Hestan values our designer relationships. Their feedback and insight has been vital in developing the award-winning Hestan kitchen. In this ongoing series, we talk to our design partners to find out what’s currently inspiring them.
Meet Anthony Rocco, founder and editor of Appliance Buyer’s Guide. Anthony has a decade of kitchen design and sales under his belt. He also currently serves as the managing director at The Kitchenworks in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1) What inspires you as a designer? Form meeting function. When a customer phones you months after a project to tell you just how pleased they are using their new outdoor space. It’s joyful moments like that which inspire us to continue to grow in design at The Kitchenworks.
2) Which outdoor design trends do you feel are making an impact in 2018? On new home builds, outdoor kitchen areas are no longer a second thought. For many years this was the case, and resulted in odd locations for outdoor cooking. Architects and designers are starting to plan for the location and general layout of the outdoor kitchen in tandem with their indoor kitchen, and this is essential in our view. The two should be unified in both design and function.
3) What should someone take into consideration when designing an outdoor living space? What should they ask themselves? Well, many people still don’t think to speak with a kitchen designer about their outdoor kitchen areas, and this is a mistake in my opinion. Outdoor kitchens require the same space planning as your indoor kitchen. This is particularly important due to their usual size restrictions, so it’s always good to have someone who understands solid kitchen design principles working on your layout. When designing an outdoor kitchen, the most important thing to ask is: “What do I need access to to effectively operate outside?” There is nothing worse than having great cooking equipment to use, but no storage for all of the items needed to run it. An effective outdoor kitchen has areas for dry storage, cold storage and prep work. Running in and out of the house is tedious and worse still — takes your eyes off of the food.
4) The grill is the heart of the patio. What do you look for in a grill when you’re adding one to a design project? First and foremost: function. Does this grill do everything my client needs and more? Size and styling are two important seconds.
5) What would you say to a client who is choosing between an outdoor kitchen, versus a stand-alone grill —and what impact does each have on an outdoor space? While a more expensive option, an outdoor kitchen is the only way to create an outdoor cooking area. There is nothing inherently wrong about a stand-alone grill, but it lacks other elements needed when cooking — like ample prep area, dry storage and cold storage.
Explore the entire Hestan Outdoor product lineup here to get started building your dream outdoor kitchen.
