Time to Take it Outside

The Latest Products for Outdoor Living Mimic Life Indoors

 

Recently I attended the 2013 Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Expo (HPB Expo) to check out what was trending in outdoor living. These days, homeowners aren’t settling for a simple patio slab and grill pit. Many homeowners want to increase their functional square footage by extending it outside. Here’s a look at some of the latest products from the HPB Expo aimed at taking everything you can do indoors, outside.

Infuse Fire Outside:

[caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="560"] O.W. Lee line of outdoor furniture[/caption]

A fire feature is a must-have for today’s outdoor living space. It pulls together the outdoor  kitchen and outdoor great room, making fire the center of conversation.

[caption id="attachment_586" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Firepit by Ecosmart that is powered by BioEthanol fuel. This one is featured in the New American Home in this year's International Builders Show in Las Vegas[/caption]

There are many ways to infuse fire in your outdoor living space: firepits, fireplaces, chimineas, and fire walls.

[caption id="attachment_596" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Furniture by O.W. Lee, The Santorini collection[/caption]

 

Most are either fueled by gas or wood and contain the flames for visual enjoyment and simple cooking, which is why the latest incarnation of the outdoor fire feature is raising eyebrows. It sets the table on fire.

Tables on Fire:

[caption id="attachment_580" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Fire table by Firetainment allows you to cook much like a stovetop and provides ambiance as a decorative element.[/caption]

Fire tables are hot properties in outdoor home design right now. So why would you want flames on the table?  “Combining the fire experience with the dining experience is the next in thing. With a fire table, there's no need to look off to the side at the fire, it's in front of you. Flames will go up to 18 inches high to roast marshmallows after dinner. You can turn the flame up and down while eating,” explains Rick Jones, Vice President of Pacific Living. The company introduced a new line of fire tables made of solid stone at the HPB Expo. The line features coffee tables, dining tables and benches.

[caption id="attachment_577" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Firetainment's firetable comes with a cook mount allowing you to cook a variety of dishes. On the griddle, quesadillas are cooking.[/caption]

Besides turning flames into the table centerpiece, some fire tables have cooking capabilities. Firetainment has a line of fire tables that double as stove tops. The fire table comes with a cooking mount allowing the use of a griddle, wok, Dutch oven and salt stone. “You can cook quesadillas on the cast iron griddle, sear tuna on the salt block, serve cheese fondue or roast marshmallows,” explains Renee Rigley, Firetainment Account Executive.

[caption id="attachment_581" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Gas fire table by The Outdoor GreatRooom company[/caption]

Walls on Fire:

[caption id="attachment_609" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Pre-Fab Wall of Fire feature by American Fyre, a Division of R.H. Peterson Company, allows the homeowner to easily install a fire feature without the expense of hiring a contractor.[/caption]

Maybe you don’t want to cook or converse over a fire. Instead, perhaps you want to just admire its beauty and wow your guests with a wall of fire. The fire wall is a concept that inspired several new product lines at this year's HPB Expo. R.H. Peterson Company announced its new line of American Fyre pre-fabricated fire features including the DIY fire wall.

[caption id="attachment_608" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Pre-Fab Wall of Fire feature by American Fyre, a Division of RH Peterson, allows the homeowner to easily install a fire feature without the expense of hiring a contractor.[/caption]

“The products stack together and bolt with a household wrench. You can have can an outdoor fireplace or outdoor bar in 20 minutes without hiring a contractor,” explains Elaine Remy, Director of Marketing, R.H. Peterson Company. The American Fyre pre-fabricated exterior fire features include fire tables, fire urns, fire pits and fire walls.

Outdoor Kitchen Goes Gourmet:

[caption id="attachment_591" align="aligncenter" width="322"] Ciao Pizza Oven[/caption]

Today’s outdoor kitchen isn’t just for grilling. Homeowners are transforming the grill area into a gourmet kitchen, fully equipped with any cooking capability possible indoors. You can grill pancakes, boil water, bake cookies and pizzas, sear steaks and cook chicken rotisserie style. Just about any dish is possible to prep and cook outdoors.

[caption id="attachment_602" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Cold Storage by True[/caption]

It’s a lifestyle trend outdoor appliance manufacturers are responding to with product lines that allow anything you would prep and cook inside, to be done outside. “I think people want to replicate their indoor kitchen outdoors with a sink, storage, griddle, power burners, an oven, everything a gourmet kitchen contains,” says Remy.

Bake Pizzas Poolside:

[caption id="attachment_582" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor pizza oven that can handle most baking projects. This one is from Morsona.[/caption]

“Why heat the house up in the summer when you can bake outdoor? Bake cookies while kids are in the pool; make pizzas at your next pool party. The pizza oven embodies the outdoor lifestyle,” says Jones.

[caption id="attachment_635" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Pizza Oven by Pacific Living[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_592" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Alfa Pizza Oven[/caption]

The pizza oven also can double as a decorative element. Alfa Pizza has a stylish, sculptural line of wood fired ovens for the outdoors that combine function with artistic form.

Robot Grill Cleaners:

After all that gourmet grilling with your tricked out, outside kitchen, it’s time for a little elbow grease to clean the grill. No worries, The Grillbot has got you covered. This was one of the most original products I discovered at this year’s HPB Expo.  The manufacturer claims The Grillbot works like those roving robot vacuum cleaners. The battery operated gizmo, scours the grill. Just turn it on and let it go. The Grillbot retails for $69.95 and you can check it out at www.grillbots.com

[caption id="attachment_595" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Living Furnishings by O.W. Lee[/caption]

 

May is officially designated Barbecue month as it rings in the summer vacation with Memorial Day  marking the start. If you need to up your grill game, then you’ll be at no loss for options. Check back for my next blog posting where I highlight the latest in grill technology just in time for Barbecue Month.