Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2020 - 20

TRENDS

Moving Life Outside

and
technology, the popularity of alfresco
dining and cooking has steadily grown
over the last decade. However, this year
the outdoor kitchen took an unexpected
leap in demand as many consumers are
homebound and looking for variety and
ways to safely socialize.
" The greatest advantage of outdoor kitchen
design is the fact that it exists outside, " said Sarah Lograsso, director of marketing for Kindred
Outdoors & Surrounds. " For those who are fortunate enough to have green spaces of their own,
the outdoors represents a ready retreat from the
pressures of the day or even the pressures of any
given moment. "
FFERING A RESPITE FROM SCREENS

BEHIND THE JUMP IN DEMAND

The pandemic is credited for inspiring this popularity. Manufacturers like Memphis Wood Fire
Grills have reported recorded sales this summer;
their research showed that 81 percent of consumers who traditionally cook at home twice
per week said they would cook outdoors more
going forward.
" Along with the increase in the number of people working and spending more time at home,
people are investing in their indoor and outdoor
spaces, upgrading to higher-quality appliances
and cooking much more in their own backyards, "
said Sharla Wagy, general manager of Memphis
Wood Fire Grills.
Consumers are looking for their outdoor
spaces to be a reprieve from the home's interior
and its new association with work and school.
With multiple family members living together
for longer hours than usual, it is essential to everyone's well-being to have a place to escape. It's
even more beneficial if that place accommodates
a fun new hobby or activity.

To d a y ' s o u t d o o r s p a c e b e c o m e s a n e s s e n t i a l
part of daily living and healthfulness

ABOVE LEFT The KALAMAZOO

Hybrid Fire Grill is a highperformance gas grill that
can also cook with charcoal
and wood. The grill handles
a range of cooking techniques from low-and-slow
barbecue to intense searing
at temperatures in excess of
1,000 degrees. The K1000
version of the Hybrid Fire Grill,
shown here, starts at $23,295.
kalamazoogourmet.com
ABOVE RIGHT The True Clear

Ice Machine from TRUE
RESIDENTIAL produces up to
70 pounds per day with storage of 28 pounds of ice. The
Clear Ice Machine uses less
energy and water than other
residential ice machines, and
all models have a drain pump
and water ï¬lter built in. MSRP
is $3,999 in stainless steel
(shown). true-residential.com

" We've witnessed a massive increase in the number of meals people are
cooking at home, and as we cook more, we look for a bit more variety, " said
Russ Faulk, chief designer and head of product at Kalamazoo Outdoor
Gourmet. " People are learning new cooking skills, like traditional barbecue
and pizza making. "
There is also a need for safe places to gather. According to Lograsso,
many people have begun to open their own outdoor spaces to trusted family, friends and neighbors. These socially distanced gatherings supplement
for lost opportunities for dining out, going to the movies or cheering on a
favorite sports team.
" Many outdoor spaces are adopting the practices we've previously been
used to enjoying away from home, " added Lograsso.
BRINGING ENTERTAINMENT OUTSIDE

With these demands in mind, clients want versatile, fun and highly functional
outdoor spaces. Bringing the comforts of the indoors outside is important to
them; people want to expand their entertainment in their backyards and create experience-based spaces.This includes televisions, firepits, wine cabinets,
full cooking stations and more.

RIGHT The 42-in. Lyra Fire
Bowl from KINDRED OUTDOORS & SURROUNDS has
a modern linear design with a
sloped ï¬re feature that boasts
a 65,000 BTU burner and all
brass ï¬ttings. Sharp, 90-degree inset walls add to its
monolithic concrete design,
and it comes standard with
black lava rock, carry straps
and match-lit components to
comply with CSA standards
for natural gas or liquid propane. It is shown in aged teak
with a honed ï¬nish, and the
MSRP for the 42-in. model is
$2,999. MyKindredLiving.com

By ERINN LOUCKS

/ NOV.-DEC. 2020 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.kalamazoogourmet.com http://www.true-residential.com http://www.MyKindredLiving.com http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2020