Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Predicts Four Key Trends in Outdoor Kitchen Design

Outdoor kitchen design is undergoing a transformation. A new report, released by Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, the industry leader in outdoor kitchens, predicts four key trends will shape the market: outdoor kitchens increasingly built under shelter, the explosion of available features in high-end outdoor kitchens, artisanal cooking techniques that require specialized equipment and an influx of new design professionals from a broader range of disciplines.

Report highlights include:

More Design Professionals from Broader Disciplines

Once the domain of landscape architects and designers, outdoor kitchen design has seen an influx of new design professionals; in particular, interior designers are embracing the outdoors. In 2008, Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet saw consumers turning to interior designers to create their outdoor living spaces. The company predicts more designers of different backgrounds to start combining their expertise to bring outdoor kitchens to a new level. To address this trend, Kalamazoo offers outdoor kitchen design training programs to a variety of design professional organizations, including the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) whose members are interested in new business potential.

Bringing the Outside In

Outdoor kitchens began as a trend of taking the indoors outside; homeowners are now putting a roof over their outdoor kitchens. A sheltering structure provides a location for lighting, ceiling fans, helps retain heat from radiant heaters on cool spring and fall evenings, among others. More than 50 percent of designers attending Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet's kitchen design classes report seeing an increase in the number of outdoor kitchens being designed under a roof. Kalamazoo believes this trend will continue to strengthen and become more elaborate as more people combine their outdoor kitchens with outdoor living spaces.

Features Abound

Outdoor kitchens are evolving at a rapid pace, changing from "grill-centric" to true culinary work areas. The highest end of the market is demanding more sophistication, functionality and specialized appliances, including separate wine chillers for whites and reds, freezers and freezer drawers, multiple beer keg tappers, pizza ovens, wok burners and specialized storage. Kalamazoo sees the market's top end continuing its demand for specialized products while the middle market later incorporates proven pieces.

Artisanal Cooking Techniques

Cooking outdoors no longer means a sizzling slab of meat on a grill. The artisanal cooking trend, begun in high-end restaurants and moved into people's homes, expresses a reverence for the best ingredients used in simple combinations, prepared exceptionally well. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is now seeing the trend influencing people's choices in outdoor kitchen equipment: In 2008 the company's hybrid grill outsold its gas grill cousin by 10-to-1, providing proof that people want a versatile grill that allows them to cook over any combinations of gas, wood or charcoal; pizza ovens have become a popular addition to the outdoor kitchen, and Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet predicts the pizza oven to extend to more modest outdoor kitchens.