There’s something about fire that draws people in; adding a fire pit focal point to your outdoor room is a great way to add warmth and ambiance to your patio or deck area. Your friends and family will enjoy roasting marshmallows on cool summer nights! MantelsDirect.com offers fire pits and fire bowls for every style, décor, and budget. Take a look at a few of our favorites.

Our new Colonial Fire Pit Table is classically designed and versatile. When not enjoying the fire you can use this fire pit as a freestanding table for outdoor entertaining. The Colonial Firepit features a durable fiberglass base with a large 48” super cast top.

Built to last, the Third Rock Firepit from Fire Pit Art is handcrafted from solid carbon steel and requires no maintenance even in cold, harsh environments. The Third Rock fire pit design is beautiful when fired up at night and is a sophisticated piece of art during the day.

If you headed to the beach this summer, don’t forget to take along our Pacific Coast Outdoor Fire Pit. This fun, stylish fire pit is lightweight and portable. The palm trees and sun design is sure to bring an extra spark of fun to any beach outing.

Whether your looking to add ambiance and warmth to your outdoor room or simply extend your outdoor living season, MantelsDirect.com offers fire pits and fire bowls for your specific needs.

If you’re only using your deck or patio as an entertainment area in the summer, then you are shortchanging yourself and your guests. With the addition of an outdoor fireplace or fire pit and a few small tweaks to the landscaping, you can convert your backyard into a cozy retreat that can be enjoyed in any season. Here’s how you can extend the utility of your outdoor living space throughout the fall, winter, and spring months, too.

Add an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
Cold weather is typically the biggest enemy of outdoor entertaining. After all, nobody wants to have to bundle up in multiple layers of clothing as well as a heavy jacket in order to sit outside for a couple hours. Fortunately, this problem can be solved by adding an outdoor fireplace or fire pit to your patio or deck.

Fireplaces and fire pits come in many sizes and styles, so you can easily find one that fits your available space and existing décor. A beautiful outdoor fireplace not only adds charm to your backyard, but also provides essential heating and cooking functions. Choose a wood-burning unit for authenticity, or go with natural gas if you value convenience over all else. You might even find that electric models are more suited to your tastes, so be sure to give those some consideration as well.

You can take advantage of the versatility of your outdoor fireplace by using it for cookouts in warm weather, and then relying on its heating properties when temperatures cool. For larger outdoor spaces, look for a model that is big enough to produce sufficient heat throughout the area so you don’t end up with cold pockets. In smaller spaces, a fire pit usually generates enough warmth to make everyone comfortable.

Enhance the Ambience with Plants and Trees
To create a truly inviting outdoor space, you should pay attention to the plants, trees, and general state of the landscaping in your yard. If the immediate area is filled with seasonal blooms that die off with the autumn chill, then the ambience will remain dull and drab no matter what kind of outdoor fireplace you buy. But if you add some hardy shrubs, perennials, and trees near your patio, you can instantly change the atmosphere to one full of life and vitality. Spruces, birches, holly bushes, and camellias are all very popular year-round choices.

In addition, a well-groomed yard contributes to the overall atmosphere, so be sure to mow the lawn, rake leaves, and shovel snow when required.

These days, you no longer have to place limits on the time spent in your outdoor living space. By taking the relatively simple steps of purchasing an outdoor fireplace or fire pit and adding some greenery to your landscaping, you will be in a great position to entertain all year long.

Traditionally your fireplace is the focal point of any room, people are drawn to the comfort and beauty fireplaces emit. Weather you have a wood burning fireplace or electric fireplace, decorating your mantel is a great way to add a pop of color to your room.

Add a fresh look with flowers and greenery to your fireplace mantel surround. Arrange floral vases in a unique pattern to add color and dimension to a classic fireplace.

Turn your elegant stone mantel into an easel for your favorite piece of art. We recommend leaning or hanging a large painting for a dramatic effect.

Add a collection of old books, paintings, and antique accessories to a simple mantel shelf for added color and dimension. The key with this tip is have your decorative items appear as though they belong on your mantel – no need to have items displayed straight and narrow for this design, the more angles the more fun!

MantelsDirect offers quality wood mantel shelves, fireplace mantel surrounds, marble mantels, timber mantels, and cabinet mantels.

No backyard is complete without a heating and cooking apparatus that helps you enjoy the great outdoors all year round. Of course, people have been preparing food on barbecue grills for decades already; but standard grills lack the heating aspect that allows you to utilize your outdoor space when the weather gets a little cooler. That’s why appliances that can pull double duty, such as Oakland Living Fireplaces & Chimineas, are more highly valued by today’s consumers.

Oakland Living Fireplaces & Chimineas are the perfect outdoor hearth products for customers seeking high quality in an affordable package. Every fireplace, fire pit, and chiminea from this manufacturer is constructed of cast iron to ensure maximum durability even when exposed to extreme temperatures, and they all feature a powder coat finish that resists cracking, chipping, and fading. This means your outdoor heating and cooking product will last for years with little to no maintenance, which is good news for your wallet.

If you’re interested in Oakland Living Fireplaces & Chimineas, don’t miss the following models:

• 20″ Gold Cast Iron Fire Pit. Ideal for smaller spaces, this attractive fire pit is ready for cooking duties with its included grill and cover.
• 54″ Cast Iron Pentagon Chiminea. This beautiful five-sided screen design can accommodate three to five logs for handling your heating and cooking needs.
• 54″ Cast Iron Butterfly Chiminea. Adorned with a whimsical butterfly and flower motif, this large chiminea would make a terrific centerpiece for your yard.
• 37″Outdoor Fireplace. The best features of this model are its large wood grate and an open design that offers an unobstructed view of the fire.
• 33″ Cast Iron Victoria Fire Pit. This trendy design comes with a cooking grill and spark guard for safe and easy food preparation.

In order to get the most out of your patio, deck, or backyard, you need to be able to use it for a variety of purposes in a variety of weather conditions. Oakland Living Fireplaces & Chimineas help you achieve this goal by providing you with a product that can serve as a heating or cooking appliance throughout all four seasons. Order yours from Mantels Direct today!

Mantels Direct makes it easy to accessorize your fireplace. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite fireplace accessories.

Fireplace Screens:

Fireplace screens will keep you and your family safe. Allowing a wayward ember or spark from a wood-burning fireplace to come into contact with your floor can have disastrous consequences. It only takes a small ember on a piece of carpet to cause serious floor damage. Families with small children and pets will also benefit from the barrier a screen creates in front of the fireplace. A fireplace screen will keep your toddlers safe and prevent pesky pets from coming into contact with the ashes.

In addition to keeping your family safe, fireplace screens look great! We carry a variety of styles and finishes to fit any room. If you’re looking to make a statement, try looking through our extensive catalogue of traditional fireplace screens. Or, if you prefer a minimalist approach we have a variety of contemporary styled fireplace screens available. Reinvent the feel of your room by adding a stylish fireplace screen.

Fireplace Tools:

If you have a wood burning fireplace and haven’t invested in a fireplace tool set prepare to be amazed!  Fireplace tools make both maintaining and cleaning your fireplace a breeze! Our huge selection features a variety of styles and finishes that will complete the look of any fireplace.

Log Holders:

Keep your firewood organized with a log holder. We have a variety of different styles to fit your specific needs including log holders that convert into carrying bags, log holders on wheels, and log holders that can adjust depending on how much firewood you have at your disposal. We also feature a variety of log tote bags, which make transporting firewood a simple and hassle free chore.

Adding a home hearth product to your backyard or patio is an easy way to create a cozy, relaxing environment for entertaining friends and family. What might not be so easy, however, is figuring out exactly which kind of outdoor fireplace to purchase. Some people prefer the authenticity of a wood or charcoal burning outdoor fireplace, while others appreciate the convenience of natural gas. Then there are those who, due to space limitations, would rather have a fire pit. All three categories of fireplaces have distinct benefits, so before making a decision, we recommend taking a closer look at the different types.

Wood or charcoal burning
A wood or charcoal burning outdoor fireplace gives you the greatest amount of flexibility in terms of both cooking and heating applications. With the right grilling accessories, you can first prepare a delicious meal and then sit back to bask in the warmth of a genuine wood fire. These units typically feature double-walled construction for extra durability and work best in larger spaces where a level surface made of concrete or other noncombustible materials is available.

Natural gas
If you love the idea of lounging in front of an outdoor fireplace on a cool autumn night but don’t have the patience or energy required to get a wood fire going, then natural gas is a terrific alternative. A gas outdoor fireplace turns on and off with the twist of a knob, which means you spend less time trying to light the fire and more time enjoying its benefits. This type of unit is made of stainless steel and can be used with either liquid propane or natural gas fuels. Since they require no ventilation system, natural gas models can be installed virtually anywhere on your property, including enclosed areas.

Fire pit
When space or financial concerns play a primary role in your purchasing decision, then a fire pit might be the answer you’re looking for. Smaller and more affordable than full-sized fireplaces, a fire pit can still provide you with the warmth and ambience you crave. These products are available in many styles and designs, and can be enhanced with various accents such as copper, stone, or tile. Portability is a key fire pit feature that allows you to set up the unit on the ground, your wood deck, or even a table top.

Today’s home hearth products are built to last for years, so don’t make the mistake of getting stuck with one that is ill-suited to your needs. To ensure you derive the most satisfaction out of your outdoor fireplace or fire pit, consider the benefits and potential drawbacks of each type prior to making a decision.

Imagine being able to put a fireplace anywhere inside or outside of your house without having to worry about installation or ventilation. Now imagine being able to pick up and move that fireplace again to another location without any hassle. Sound interesting? Read on.

Ventless Gel Fireplaces are among the most sophisticated and stylish products available from Mantels Direct. These hassle-free fireplaces are fueled by bio-ethanol gel and require no chimneys or external gas hook-ups to function.

Gel fireplaces are the most environmentally friendly fireplaces available. The secret to these product’s sustainability is in their fuel. Our gel fuels are different than most conventional fireplace fuels in that the only by-products they produce are water vapor and a minute amount of carbon dioxide. Gel fuel burns cleanly and efficiently and produces no odors or harmful byproducts.

Because they do not require installation, ventless gel fireplaces are extremely versatile. The fireplace that you enjoy in your living room can easily be moved outside to the porch to be shared with friends. A gel fireplace can be a conversation piece on your coffee table as easily as it can be an elegant centerpiece of an intimate dinner. The applications of a gel fireplace are only limited by your imagination.

Gel Fireplaces come in a variety of sizes, styles and finishes. Real Flame offers a variety of traditional gel fireplaces that add character to any living space, while the smooth and sleek design of a Port-a-fyre or Buschbeck fireplace creates a stylish sophisticated feel.

A ventless gel fireplace is the best option for your home and the environment.

Have you been putting off the purchase of an outdoor fireplace because of the prospect of a long and messy assembly process? We don’t blame you. Who has time to deal with mixing mortar or finding the right glues and fasteners for the project? This is one of the main reasons why Mantels Direct is proud to include Perfect Outdoor Fireplace kits in our inventory of home hearth products.

Perfect Outdoor Fireplace kits take the hassle out of installing a fireplace in your backyard or outdoor kitchen. These pre-fab units are made of interlocking components that fit together without the use of adhesive compounds. Assembly can be completed in about an hour, which means you can begin using your new unit for heating or cooking on the same day it arrives at your home.

Here are some additional features that make Perfect Outdoor Fireplace kits worth a look:

• Modular design. The interlocking modular design not only makes assembly a breeze, but also makes it easy to disassemble and move your fireplace to another location or even put it in storage for the winter.
• No coating required. Perfect Outdoor Fireplace kits give you a great-looking product right out of the box. The units are available in 8 popular colors that require no additional coating at all. However, if you want to customize your unit, it is very easy to add bricks or stonework for a more elegant finish.
• Charcoal/wood or natural gas units. Choose the fireplace/BBQ edition for charcoal and wood-burning capabilities, or go with the multi-screen unit for the no muss, no fuss convenience of natural gas (optional logs are available as well).
• Multiple door and screen options. Just because Perfect Outdoor Fireplace kits are prefabricated, that doesn’t mean they can’t be personalized. We have five beautiful door handle designs to choose from, as well as different screen options that give you almost full control over the way the final product looks.
• Heat-dissipating stone. Each kit is made from durable heat-dissipating stone that not only withstands burning fires, but also resists cracking when exposed to extreme cold and snow.

Perfect Outdoor Fireplace kits make it easier than ever to assemble and install a home hearth product in your yard. If you’ve been holding off on a purchase because of misconceptions about assembly woes, then now’s the time to reconsider. Take advantage of our free shipping offer by ordering your kit today!