We are fortunate that today there are lots of ways to light a backyard fire. There’s the popular fire pit, outdoor fireplaces, as well as warm, glowing campfires for roasting hot dogs or marshmallows.
Plus modern technology offers something our ancestors never dreamed of — natural gas. With a wide range of choices in natural gas ‘campfires’ or ‘fire pits,’ etc., those who prefer not to deal with a wood-burning fire can enjoy the warmth of a backyard blaze without the smoke and having to build the fire from scratch.
In some cases, just click a remote control, and faster than you can swallow a gooey marshmallow, the fire pit ignites. These modern beauties come with hidden propane tanks, but you can always obtain just the burners to have a custom fire pit built.
Recently, we shared a booth at a local fall festival with our good friends at The Deck and Patio Company. Best Hot Tubs showcased several outdoor living ideas perfect for this time of year: two operating Bullfrog Spas hot tubs, and fire tables (with lots of marshmallows for roasting).
“The outdoor fire tables we brought were modern and sleek,” says Best Hot Tubs owner, Bill Renter. “Although we offer lots of shapes and sizes, these were rectangular or “linear” in design, which are very popular today.
Options abound in the fireplace category, too: natural gas or wood-burning, custom masonry, and, if on a budget, prefabricated fireplace kits can be half the custom price.
Custom Outdoor Fireplace:
Along with this dramatic custom stone-veneered fireplace, the clients also wanted a custom pergola, which is graced with stately white columns on bases veneered in matching stone.
Bar Fire Pit:
Raised fire pits can double as a bar for sitting. They also come with burner covers when you don’t want a flame.
Fire Pit Safety:
Should the flames in these units showcased today ever go out, the units will shut down automatically. A very popular safety feature!
Outdoor Family Fun:
While we may no longer be hunter-gatherers like our ancestors, we are definitely still gatherers. This non-custom fire pit was easy to install next to a custom waterfall. Talk about outdoor primeval enjoyments.
Glass Fire Gems:
The “fire gems” in these natural gas fire pits come in many shapes and sizes: round, diamond and crushed glass. To change the look of your fire pit you can mix sizes and change the color according to the seasons. For Fall, for example, you could choose a copper glass gem to give an amber appearance.
