BLAZING
A trendy new word used throughout the landscape design industry is "nesting," and the outdoor fireplace certainly has become a focal point in new nests. While the phrase "feather your nest" may be for the birds, each of us has that opportunity as well.
The nesting goal is to design and build an outdoor living space so well that people hate to leave home. It is a personal corner of paradise and is ideal for gathering friends and family. The outdoor fireplace is the feature that can tie it all together.
When it feels like 40 below outside, a fireplace won't help much, but consider fireplaces as season-extenders.
There are many options for outdoor fires, from chimineas, which are the least expensive, to fire pits that can be portable or installed. Fireplaces also vary in cost.
They can be built from kits, fabricated off-site and moved in, or be elaborate and constructed on site.
Before you start shopping, there are some key considerations.
The most important involves zoning.
You must find out the rules and regulations for building such a structure in your city and also in your neighborhood.
Unless the regulations specify otherwise, outdoor fireplaces are just like indoor ones. You will have a choice of burning wood or using gas logs.
The trend is to construct custom fireplaces so that they look like an extension of the home exterior. This is accomplished using similar colors of concrete, brick and stucco-like smear, if warranted. The fireplaces are complete with hearth and mantel.
It is the greenery from the garden that creates the real ambiance and adds a cozy feel for the family.
Nesting is for the birds and for you, too. A good place to start is by creating an outdoor living room with the warmth of a fire in a custom fireplace.
