Outdoor 'rooms' make great use of yards

Americans are choosing to make full use of their outdoor patios, decks and screened porches so they can spend as much of their precious free time as possible outdoors.

"People are trying to take the whole indoor experience outside," said Dan Mayer, owner of Northwest Metalcraft in Arlington Heights. "They long to get outside in the fresh air and relax when they aren't working. I would estimate that 70 percent of the furniture I sell now is the deep-seating kind. The other 30 percent is for dining."

"Some people have so much outdoor space they can easily have more than one outdoor 'room' with a dining area, a cooking or kitchen area and a separate lounging area, with or without a firepit, and by doing this, they are adding value to their homes," he added.

The development of deep-seating furniture made of an all-weather resin wicker material carefully woven over aluminum frames has made it possible to keep this furniture outside, even in our Chicago climate. The thick seating cushions are also fully weatherproof and may be left outside.

"It can be really magical to sit outside, especially around a firepit or fireplace, and have a great conversation with your friends. And if you invest in torches or the lanterns that use alcohol gel, you can make your yard look like a resort. They really look cool and add to the ambience," Mayer said.

Outdoor kitchens, complete with a refrigerator, warming drawers, cabinets and counter space, are also becoming more popular in the Midwest. No longer content to simply grill outside, many homeowners are choosing to fully prepare their meals outside.

In addition, traditional grills are being supplemented by ceramic smokers and cookers that slow cook items like roasts and chickens year-round. Northwest Metalcraft sells Kamado Joe cookers that burn lump charcoal, as well as pellet grills like those made by the Memphis Grill and Smokin' Brothers. Theses cookers burn pellets from a variety of woods.

"They come with electronics that let you set a timer and just leave it. It makes you an awesome cook," Mayer said.

Of course, Northwest Metalcraft also sells the traditional charcoal-burning Weber grills and infrared gills that sear in the juices, thus preserving the flavor of meats.

Outdoor fireplaces are also wildly popular with homeowners who choose to have either wood-burning or gas fireplaces (masonry or prefabricated) and firepits constructed in many yards.

"Many women don't like the smell of smoke, so they choose to have a fireplace fueled by either propane or natural gas and we put stones, ceramic logs, broken glass or geometric shapes in the fireplace to enhance the look of the fire, just like what we can do for an indoor fireplace. We are even able to run the gas line from the house if the homeowner wants to use natural gas," Mayer said.

Today's patio dining tables, Mayer said, are made of everything from aluminum to teak to wicker, wrought iron and recycled plastic. The large ones that seat ten or 12 people are particularly hot sellers.

"If you have a big house and a big family, you want everyone to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal at the same table," he said.

Electric and propane heaters, which extend the season for patios and decks, are also gaining in popularity. With the flip of a switch or the use of a remote control, you can have great heat coverage over a large area - and very unobtrusively, Mayer said. The electric ones cost much less to operate than the propane heaters, he added, and there are no tanks to refill so they are swiftly supplanting the propane ones in popularity.

Northwest Metalcraft also sells a wide range of table and cantilevered umbrellas, mailboxes, indoor fireplaces and fireplace accessories.

In business for 71 years, Northwest Metalcraft was founded by Mayer's parents, Ed and Irene Mayer, when his father returned from World War II. Ed set up a wrought iron repair shop in the barns on the property at the time. But he was always looking for ways to expand his business.

One day Irene purchased a patio set for the family and set it up on the yard and when someone drove by and offered to buy it, Ed sold it and quickly told Irene to buy a few more sets.

"That is how they got into the patio furniture business," Mayer said. "He continued to make wrought iron rails, etc., but gradually got into the fireplace business to supplement the patio furniture business."

In the 1960s, the Mayers added a large selection of grills to their inventory in order to capitalize on the outdoor grilling craze and before long, they were running gas lines to gas grills and fully installing fireplaces for homeowners.

"A couple of years ago we wrote our millionth invoice and we are still here and growing, adding new customers every day. We are one of the oldest businesses in Arlington Heights and are still in the same location where we were founded," Mayer said.

This year the business is remodeling the store, repaving the parking lot and adding new fireplace displays, he added.

Northwest Metalcraft, which offers a large selection from nearly 20 different manufacturers, is located at 413 S. Arlington Heights Road. It is open seven days a week and can usually make local deliveries of in-stock items within 72 hours. Special orders are also welcomed.

For more information, call (847) 253-1905 or visit www.nwmetalcraft.com.