Landscape Ideas from Me

Featured on the homepage of the D.I.Y. Networks website are fire pits designed by their experts. It is true, custom fire pits are the hottest commodity this spring when it comes to home improvement and landscape design. The latest spring landscaping trends show that fire pits are what home and business owners want.

Now as excited as I am about the D.I.Y. Network promoting fire pits on their homepage, I must admit that after viewing the expert designs, I found them to be rather common and elementary. There was nothing that stood out about their examples that made me say "Ah-ha!" we need to design something like those. Rather, I felt they were nothing more than a standard fire pit design in a backyard.

When we design our custom fire pits and outdoor living spaces, we take the entire landscape, patio, spacing and contemporary aesthetics into consideration when designing. Dont get me wrong here, I am not knockin what theyre doin, I just feel if you are a homeowner or business, you can bring this centerpiece to a higher level. For example, in this picture below, notice how the fire pit and patio stand apart from the home itself.

The brick of the house has nothing to do whatsoever with the stone used in the construction of the patio and fire pit. This creates a juxtaposition between the two where if the patio and fire pit were laid with brick, they would all tie together and create a common theme and aesthetic appeal. Here is an example of where they achieved this even though the houses siding appears to be finished with stucco.

Fire pits can act as a centerpiece and gathering place for entertaining guests or cozying up with loved ones. They serve a function, a focal point and source of warmth. Fire pits help you extend the seasons and enjoy the outdoors earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Therefore, ample seating should be taken into consideration.

Below are some examples of outdoor living spaces that include fire pits that we have designed. Notice how they act as a central fixture in the design as opposed to an obscure and isolated addition to the backyard:

Custom linear Crossfire burner with amber and black glass media for homeowner in Arizona.
Custom backyard landscape design with fire pit and recirculating waterfall feature.
Custom teardrop fire pit design with black glass media.
Matching fire pit hearth and patio with fire log kit.
Custom backyard landscape design with fire pit and recirculating waterfall feature.

For more examples, please visit our portfolio online.

So when you are ready to invest in a centerpiece for your backyard or business, please contact us and well be happy to help you with any and all of your custom fire pit questions and needs. Call today. 1-877-556-5255.

There are several factors involved in deciding which custom fire pit is best for your backyard patio or outdoor living room. Below are several considerations:

1) Choose the best fire pit type for your backyard: ie: built-in, prefabricated or a portable design.

2) How the size of your fire pit would fit in the space available; how many guests you expect to entertain; what is the height and arrangement of your outdoor seating?

3) The differences between a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace, and which is the most suitable choice for your outdoor living space.

4) Weighing the pros and cons of the various fire pit fuel options, including gas, propane, wood and ethanol. We here at Warming Trends highly recommend a natural gas or propane burning system which does not expel harmful smoke, ash and embers into the air effecting your neighbors and the environment.

5) Determining the best location for your fire pit, considering such factors as convenience, layout of space and fire code safety.

6) Determining the best size for your fire pit, depending on how many people you plan to accommodate and the room youll need for outdoor seating and traffic flow.

7) How building codes may impact where you can locate your fire pit as well as when you can use it and what types of wood you can burn. Again, many local ordinances are placing wood burning restrictions in most neighborhoods nationwide.

8) The cost ranges for various types of fire pits and how to choose the right style for your budget.

9) Selecting a finishing material for your fire pit that ties in with your patio and the materials on the exterior of your home. Faux stone, real stone, stucco, etc.

10) Choosing fire pit fill materials that are both decorative and heat absorbent, such as lava rock, concrete gas logs, steel logs, or fire glass.

11) How fuel costs will impact the overall cost of operating your fire pit. Our crossfire burning system only consumes half the fuel of a traditional fire ring while producing twice the flame.

Because of these considerations and the amount of different fire pit designs, be sure to consult your local landscape designer for planning, advice and expertise. If you have any questions regarding which fire pit is right for you, feel free to contact us at any time with questions and well be happy to help. Call us today at 1-877-556-5255.

With the arrival of fall and the seasons temperatures dropping, spending time outdoors is being diminished one colder-than-the-last day at a time. What better way to to extend time spent grilling, entertaining family and friends and enjoying nature than by warming up your outdoor living space with a custom fire pit.

Natural gas or propane burning fire pit systems are the way to go these days for a number of reasons. The main reason is that wood burning fire pits are being outlawed by local ordinances because of safety and health concerns. Wood burning fire pits expel ash, burning embers and smoke into neighboring backyards while posing a fire threat at the same time. They are harder to control than a gas fire pit and take longer to extinguish whereas with a gas burning system, you can turn it on and off with the turn of a key valve. People with asthma and other breathing illnesses are affected by the smoke that wafts onto their property and into their home posing health concerns.



But back to the point of this blog. EXTEND THE SEASON WITH WARMTH! Fire pits are a great way to keep enjoying your outdoor living space now that temperatures are dropping and the sun is setting sooner. Fire pits are easy to install and will allow you to stay warm while enjoying these chillier fall evenings.

For examples of custom fire pits, be sure to check out our portfolio. And for any other outdoor living and landscape design questions, feel free to contact us at any time at: 1-877-556-5255.

Tired of not having contemporary options for garnishing your fire pit? Traditional fire logs, lava rock and glass dont do it for you? Well, then try out some custom oak steel logs. They are modern and add a unique flare to your fire pit. If you are a restaurant or hotel, or any commercial business for that matter, these oak steel logs are fantastic alternative because they are durable and will stand up to the elements. Not only do they stand up to the elements, they stand up to unruly clientele that may try and damage them. Also, you can bolt them to your fire pit pan and avoid theft.

Check us out online, or call today for more information, 1-877-556-5255.