New Orleans Rooftop Outdoor Kitchen by Danver
With outdoor living projects on the rise, DANVER is proud to be an industry trendsetter and major contributor for the past ten years. We have seen with our years of experience, sales and daily interactions, that the principal trend in upscale outdoor living is moving beyond just building an outdoor kitchen toward creating a complete outdoor living and area where the kitchen is one component.
During the first half of 2010, we noticed a major shift in outdoor kitchen design. The transition consisted of a change from the traditional BBQ island or masonry kitchen island to modular cabinets, either inside a three-sided surround, made of a stone, brick, or framed stucco, or completely stand-alone. Increasingly, these kitchens are being made with custom finishes to really look like indoor cabinetry, but able to withstand all the elements.
The force behind this growing trend is twofold. First, homeowners are seeking a fully functional kitchen, which is not easily accomplished with masonry islands. The islands typically have cutouts for the appliances (grills, side burners and refrigerators), access doors and small drawer inserts. The access doors typically lead to an unusable black hole and the drawers tend to be too small for real storage. In the past year, we have seen a substantial increase in designs that started as BBQ Islands and morphed into fully functional outdoor kitchens utilizing space via storage cabinetry. In many cases, these homeowners and their contractors were simply not aware of cabinetry as an option or the door styles, colors and finishes available on the cabinets.
The builder/remodeler is the other major force. Builders realize the cost of modular cabinetry is very similar to the labor and material costs to build a BBQ or masonry kitchen island. The more stone work involved, the more work for the contractor. With modular cabinetry and a stone surround, the crews can quickly finish an installation and move on to the next project so the cost is close for the homeowner but they get a superior product in looks and functionality.
The kitchen is still the focal point of any outdoor design, but the layout and materials are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and complex. Outdoor living spaces are now given as much detail, budget and design as indoor kitchens and living rooms. Outdoor kitchens should also serve multiple purposes. When designing an outdoor kitchen, always consider the flow of the area, especially if the backyard includes a pool. From layout, to size, to door styles–every little detail should be taken into consideration to help make your outdoor living area a creative, warm and inviting space to entertain family and friends.
Contributing to the Leisure Industry’s 15% to 17% annual growth is the creative freedom architects and designers are enjoying by offering realistic wood grain and designer color powder coat finishes. With the durability of stainless steel cabinetry at their base, Danver’s high-quality, no-maintenance powder coat finishes offer the perfect choice for the discriminating homeowner. Production and technical advances in outdoor furniture, floor and wall coverings and electronics also help make outdoor kitchens more like “outdoor rooms” thus creating a need for cabinetry that requires a painted or wood grain appearance. Over the past three years, Danver outdoor kitchen sales incorporating powder coat or wood grain finishes have grown from about 10% to over 30%! So whether you are a homeowner, designer or builder, keep this alternative in mind.
There are many things to consider when planning to build your outdoor kitchen. We can help with any questions you have!
This article is based on industry knowledge and research by outdoor kitchen design professionals, including our in-house experts and engineers with decades of experience.Our goal at Danver is to provide factual information on relevant topics to help readers make informed decisions about their outdoor living spaces.
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