Retailers celebrate Ozarks' embrace of outdoor living

“We’ve been waiting to see this happen for the last seven to 10 years,” said Nutting, general manager of Maschino’s in Springfield. He spent years attending trade shows where the West Coast outdoor living trend was all the rage, only to come back to Springfield and find the idea still wasn’t gaining traction.

But “this last year, I’ve seen an awful lot of interest and actual purchases,” he said.

Home builder Sam Clifton of Millstone Homes said demand for outdoor living spaces is increasing among his custom clients, and he expects to see more outdoor rooms in both new and existing homes.

The key concept for the outdoor room is “comfort.”

Attractive but uncomfortable benches and lawn chairs are a thing of the past, according to Randy Renyer, co-owner of Outdoor Rooms by Design in Kimberling City.

Now, deep-cushion seating is the norm, and frames are sturdy cast aluminum from manufacturers such as Windham, solid wrought iron by companies including O.W. Lee, and wicker – whether natural or synthetic – by firms including Laneventure and Lloyd/Flanders.

The list of outdoor products is growing apace, from weatherproof TVs, full-size outdoor oil paintings, statuary and fountains, to outdoor rugs, clocks, lights, ceiling fans, wind-proof candle holders and full kitchens.

Bound only by budget and imagination, homeowners can create outdoor rooms as detailed and personal as their indoor spaces.

Making the most of outdoors

Just as comfort is king in outdoor furnishings, it’s also essential in creating the outdoor room. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and infrared heating systems make it possible to enjoy outdoor rooms from early spring to late fall, and demand for those items is high, according to area specialty retailers.

Nutting recently attended the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association Expo in Atlanta, where he saw innovations such as a computer-aided design program that allows consumers to try different furnishings and fixtures on a digital image of their existing deck or porch; a new line of weatherproof outdoor curtains by O.W. Lee that create intimate, private spaces for dining or entertaining; and an under-table umbrella weight with a heater in its base.

The outdoor room can be covered or open to the sky, and the local trend is toward multipurpose spaces – dividing the outdoor room into a cooking area, a hearth area, and a seating area, for example.

Because there are literally thousands of options available in furnishings, fixtures and décor, the space can be just as personal as any other “room” in the house. After all, “A sofa and a chair in a room are just a sofa and a chair until you decorate; then it becomes home,” Renyer said.

From grilling to thrilling

While outdoor dining used to be limited to the grill and the all-weather picnic table, now it’s a complete experience.

Outdoor cooking has gone from charcoal and gas grills to full outdoor kitchens complete with weatherproof refrigerators and cook tops, stainless steel cabinetry and outdoor beverage centers, said Judy Bilyeu, corporate marketing director for Metro Builders Supply in Springfield.

Just as the indoor kitchen has evolved from a workspace for cooking into a gathering place for the whole family, so, too, has the outdoor kitchen. The various elements are placed and planned to maximize social interaction and participation.

Not surprisingly, as outdoor kitchens proliferate, more manufacturers are seeking a piece of that market.

“Up until recently, Viking was the largest line,” Bilyeu said. “Now, KitchenAid has really stepped up to the plate in developing outdoor cooking products and refrigeration units that are high-quality and maybe a little bit more affordable.”

Michael Freelander, a real estate developer living in Nixa, appreciates the outdoor life. He said that he, his wife and their three children spend the vast majority of their time outdoors from April 1 to Oct. 15.

“We have a swimming pool outside, and we want to keep our children outside the house as opposed to confined to computers, TV screens and video games,” he said. “We set up the whole outdoors as our compound, our entertainment center, and made it as inviting as possible, bringing nature to them.”

The Freelander compound includes a Viking grill with warming drawer, refrigerator, ice maker, sink, storage, outdoor fireplace, several patio areas and special-use zones, and an entertainment center with 160-inch outdoor screen that can be viewed from the pool.

And while the outdoor season is roughly April to October, Freelander said his outdoor room often serves into the winter, when friends gather around the fireplace and outdoor heaters, and everybody sings and plays music while the children toast marshmallows.