Backyard fireplace
When thinking of the word "fireplace," most people imagine a fireplace in a living room or kitchen. Also, words like "cozy," "warm," and "beautiful" come to mind, for a fireplace is a universally acknowledged source of comfort, an ideal place to reflect, talk, play games, or read a book.
It is less common for people to think of a fireplace as being out-of-doors, yet this fantastic option is available, and relatively simple and inexpensive as well. A backyard fireplace offers all of the comforts and beauties of a traditional one, but allows you to be in nature while enjoying them. Imagine the colors of fall leaves or a summer sunset; now imagine the cool air that accompanies both those states; now imagine actually being in that air, and actually viewing those sights, while at the same time sitting before a large, bright, flickering fireplace! It isn't difficult to see why backyard fireplaces have dramatically risen in popularity over the years, rivaling even pools and tubs as sources of outdoor fun and comfort.
Here are some things to keep in mind when considering a backyard fireplace of your own.
1. For added pleasure and practicality, you might consider making your backyard fireplace into a grilling spot. A barbecue can be easily included, giving your backyard fireplace a kitchen feel and adding to the reasons why people might be eager to gather there.
2. Consider building an arbor around your backyard fireplace to shield it, and you, from the weather. An arbor complements a backyard fireplace aesthetically as well.
3. Connect your backyard fireplace to the main house by means of walkways. Add chairs and tables to make it a dining and sitting area.
4. Build your backyard fireplace from brick or stone, and consider adding decorations such as archways to give it even more of an old-time, elegant air.
Backyard fireplaces come in two standard designs: fire pits and chimineas. A chiminea is a fireplace that looks much like a stove and has a chimney in order to fuel the fire with fresh air. A fire pit is either a bowl or a fireplace that's open 360 degrees, with or without a chimney.
Each backyard fireplace design has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages of a chiminea are that its stove/chimney construction makes it efficient and clean burning while shielding sitters from excessive smoke and fumes, and its relative inexpensiveness when compared to its larger, more complicated fire pit counterpart. The fire pit, on the other hand, looks more like a traditional fireplace, and gives you a much wider range of options when it comes to decoration and landscaping. Its open mouth allows for more sitters to participate in fun activities like marshmallow roasting on cold winter nights.
In fueling your backyard fireplace, natural wood (especially a hardwood such as oak) is usually a better option than a propane insert. It's true that natural wood is slightly more complicated when it comes to storing and lighting, but its delicious outdoor scent and cooking benefits more than make up for that. Pine cones and apple wood can be thrown into the fire for an even more delicious aromatic treat, and cooking over natural wood is much healthier (not to mention tastier) than cooking over manmade inserts with their dangerous toxins. If you're not cooking, though, and you're not absolutely set on having that smoky, outdoor smell, propane and natural gas inserts do make a trouble-free fire source, and are obviously every bit as warm!
Whatever design and details you finally choose, backyard fireplaces make a great investment. They raise the property value of your home and the level of enjoyment of those who live in it. You can use all your creativity and energy to create a little bit of paradise in your own backyard.
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