Planning your next beach get away? Thoughts of everyone gathered around the fire pit wiggling their toes down into the sand out by the dunes. Many of us suburbanites live hours away from the coast. Don’t wait for vacation, build your own backyard beach. I am crazy about this idea inspired by myhomeideas.com. So what do you need to pull this off?

• A truckload of sand could be obtained from your local building supply company
• Large pieces of driftwood can be shipped to your door; Google to find a supplier
• A selection of fire pits are found through MantelsDirect.com and quickly delivered
• Plants and large rocks are available at your local nursery or home center

I would suggest native plans that thrive in your local climate.  Ornamental pampas grass is pictured here would bring a coastal vibe to your backyard beach. Installing this outdoor space too near irrigation may find your beach washed away by the sprinklers. Not to mention wet sand is sticky. Who wants to find sandy footprints tracked across the den floor? Fire pits are the focal point which pulls all your friends and family together.  A gas fire pit eliminates having to keep firewood on hand and any concerns about extinguishing the flame at the end of the evening. If your home already is equipped with natural gas, a line could be run to the area where you want a fire pit.  If not, then a propane tank could easily be hidden behind a sand dune.

This is an easy project that requires no special tools or skills, just great imagination. I can just see it now, when the sun goes down, suntanned toes ticklin the sand, cold drink chillin in my right hand…give us a call for help in picking out the perfect fire pit for your backyard beach.

Wish you could bump into the Yard Crashers guy at the home improvement center? If you are like me, you watch HGTV and get inspired, but don’t have the handy man with all the tools on stand by. If you’re considering a little do-it-yourself project this weekend, I have found one project that can be completed in a day. This outdoor fireplace kit, is so easy assembled, customizable and comes in styles that burn wood, charcoal or gas, we have deemed it the Perfect Outdoor Fireplace!

To the right, you will see the customized Perfect Outdoor Fireplace from the Yard Crashers Woodsy Spa Retreat episode backyard make-over on DIY Network. With no deteriorating mortar, glues or fasteners, these outdoor fireplaces interlocking construction creates a lasting addition to your outdoor living space. The manufacturer utilizes new technology in materials sciences, such as expanded shale and luminite, to create strong, durable, heat dissipating stone. This eliminates the problems associated with concrete and cement type mixes used on some do-it-yourself outdoor wood burning fireplaces when exposed to extreme temperatures. The Perfect Outdoor Fireplace exceeds both nationwide incinerator and uniform fire codes. This outdoor fireplace kit also meets recreational burning standards eliminating the need for burn permits. With our do-it-yourself outdoor fireplace in your space, all your friends will become yard crashers!

Beautiful days are beckoning us, uproot yourself from your indoor environment and head outside. An outdoor space does not have to be limited to only patios or decks adjacent to the rear of the house. If your area is large you may want to consider multiple areas such as a sitting area, dining area or sun deck by a pool or spa. Having several cozy gathering areas are better for conversation.  Rather than congregating in one large crowd, it seems adults tend to break into smaller groups. Outdoor patio fireplaces warm up these sitting areas on cool evenings. While sun is great for your lounge chairs on the pool deck, you may consider a pergola, canopy or tent to keep your guests from wilting around an outdoor dining table. An outdoor fireplace adjacent to this dining area would extend its use through cooler seasons. Before you begin to spruce up your outdoor space for everyday enjoyment and entertaining, I’ve got a few points for you to consider:

• Size of the yard or space available
• Budget
• Sun or shade
• Number of people that need to be accommodated
• The function of the area includes sitting, lounging and/or dining areas

Design your outdoor room for versatility and comfort. Our wood burning outdoor fireplaces allow an outdoor room to be utilized in cooler weather and are available as a bay, pier, or see through and are able to burn coal, natural or propane gas in addition to wood. The interlocking design of our outdoor fireplace kit requires no mortar or glue. An outdoor wood fireplace could anchor these outdoor spaces enhancing your sitting area or dining area. Whether you have a sprawling yard or a postage-stamp- sized terrace, with planning your outdoor room can become the perfect place for relaxing and entertaining all season long.