Start Using Your Middletown and Bristol, RI, Outdoor Space Sooner This Year by Adding an Outdoor Fireplace
If you’re looking out the kitchen window right now wishing it would be warm enough to enjoy your outdoor living space, you could make one addition to your patio to speed up the process. Start using your Middletown and Bristol, RI, outdoor space sooner this year by adding an outdoor fireplace.
Related: Masonry Features to Create a Cozy Outdoor Living Space in Bristol and Tiverton, RI
Why Choose an Outdoor Fireplace Over a Fire Pit or a Fire Table?
A fire pit is a basic masonry structure (although you can also get portable fire pits made of metal or concrete) that allows for placement anywhere on the patio or elsewhere on your property. Its benefit is that it can accommodate a fairly large group of people and allow everyone to share in the warmth. The downside is that it doesn’t quite add to the elegant look of a sophisticated patio. If you’re looking to add warmth and a campfire vibe, a fire pit would do the job.
If you’re looking to add a focal point that gives you the feel of an outdoor living room - the same ambience as indoors, but with billions of stars for a ceiling - then a fireplace could be the way to go. Whether it is located along a retaining wall or is its own stand-alone feature, it will command attention and immediately compel people to gather to share in the warmth.
There are also infinite customization options for outdoor fireplaces. There’s the choice of masonry, either to blend the fireplace into the outdoor living space or to create a dramatic focal point by using different materials. An example of this contrast would be a bluestone patio with an ultramodern fireplace clad in smooth concrete.
The shape of your fireplace can likewise be completely customized. There are fireplace kit options to choose from, which will give you the most popular fireplace shapes and sizes, or you could go custom to achieve the look you want. Keep balance and proportions in mind when choosing a fireplace size and shape. The house is of course the most dominant feature in the landscape so take design cues from it; but also factor in the location of the fireplace and surrounding landscaping
In addition to customizing the materials, shape, and size, you can also add various features to make your outdoor fireplace more interesting and functional.
A big favorite among many homeowners is to add a wood-fired pizza oven to the fireplace: either above the main fire box or to one side. This combines the delights of hanging out by the fire with cooking. And who can resist a hot bubbly pizza right out of the oven?
Another enhancement that could be added to an outdoor fireplace is a water feature. The combination of fire and water is spectacular, especially if the water feature is positioned such that the falling water reflects the light of the flames.
How to Enjoy Your Fireplace Sooner
The outdoor entertaining season will be here before you know it. The fastest way to enjoy a roaring fire this spring is to connect with your landscaping contractor now, in early January before landscaping contractors’ and masons’ calendars are filled. If a kit fireplace meets your needs, the project will be completed even faster since there is no involved design process.
You’ll still need to find the perfect spot to locate your fireplace so be sure to talk to your landscaping company soon to get the process going.