FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                 
March 20, 2023

O’Malia’s Living Selected for 2023 Mary Fruehauf Retail Genius Award
Namesake Award Recognizes Creativity, Excitement and Fun in Outdoor Living
 
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) gave this year’s Mary Fruehauf Retail Genius Award to O’Malia’s Living, https://www.omaliasliving.com, in Carmel, Ind. The presentation was made during the ICFA’s Educational Conference in Nashville earlier this month.
 
The single-unit retailer was lauded for its unique hand-crafted decorative accents placed throughout the store’s outdoor furnishings displays created by a longtime employee. About five years ago, Pat Flatley expressed interest in stepping away from her administrative role and utilizing her more than 20 years’ experience in the floral and corporate decorating business. Owner Scott Horvath set up a 1,500-square-foot laboratory stocked with acrylics, table linens and pillow covers. He says, “The result has been an opportunity to dress up our collections in an ever-changing way that keeps us fresh and looking great.”
 
The award was established by the ICFA Retail Council in 2017 in memory of Mary Fruehauf, whose Colorado outdoor furnishings store was known for its imaginative visual merchandising and entertaining promotional events.
 
All ICFA retail members were invited to compete for the award by sending information reviewed by a team of judges, who included industry veterans and close personal friends and colleagues of Fruehauf: Mariah Maydew, who succeeded her as president and CEO of Fruehauf’s in Boulder, Colorado, Cathy Galbreath-Buzbee, owner of ABSCO Fireplace & Patio, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Brian Lawrence, president of Emigh’s Casual Living, Sacramento, California.

The sassy plexiglass trophy was previously presented to Village Green Home and Garden in Rockford, Ill. twice; The Fire House Casual Living Store (now rebranded as Viridien) with stores in Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. plus a store in Greenville, S.C.; and Great Gatherings, formerly with stores in Virginia and Maryland.
 
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The International Casual Furnishings Association, based in High Point, N.C., represents manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives and designers of outdoor furnishings plus suppliers to the industry.
 
O’Malia’s Living, based in Carmel, Ind., is a 55-year-old retailer of high-quality specialty fireplaces, grills and patio furniture with installation and service of fireplaces and outdoor spaces.

The outdoor kitchen continues to grow in popularity. The National Kitchen and Bath Association reports that 76% of members surveyed are planning to add or renovate an outdoor kitchen this year. That’s higher than any other outdoor living project.​

Our outdoor kitchens are built in South Carolina by Stoll Industries. O'Malia's Living has a long history working alongside Stoll on a variety of projects. We encourage you to visit Stoll Industries online to learn more about their craftsmanship and caring values.

​Our built-to-order outdoor kitchen is designed with you in mind! These custom outdoor kitchens can be shipped pre-assembled or disassembled. Thoughtfully designed for simple installation, durability, and added features that will even allow you to disassemble should you want to move. Have a rooftop patio or balcony that you’d love to transform? This state-of-the-art design using aluminum is lightweight yet durable, making it perfect for the custom balcony kitchen of your dreams. Custom-built to fit your grill, fridge, and all your other amazing components, now there are no limitations to the outdoor dining space you’ve envisioned.​

We have custom grill carts, too! Built to your specifications and designed to last. The grill cart is measured and cut to the exact size of your grill or smoker. Add wheels and you have a mobile outdoor kitchen with storage. You can see the grill cart inside the O'Malia's Living showroom. 

Before the party begins, stop in the O'Malia's Living showroom to work with one of our sales consultants. They will guide you through the entire process as you choose your layout, trim, colors and more. Think of it as a design party. 

Barbecue season is here. The warmup in temperatures this week has resulted in more of us stepping out to dust off the grill and eager to taste the smoky excellence of barbecued specialties. At O'Malia's Living, we are proud to share that we have added Mozel Sanders Barbecue Sauce to list of products sold and will be utilizing Mozel Sanders BBQ sauce as our preferred grilling event sauce.

Mozel Sanders Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been feeding the hungry for over 50 years. Last year, the foundation served over 10,000 hot meals on Thanksgiving Day. The Mozel Sanders Foundation gives hope to the hungry and empowers youth & adults in Central Indiana.

You can learn more about Mozel Sanders Barbecue Sauce by clicking this link. 
You can explore more about the Mozel Sanders Foundation by clicking this link. 

Best of all, 100% of the gross cost of this product goes back to the Mozel Sanders Foundation to support food insecurity. O'Malia's is committed to supporting our community and the efforts of passionate community leaders like Mozel Sanders. 

with an ugly fireplace. O’Malia’s Living is an authorized dealer for Stoll Industries and ThermoRite fireplace doors and fronts. Our factory-trained staff will guide your family throughout the entire design process including visiting the home to take measurements and assess the fireplace. We will also work with you if you are updating tile, stone or other materials on the face wall. Since most doors are custom, the timeline can be lengthy. Custom doors take up to six weeks to manufacturer and then ship. 

So, you have a new home and are anxious to burn a wood fire. One problem, however, is this funny looking bar in the back of the fireplace. It is a gas line! You wouldn’t dare start a wood burning fire in there. The bar could catch fire and the house may explode, right? The answer is no.

Gas starters, also known as log bars, are a wonderful, convenient and safe way to start your wood fire. The biggest benefit to a gas starter is you will have less creosote and a healthier start to your fire. It works like this. Stack your wood on a grate just like you would normally. Keep it loose with plenty of air gaps. Place kindling below the logs. Now open the gas valve and strike a match to light the bar. Leave the gas valve open as long as necessary to get the logs burning then shut it off completely. No newspaper needed.

Since you are not using material or fluid to light your fire, you are saving your chimney from harmful build up. Log bars can last for several years depending on the conditions inside the firebox. Eventually, the burner may begin to break down. 
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​Replacing it is cheap and easy. A new log bar is around $30 and can be screwed in just like a shower head. Don’t forget to check for leaks. 

A common request is how to convert my wood fireplace or firepit to gas. While not as common, we do also have homeowners seeking to go from gas to wood. Both situations are possible for a cost less than what most homeowners budget for. Beginning with the firebox, we first determine if we are working with a masonry or metal box. Next is to determine the run for the gas line. We will test the gas pressure and consider the home systems and structure to design a plan for running the gas line. 

We always recommend a homeowner get at least two quotes for a gas run. You want to look at the price but also ask questions about what type of pipe will plumbed, where will you tap off from for the gas line, and what is the path you will take the line. The gas pressure is important. You want your fireplace to have enough pressure to have nice, vibrant flames. In general, fifteen feet of gas line should be around $400, and the total cost of the project with gas logs and burner can run as low as $800.

Challenges to the installation include inserts and thick masonry walls. An insert is manufactured for a specific fuel and cannot be converted. In all cases, it must be removed. The cost of removal can be several hundred dollars depending on the complexity and size. If the insert has been stoned or tiled over, this would come down as well potentially creating additional costs for the homeowner. Thick masonry walls can often be overcome but may require specialized tools.

Ultimately, the project begins with a visit to the home. We will look at the existing configuration, determine the gas line run and then begin to price out the project. In most cases, the family enjoys coming by the showroom to look at a variety of gas log options as they differ in heat output as well as shapes, colors and sizes. You can also choose your valve. The most common is a simple key valve but remotes and safety pilots are options as well. A gas conversion is one of our most-highest rated projects. You will love the convenience of gas!

A common question from a homeowner is why does my gas firepit whistle.  The answer is in the gas line. The installer has used common flex pipe to run the line. The problem is when the gas line is buried under poured concrete or a new finished paver patio. Until the line is replaced, the annoying whistle won’t go away.

Outdoor gas is beautiful and convenient. Gas eliminates smoke, ash and wood storage. Speaking of wood, it is becoming harder and more expensive to source good quality wood to burn. Turn, click and enjoy with gas. A 15’ gas line without boring is less than $400 which is equal to three cords of wood. So, gas fits the budget, too!
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Spiders are a common enemy. Spiders will often build nests inside the pilot. These sticky, white ball nest can block the flow of gas making it difficult to light the pilot. A can a spray air is a great tool to dislodge and remove the nest quick blast of canned air in the pilot hole can dislodge the nest, although it is important to not freeze the pilot. A pipe cleaner can also do the trick. This problem is more common in gas grills. 

Another common complaint is poor gas pressure. If an installer taps into the grill line to install an outdoor gas fire pit this could create future problems. Gas pressure is measured by water column. If the installer is not trained properly, they may not pressure test a line. In poor pressure situations, the barbecue may go cold when you turn on the fire pit.

Have gas questions? Send us your questions through our Contact Us page. 

Do you have an outdoor wood fireplace or firepit? We see a lot of families foregoing wood grates especially in firepits. In most cases, the homeowner is under the assumption that an expensive stainless-steel wood grate is the only option.
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At O’Malia’s Living, we sell stainless steel wood grates, but we recommend good quality thick bar stock steel. Good quality stainless steel is costly, so manufacturers have been sourcing cheaper stainless to keep costs down. The net result are stainless outdoor wood grates that will rust and breakdown in a matter of a year or two.  

We have been taught for years that stainless steel is the go-to metal for outdoors but with cheaper versions entering the marketplace, the thought process needs to change. Good quality thick bar stock steel can last longer and is cheaper. At O’Malia’s Living, we encourage our customers to consider bar stock steel grates for indoors and outdoors. Cleaned and stored seasonally indoors in the winter, these grates will not last forever but will deliver a much better experience.
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Above all, a wood grate is necessary to generate proper air flow for combustion. If you are burning without a grate, you may have a difficult time lighting the fire and you are burning less efficient. The grate allows air to circulate around the logs giving you a better flame, more burn time and a hotter burn experience. 

O'Malia's Living signed an agreement to become an exclusive showroom for Summer Classics. We encourage you to visit our showroom to feel the fit and finish of these wonderful outdoor dining and lounge collections. 

The Havana collection pictured above is one of our favorites. Summer Classics is known for style, durability and quality. It is a favorite of the design community.  Choose from a large variety of colors and patterns to craft the unique, custom piece for your home.  

The Athena is a popular collection shown above. As a premier Summer Classics Outdoor outlet, we will match all online prices or in same cases beat the online competition. Stop in to learn more about Summer Classics and the many other excellent manufacturers represented at O'Malia's Outdoor Living. 

Tis the season to begin thinking about your patio, deck, pool and backyard. What plans do you have to create outdoor spaces and rooms for your home? Whether your budget is $20,000 or $200,000, the outdoor landscape may need furnishings, grills and more. O'Malia's Living is a source for high-quality outdoor products. We specialize in furnishings with a long-warranty and proven durability. 

The outdoor living category is huge. Today, you can buy outdoor furniture from Kroger just as well as you can buy from the local hardware store or a specialty retailer like O'Malia's. The difference is quality and the question you need to ask is how long will you keep the furniture and how much will you use it. If the answer is  more than 5 years, you should come in and explore what we have to offer. In the  long run, it will save you money.