Whether a client has a tiny square of backyard, a rooftop oasis or sprawling acreage, March Webinars, generously sponsored by Blaze, show how to maximize the outdoor experience.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
After a year of restrictions, quarantines and frustrations, the great outdoors has never been greater. Homeowners are mastering the art of the staycation, and are making the most of their exterior living spaces, no matter how big or small.
NKBA’s free monthly webinar series in March is generously sponsored by Blaze Outdoor Products, which manufactures grills, smokers, outdoor refrigeration, cabinetry, drawers and accessories in stainless steel with commercial-grade cast stainless steel burners, and features like flame-stabilizing grids to prevent flare-ups, heat-zone separators and flame-thrower ignition.
Each month, NKBA offers free 60-minute webinars, each featuring a presentation by a specific subject matter expert, delivered via a virtual platform. The sessions offer certified participants 0.1 CEU per event — it’s an easy way for designers to collect the CEUs needed to maintain NKBA certification. Participants must engage in 80 percent of the live sessions to receive CEU credit; registration closes two hours prior to start times. All webinars begin at 12 noon, Eastern Time. Visit www.nkba.org to register.
Starting the series on March 3, Russ Faulk, chief designer and head of product for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, discusses “Winning Outdoor Kitchen Design – Creating Sophisticated Spaces That Work.” Even before the pandemic, interest in outdoor kitchens has been rising, and the AIA Home Design Survey listed outdoor kitchens as the top kitchen trend for a second straight year. Outdoor kitchens add value to a home, extend living and entertaining spaces and brings the comfort of the indoors out. Faulk will identify current market trends, products and equipment in the outdoor market; key considerations for the space, and design principles and guidelines. He’ll also talk about common outdoor kitchen mistakes and misconceptions and how to avoid them.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Next up, on March 9, Kerrie Kelly, FASID, CAPS, creative director at Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, presents “Take It Outside: How 2020 Shaped Our Outdoor Spaces.” The events of 2020 changed the way we live and for many, where we work, school and enjoy leisure activities — at home. This means outdoor spaces will need to adapt to changing needs and lifestyles. Kelly will discuss the role of those spaces in the heightened value now placed on our health, relationships and quality of life, and how it motivates us to adapt our outdoor areas as spaces where we can work, be active, entertain and relax with loved ones. She will explain how to offer new outdoor suggestions for activity related to the home, explore ways to share creative use of outdoor space for relaxation, celebration and work, and illustrate the relationship of the outdoor environment to wellness.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Allie Mann, senior designer at Case Design, presents “Outdoor Mann 2.0 — Designing Your Next Kitchen or Bathroom Outdoors” on March 16. Outdoor spaces have grown far past a patio, grill and seating or table for eating. Designers should be ready to go the distance for clients interested in adding on outdoor kitchens and baths, and Mann will explore simple and complex design ideas for giving homeowners a memorable outdoor experience. From a quiet outdoor shower in solitude or a rooftop barbecue for 20, this presentation will offer unique solutions and material suggestions for maximum outdoor enjoyment. She will review current lifestyle trends that influence and promote the need for outdoor living, classify key design elements of a successful outdoor kitchen or bath, and discuss appropriate materials to specify for these types of spaces.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Finally, on March 24, learn about “Clever Three-Season Outdoor Kitchen Design” with Lindsey Root, marketing manager at Ferguson in the Houston area. Grilling is a year-round sport, and depending on region and climate, enjoying the outdoor space can extend far beyond the summer months. Root will offer tips to turn a client’s outdoor space into an alfresco culinary oasis that will can be used through several seasons. She will discuss the hottest trends in outdoor kitchen design, identify the critical role lighting plays in any exterior space, and talk about the numerous products available to help create a custom outdoor cooking and dining oasis for clients.
To register for this webinar, click here.
