to homeowners for both is that the level of products and materials selected is of the utmost quality and function. They often want to include some of the same items in an outdoor kitchen as the one inside for convenience, such as a poolside refrigerator. Danielson says some items like smokers and pizza ovens are better suited for outdoor spaces. According to Twomey, outdoor kitchen cabinetry offers some of the same elements as the indoor version, including trash bins, base pullouts, cutlery and spice holders and tray dividers.

“Outdoor kitchens have become such a showcase space for many homeowners, and we’re seeing a two-fold push to incorporate the same functionality you’s see in an indoor kitchen, while also embracing unique attributes that live best in the great outdoors,”said Sarah Lograsso, director of marketing and portfolio management at Kindred Outdoors & Surrounds. “From meal preparation to alfresco dining and cleanup, homeowners want to encompass the entire ‘life cycle’ of the interior kitchen in compelling new ways using outdoor solutions.”

Standing Up to the Elements

Conditions indoors are rarely going to be the same as those outside, and weather and pests are two things to consider when choosing selections for an outdoor space. According to Gustafson, special coatings, materials, configurations and manufacturing processes help protect the structural and functional integrity of furnishings, appliances and electronic components from adverse weather conditions.

“It is certainly important that outdoor products are more durable than their indoor counterparts, especially when it comes to weather,” said Bailey. “Homeowners want to be sure that their investment will stay beautiful for years to come.”

Other expert suggestions include:

Placing grills so that prevailing winds don’t drive smoke inside
Ventilation hoods for cooking appliances located close to the home
Considering direct sunlight when locating the entertaining or cooking areas
Choosing materials that can stand up to UV rays, chipping and cracking
Selecting lighting and appliances rated for outdoor use
Providing seals and other protection for drains and other openings
Installing slip-resistant flooring near pools or spas and areas of precipitation buildup
Incorporating string lights and other accent illumination for ambiance

Making Use of an Outdoor Space All Year

According to Brandon Bryant, founder and visionary at Asheville,N.C.-based Red Tree Builders, his firm is planning to develop plans to incorporate the outdoor space as part of the house where roof lines allow the space to be usable all year around. For remodels, positioning the outdoor kitchen under a roof and using retractable screens can enable use for more months out of the year.

Adjustable temperature is also helpful where possible, as are motorized shades to limit sunlight, allow for more efficient heating and cooling and protect the space from harsh weather conditions and insects. Adjustable louvered patio systems are a great option to contain the sun, wind and/or rain. For colder days, Danielson suggests outdoor fireplaces, pits and tables, as well as ceiling fans and misting systems to keep guests cool and create a spa-like atmosphere on the warmer days.

Increasing Brand Options and Future Needs

As the desire for outdoor living spaces and experiences continues to grow, manufacturers will need to continue to innovate to meet their growing needs and requests.This includes brands that have always been in the outdoor living arena, as well as those just entering.

“Truthfully, the continued growth of the outdoor living market has just as much to do with price point as it does with the product options themselves,” said Lograsso. “As more players enter the space, some elements that may have felt out of reach to anyone outside the luxury segment just a few years ago are now available to other customers.”

According to Gustafson, COVID might have inspired homeowners initially to consider updates to the outdoor space, but in the future, they’ll be looking for ways to enhance those areas by adding more products.

“Those engineered for the outdoors will embody many of the same design-forward characteristics are their interior counterparts,” he added. “Meanwhile, the quality and performance of these products will continue to advance to rival that of products found inside the home.”

According to Danielson, as more people are looking to bring the hotel experience to their own homes, they will want to create an intimate outdoor space off their primary bedroom or bath that includes greenery and shade structures incorporated into the design to protect privacy. Dreith says showers in the main bath may include glass doors that open to a private, Zen-like patio.

“It’s an exciting time to be active in the outdoor category as a product manufacturer because all of the diversification we’re seeing in this space is going to keep driving everyone to push forward with new innovations,” said Lograsso. “As a homeowner myself, I’m excited to see what new and revitalized options hit the market in the future.”