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JULY 2023 RETAILOBSERVER.COM 33 new/different vendors who specialize in outdoor kitchen spaces). • Curated moments and experiences drive the luxury experience, so designers must explore innovative ways to use the same space and design with specific occasions in mind. They must also use layering techniques within the design, combining different flooring, surfaces, lighting, and upholstery to make these individual elements work together. • Tech integration by including in your team of specialists a technology integrator who can add smart devices, adjustable lighting, and audio/video to create a comfortable environment. • Sustainability is also an important consideration, so designers should consider sourcing locally and selecting renewable, sustainable materials. A TALE OF TWO KITCHENS: OUTDOOR VERSUS INDOOR Weather, temperature, sunlight, smoke zones, wind – these elements and more have an impact on the outdoor kitchen, making it a different animal from the indoor kitchen. By learning about these differences, a designer can create an outdoor kitchen or area that is designed with its environment in mind. • When determining seating areas, it's crucial to consider the direction of the sun and wind. Additionally, it's recommended to install an overhead shelter and a noise or wind barrier to provide protection from direct sunlight or rain. • In cold-weather environments, it's essential to install easy shut-off valves into the outdoor kitchen's plumbing system. Designers should ensure that pipes are laid lower than the frostline to prevent freezing (designers can check local building codes to determine this). • Invest in purpose-built materials like high-grade stainless steel and slip-resistant flooring, high-quality product/furniture covers and appliances designed to withstand the effects of rust, fire, direct sunlight, or weather. • Effectively managing water is necessary and can be done by considering grooving or pitching surfaces to ensure proper drainage beneath cabinets and to redirect water that would otherwise collect in the living areas. • When making the outdoor kitchen space more sustainable, designers should work with landscaping specialists and design for durability to reduce replacement. EXPANDING THE SPACE AND EXTENDING THE SEASON In addition to providing guidance on designing the outdoor kitchen as a different space than the indoor kitchen, designers interviewed in the Luxury Outdoor Kitchen Study provided some additional insights: • Extending the season will offer the clients a higher return on investment (ROI). One solution is to design multiple areas of heated entertainment zones, utilizing items such as infrared heaters, fireplaces, firepits, and hot tubs to define the zone and extend the season in outdoor spaces. Other solutions include installing easy opening and closing doors and windows that can completely seal off the outdoor entertainment area, or disappearing drop-down bug screens. • Expanding and creating square footage – for example, by going up a level through the creation of a rooftop deck – makes it possible for designers to create more square footage for living and entertaining within the same footprint, enabling different rooms for different uses. To get NKBA's full Luxury Outdoor Kitchens Report, which is FREE to all NKBA members, visit nkba.org/research, or scan here. To watch the NKBA Summit on Designing the Outdoor Kitchen on demand, visit NKBA. org/outdoor-kitchen or scan here. RO Design: Emily Bell, Bell Design Studios, Boston, MA Design: Kerrie Kelly, Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, Sacramento, CA Design Group, Sacramento, CA

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