Awesome Outdoor Fireplaces

Fall is the time for bonfires.  The air is crisp and cool, darkness decends earlier, and the bugs are gone (Halleluia!).  While you can just plop some wood down somewhere on your lawn and call it good, it sure won't help your home's resale value (and with the dry fall we've been having, you may just find yourself overwhelmed with a large grass fire!)  

Firepits can be fairly easily completed by the average homeowner in a weekend with relatively little expense.  If you're willing to spend a bit more time and/or energy into your outdoor space, you can add more amenities to your firepit, like bench seating, patio pavers and landscaping.  Or you can create an entire outdoor room with the main attraction being a fully functional outdoor fireplace.  Let your imagination run wild.  And to help your imaginings, here are some inspirational pictures of some firepits/places that we love.




A simple DIY firepit for your back yard.  Just add chairs and a glass of wine...perfect!  (www.thisoldhouse.com)




This patio incorporates rock walls for additional seating and lighting and a fireplace.  Traditional Patio by Portland Landscape Architects & Designers beautiful bones and purple stones (www.casedesign.com)

 

A simple concrete patio with a simple brick firepit make a perfect picture in this backyard.  But you might want to put it a bit further away from the house is the wind is blowing towards it, like in this photo.  Traditional Patio by Bend Architects & Designers Homeland Design, llc (www.casedesign.com)



Nestled in the trees with natural landscape elements, this gas firepit with a gravel base is ready whenever you are.  (www.bonicklandscaping.com)



Wicker furniture, a couple of candlelit lamps and an awesome fireplace would make anyone want to sit down for a few minutes and relax.  (www.birmingham.styleblueprint.com)



A sunken firepit helps reduce wind and provides ample seating around the edge.  We love how they kept the large boulders in the design.  (www.elephanteats.com)



Build into the side of a small hill, this wall and bench design blends into the landscaping.  A square, sunken firepit doesn't block any views.  (www.remodelista.com)