Inside out: built-in grills are fueling the outdoor kitchen trend

Building Products, March-April, 2004 by Linda C. Lentz

There was a time when a good part of the American dream was to own a home with a backyard. Dad would drive to the hardware store right before Memorial Day and buy a "barbecue" for summer cookouts. Then, until Labor Day, the whole family would gather around the redwood picnic table, feasting on charcoal-grilled hot dogs and hamburgers--while Mom ran in and out of her kitchen preparing me rest of the supper.

Enter the 21st century. Homes have own. Gourmet kitchens have opened into great rooms. Modest patches of green have morphed into landscaped gardens complete with deck or patio, hot tubs, and swimming pools. And the once-humble barbecue is evolving into what may be one of the next significant home trends: the outdoor kitchen.

"People are really looking at their outdoor spaces differently," claims Dan Lally, director of public relations at Frontgate, an upscale home furnishings company that specializes in outdoor grills and furnishings. "It's no longer an afterthought and they want to turn it into something they can use for three seasons."

Consequently, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), the backyard has blossomed into a fully furnished outdoor living space designed as an extension of a home's interior. Association findings indicate that the nation's move toward the outdoor kitchen is being perpetuated by a combination of factors, not least of which is that 60 percent of all grill owners cook outdoors year-round (a figure that rises to nearly 70 percent for gas grill owners). To accommodate them, an increasing number of manufacturers are offering high-quality, all-weather outdoor cooking appliances and heaters to enable year-round use.

In addition, the association continues, this lifestyle shift is supported by the steep growth in second homes, an increase in new housing starts, and growing investments in home remodeling.

Donna Myers, association spokesperson, reports that sales of built-in grills are up a full third since 2000 and pre-fabricated island sales continue a strong upward trend.

"What we see happening," observes Shaun Chinsky, brand manager of the Weber-Stephen Vieluxe brand of luxury grills, "is that consumers who have remodeled their kitchens with commercial-grade appliances ... want a grill that is consistent with the appliances they have in their kitchen."

Moreover, respondents of Weber's 14th annual GrillWatch survey--a comprehensive inquiry into the outdoor cooking habits of Americans--envisioned their "dream grill" to be self-cleaning, followed closely by a grill that has side burners.

To satiate this hunger for top-quality al fresco equipment, the new Vieluxe brand ups the ante on the traditional Weber grill offering. Fabricated in corrosion-resistant 16-gauge type 304-grade stainless steel, the 27-and 39-inch built-in gas grills are configured much like a slide-in range for easy installation into a custom island. Pre-outfitted with storage drawers, the grill's footings are adjustable and integrated trim provides a uniform appearance with its surround.

Each unit features a smoking system, an infrared rotisserie burner in back, and a funnel-shaped bottom tray that directs drippings into a Teflon-coated catch pan for easy cleanup. Powerful side-burner stations are available in drop-in and slide-in versions and come with a protective stainless steel lid.

"There are two types of people who buy our products," says Viking vice president of product development Dave Becker, "those who cook and those who want the best."

One of the first indoor appliance makers to get into the outdoor market, Viking boasts one of the most complete selections of all-weather appliances. Introductions from Viking include a charcoal ceramic grill/smoker, a 24-inch-wide outdoor-approved gas oven, and a gourmet bar/entertainment center with a work area, sink, and compartments for ice, condiments, and drinks. "It's the piece that finalizes it as an outdoor kitchen," Becker adds.

Meanwhile, KitchenAid expanded its popular Architect series of stainless steel appliances to include professional-quality grills in a variety of sizes, including a bar, serving cart, refrigerator, and ice maker. And Dacor entered the market by extending its Epicure group with grills that feature built-in halogen lighting and warming drawers.

At DCS, the full outdoor complement consists of halogen-lit heavy-duty grills, side burners, warming drawers, a refrigerator, a beer dispenser, and a patio heater. Dynasty, Monogram, Thermador, and Wolf also have made their way outdoors.

In a recent Outdoor Room Tracking Study sponsored by Weber-Stephen, nearly half (44 percent) of the $75,000-plus-income outdoor room-deprived households surveyed were interested in having an outdoor kitchen, so it is apparent that this is not a fad. That view is corroborated by the high satisfaction level of actual outdoor kitchen owners polled: More than a third say this $pace adds to their quality of life.

"It's part of the whole nesting trend," surmises Chinsky. "It's an investment that adds value to their home, and they can enjoy it with their family."