Do you love to entertain? Do you love to sit on the patio after a hard week, with a cold beer and some good music? Do you love to cuddle under the stars? If you answered yes to any of these, then why not add a beautifully crafted outdoor fireplace to your backyard, porch or patio.
From stone to steel, from propane to wood, the outdoor fireplace is a wonderful way to stay warm on those chilly nights when you just need to get out of the house, but not too far out of the house.
Relaxing in the open air, having stimulating conversations with friends, or just reading a book while having a glass of wine by moonlight and firelight, your backyard decor and landscaping scheme can only be improved by putting in a well crafted backyard fireplace.
What defines an outdoor fireplace?
As opposed to a fire pit, which is simply a hole created by stones or bricks in which fires are lit, an outdoor fireplace is very much resemblant of an indoor fireplace. It is freestanding, made of stone, steel or both, and is most often fixed in place. The only exception to these are the portable outdoor fireplaces, but they are more rare than the more permanent style.
They can be built to suit your existing patio stones, barbecue area, or outdoor furniture. They can be built to suit the exterior of your home. Or, they can be designed in a way that you desire, completely different from everything around it, an outdoor fireplace with its own story.
Another option that is quite different from the hearth-and-chimney style outdoor fireplace, is what is called a Chiminea. Looking like an old-style clay oven, the Chiminea is a freestanding unit that can come in a multitude of materials, including clay, cast iron, steel, and pewter, just to name a few. They have a pot-belly with a hinged screen door, and a chimney.