Official Outdoor Living Blog

You have an indoor kitchen­—this is your outdoor kitchen. Built-in Cook Number® grills; along with refrigerators, sinks, side-burners­, sound systems, and lights—all fit together to give you everything you need to cook fabulous food and entertain your family and friends. Create your dream outdoor kitchen today.

Customize your outdoor kitchen to make it your own

We build our outdoor kitchens using the highest quality materials. The framework begins with Marine Grade Galvanized Steel, which is resistant to corrosion from the elements. The framework is then covered in HardieBacker™ cement board with Moldblock™ technology. We then finish in high quality stuccos and counter top options. Whatever your style – an outdoor kitchen can be custom-finished to your own unique taste and entertaining needs.

Buy it unfinished and create your own look! Select from optional stucco finishes and tile top, including real slate.

Title: National Hardware Show
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center
Link out: Click here
Description: The Outdoor GreatRoom Company
Booth: TG151

Attendees include CEOs, Presidents, Vice Presidents, Owners, Partners, Buyers, Operations, Logistics

Merchandising, and marketing professionals from retailers, wholesalers & distributors and importers & exporters.

Retailers are represented from home centers, mass, specialty, grocers, chain drug stores, wholesaler clubs and pro dealers.

Exhibitors include manufacturers of home-related products including hand and power tools, electrical and plumbing, housewares, paint and home décor, lawn and garden, and tailgating.
Start Date: 2012-05-01
End Date: 2012-05-03

We are about to enter the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity . When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

Routine…
(1) The woman buys the food.

(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes dessert.

(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill – beer in hand.

(4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

Here comes the important part:
(5) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.


More routine…
(6) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.

(7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he flips the meat

Important again:

(8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.


More routine…
(9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.

(10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all: 

(11) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.

(12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed ‘her night off ’, and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there’s just no pleasing some women.

Who are these people anyways?

We are lovers of life who believe every moment should be lived in a great way – outdoors whenever possible. We grill, entertain, eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoor living experience. We dream about our ideal outdoor life and what that encompasses – imagining the warm glow of a fire, the taste of perfectly cooked steak from the grill, or the thrill of entertaining friends and family in the fresh outdoor air. Then we create the products of our dreams to make living the experience possible in our homes and yours. More About Us.

We are industry veterans.

Some members of our team have been an integral part of the hearth and home business for more than 40 years – each! We are Engineers, Designers, Salesmen & Women, Techies, Marketers, Customer Satisfaction Specialists, Entrepreneurs, and Inventors.

We’ve been featured as experts.

As participants in Harvard Focus groups, on TV shows like Rachel Ray, in USA today, Better Homes & Gardens, Newsweek, The Boston Consulting Group, and in numerous trade publications like Patio & Hearth Products Report, Hearth & Home and Casual Living.

We have industry certifications and affiliations.

HPBA, NAHB, APLD, ERA, BBA Association and more!

We are widely recognized as industry innovators.

Our team holds many patents. We invent, engineer and manufacture new products with unique designs and the latest technology. Our team is constantly integrating the best new products into our offering and we now offer more than 150 products (grills, outdoor kitchens, outdoor patio furniture, pergolas, fireplaces, outdoor lighting, heating, and accessories). One of our newest fire pits, The Key Largo, took home “The Attendees Choice Award” from the 2012 Hearth, Patio, Barbecue Expo in Atlanta.

Who we do business with

People that share in our vision of bringing the best outdoor home products to the market so they are accessible to anyone and everyone with the desire to entertain, create a home of their dreams, grill, or just enjoy life outdoors.

Click here to view contact information at The Outdoor GreatRoom Company.

Having remodeled every surface of two homes, the most recent addition to our home is without a doubt the most enjoyable remodel job we have ever done.  The wonderful thing about adding an Outdoor Greatroom is that the cost per square foot is much less than any other inside the home remodel job and the JOI (Joy On Investment) is much higher.  For everyone in the family to be happy, it may be more important to have a good JOI than ROI—as a homeowner in today’s market, both are important.

Please see the before and after pictures of our backyard. Another really good thing about this investment is that it can be done quickly (the Greatroom itself can be easily installed in less than a day with two people—floor not included). The flooring may take longer depending on the choice.  It is also necessary to do the planning for the electrical and gas lines if these are to be utilized.

The Outdoor Greatroom is truly an extension of the house and a wonderful place for gathering family and friends around a fireplace, campfire or grill.  While the warmth of the fireplace or campfire is hard to beat, the heart of the greatroom is probably the grill and/or grill island.  A real chance to socialize while demonstrating ones grilling ability—truly enhanced by a Cook Number Grill.

Maybe the best thing for the homeowner is that the Outdoor Greatroom is a great investment.  Not only can it be enjoyed almost daily (in Minnesota for almost half the year), but one that is adding value to the home.  The AIA (American Institute of Architects) has recently reported that outdoor living is the number one growth category and now the largest category of request for design support in the home.  Additionally, according to Hearth & Home magazine, the AIA estimates home values increase 10-20% when an Outdoor Room is added thus returning 100 % of their cost—a potential ROI of over 100%.

How many home investments can provide this kind of family enjoyment while adding to the value of your home?  Take advantage of this concept today and you’ll have something to help you sell your home tomorrow. 

Our fire pits tables and fire pits come with our stainless steel Crystal Fire Burners in a variety of shapes and sizes: round, square or rectangular.

The Crystal Fire runs for 8 hours using a 20# LP tank or can be hooked up to a natural gas line. Adjust the flame height to your desired setting and enjoy the magic and ambience of a warm glowing fire today.

Burners can also be purchased separately for custom projects. With just the push of a button, a beautiful clean-burning fire appears atop a bed of glass fire gems. These highly reflective Glass Fire Gems light up the fire pit with an ember-like glow. Comes standard with Diamond. Optional colors can be ordered.

The Uptown Fire Pit Table

During the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo in Atlanta (March 1-3, 2012), The Outdoor GreatRoom Company (OGC) and more than 350 other manufacturers and suppliers will be showcasing the latest, most innovative products for the home – indoors and outdoors.

Over 5,000 specialty and mass market retailers are expected to be in attendance, getting a first look at products for their showrooms and online stores.  Consumers will be seeing new products like gas and electric grills, grilling accessories, fully-equipped outdoor kitchens, casual patio furniture, outdoor accents, water and landscape features, fire pits, fireplaces, pergolas & gazebos and other all-weather products available in stores this season.  OGC will have 10 brand new fire pit models on display – all with fires burning – along with other new products for 2012 at booth #5270 in the outdoor burn area. Located near the the HPBExpo Tailgate & Chef Cook Off. If unable to attend the show, be sure to check out a preview of the newest fire pits online at www.GasFirePitTables.com

Show Highlights & Special Events:

Recently I took part in an evening dinner event at a retirement community in Bonita Springs, Florida.  At their clubhouse, they have an outdoor dinner every Thursday evening and this past week, we had our Naples fire pit table on display.

Naples Fire Pit Table - Warm and cozy fire.

Throughout the entire evening there was a group of people seated at the table or standing next to it. The constant comment was, “It is so beautiful, I wish I had one”.  We heard this comment all night.

We handed out all the fire pit literature and business cards we had, and actually sold 2 of the fire pit tables.  The manager of the restaurant is also requesting that they get 1 or 2 more fire pits that they can use in their patio area for the residents to sit by.  The Naples Fire Pit Table, or any of the Outdoor Greatroom Company fire pits, are an excellent choice for outdoor patio areas or screened in lanai areas – like they have in Florida.

Not only do they take the chill out of the air on a cool night, they also are a great conversation piece and are ideal for the retirement communities.

Steve Shimek,
Sales Rep – The Outdoor Greatroom Company

1. Outdoor fireplaces can be a great source of warmth, but without the surrounding walls to capture and retain the heat, what can homeowners do to ensure as much of that heat is being utilized in the surrounding area? 
If you are speaking of a conventional Fireplace typically the effective heating area is less than 180 degrees..in front of the Fireplace opening and less than 10 feet from the actual fire. If you are discussing what is commonly now termed a Fire Pit…which can be in round, rectangular, square or similar table top shapes, you can sit around the Fire Pit area which allows more attendees to be close to the effective heating area. Some “open” Fire Pits have a Venting Top which doubles to vent (smoke on wood burning models) will also reflect some heat back onto the persons sitting around the flame. Most heat still rises. Because the Fire Pits are typically less costly to install, easy to place they have become very popular.

Sierra Gas Fire Pit Table

Does it fall mainly to proximity of furniture, or also where the fireplace is placed? Where the Fire place or Fire Pit is placed will make some difference mainly if you can block out prevailing winds.

2. What are the benefits of incorporating an outdoor fireplace as opposed to a tabletop or ground-based fire pit and/or portable space heater?
A Fireplace is in many installations is more than just a heating appliance…it becomes a Focal point whether Indoors or Outside. Some safety considerations can be incorporated…since you can place a screen in front of the Hearth in aids in keeping small children from potential dangers….however it is always mandatory to never leave small children alone in the area of any heating appliance.

Sonoma Gas Fireplace is the focal point of this Outdoor Room

3. Building codes vary from place to place, but are there any general or common restrictions that homeowners should be aware of in planning for their outdoor fireplace? 
Burn Bans are becoming enforced, you may want to look at Gas Fueled appliances as they in many cases will be allowed to be operated since they have a controlled Flame (no pitch pockets or sparks flying out of the fire). Also some communities will have covenants in the Home Owners Bylaws which do not allow smoke fires….where Gas may be approved.

4. Is there any preference or benefit to using a dual-sided fireplace over a freestanding design?
Free Standing will in most cases allow viewing from 360 degrees where even see-through may be only 300 degrees?  Plus in most instances the price can be substantially higher for a Fire Place over a Fire Pit.

5. Do certain facing materials hold up better than others to the outdoor exposure?
There are numerous choices…I would suggest making sure any surface is verified to be safe for out door expose sure….i.e. Exterior Grade Stucco or Stone Finish, Exterior Grade Painted Products (note: Aluminum is chosen often because it will not Rust like steel)

6. Is there a good rule of thumb to help determine the appropriate size fireplace for the intended application? 
In my experience you want a minimum of 48 inches all round the extreme edge of a Fire Place or Fire Pit….and I would opt for more if at all available.

Also there are certain Fire Regulations for Wood Burning Chimneys the “2-10 Rule” which requires a Chimney to extend 24 inches higher than the Roof Peak if with – in 10 feet of a Building. This can add a great deal of cost for the parts and Finishing materials to cover the Piping or Masonry Chimney.

What makes a contemporary fire pit design?

In today’s market, people want styles to complement their home decor and to fit with their own sensibilities and lifestyle. Fire pits are no exception. In addition to graduating from being a rugged circle of rocks, in one’s back yard, the fire pit of today has evolved into a functional piece of furniture that works in a variety of outdoor settings, from patios and decks to outdoor pergolas and gazebos. Fed by natural, clean burning gas fuel, a fire pit table will work wherever you want it to.

The contemporary styles of today’s fire pits are designed for both looks and usability; they add a whole new dimension to the world of fire.

Key Largo - A contemporary gas fire pit that displays a bed of fire on top of reflective glass.

A contemporary design deals with “the present moment”, the style of the design is of the day. Lots of polished marble, Lucite and stainless steel details can be embedded in the design. The other materials used in contemporary design can be recycled materials and variations of chrome, plastic and plaster. Other factors go into selecting a fire pit and should be considered before purchasing a fire pit for your home.

Contemporary fire pit designs can include:

• Reflective surfaces
• Clean and sleek lines
• Linear burners
• Innovative graphical patterns
• Unusual colors
• Rounded forms
• Asymmetrical designs

The Uptown - Gas Fire Pit Table, with clean asymetrical lines