Purchase plastic plates, cups, napkins, plastic utensils, unbreakable salt and pepper shakers and organize them in a deep tray or basket. Store them near the back door for quick loading  in the car or out to the patio. As warm days lessen, place the basket down in a plastic tub and store away while keeping the picnic gear accessible and organized in the attic or on a garage shelf.

Uniflame offers a firebowl with folding legs which comes with a carrying case. Not only is it is easily portable to picnics, but also perfect for camping or tailgating. Roasted hotdogs and marshmallows are great for these occasions, I have not met a kid who doesn’t like hotdogs or would turn down a crispy toasted marshmallow anytime of year. S’mores are great for picnics because the ingredients don’t take up room in the cooler and if the chocolate gets too warm all the better. Keep a bundle of wood near and pack of matches in your picnic anytime kit.

Buy some yard-game equipment: Frisbees, horseshoes, badminton or crochet gear and keep all gear in one place. Like the carrying case with this firebowl, I purchased a ladder golf game that came with a carrying case. Keeping these items stored near the picnic kit helps to not forget the frisbee or leave the fire pit at home.

All home centers and super stores have plastic tubs, my favorite are see through with locking clips on the ends. Organize all this picnic gear inside. Keep salt and matches for the firebowl fresh and dry by throwing in those little packets enclosed in a new shoebox. Now that summer gear is on clearance, pick up some bargains for your picnic anytime kit and quick get away this weekend!

As you draft a plan, consider the function of different parts of the yard. When determining areas for plantings consider which parts of the yard will you view through windows? Give yourself a pretty view. Combine plantings with the patio hardscape and have focal points. For example, anchor the patio with an outdoor fireplace flanked by evergreens and annuals that bloom throughout the seasons. Beds with fall blooming plants and a cozy fire can extend the use of your outdoor space long beyond the summer. Next, do you want to reserve a spot for barbecuing, create a quiet spot for reading, or designate an area for the kids to play?

Outdoor fireplaces are not only an attractive focal point, but provide functionality. If entertaining is part of the plan, having a wood burning outdoor fireplace that you can also grill on provides additional cook space. Wood fired grilled foods taste different than those cooked on the gas grill, menus can be rounded out by the addition of a outdoor BBQ fireplace. My kids never turn down a roasted marshmallow! If convenience is high priority, a gas fueled outdoor fireplace is the way to go. If you already have gas lines, then half the work is done. Outdoor fireplaces can be placed along side the garage, shed or fence line and create a great focal point. Not only are outdoor patio fireplaces a worthy focal point, but when outdoor fireplaces are combined with plantings, like evergreen trees, they make a screen from unattractive views and add privacy. Considering the views beyond your own yard is another part of drafting a backyard plan.

The backyard is an additional room, so take some time to draft your plan. Before you contact the landscaper to implement your new plan, know what you want and how the space is going to function. Give Mantels Direct a call if you have any questions about an outdoor fireplace kit for your backyard.

In addition to providing a cooking and heating solution, by incorporating metals into the design, a Buschbeck outdoor wood fireplace coordinates into the most luxurious outdoor rooms. The stunning white quartz surface is complimented by real copper or stainless steel inserts set within the mantle piece.

For cooking, the Buschbeck has three adjustable cooking heights and comes with a heavy duty chrome grill with a spaciously proportioned combustion chamber that allows easy access when loading more fuel or turning over food when grilling. Barbecue purists believe nothing tastes the same as preparing barbecue over a wood fired grill.

Widely distributed in Europe, these masonry barbecue fireplaces are the only European manufacturer to have been awarded the stringent TUV/GS German product safety standard certification. The steel reinforced concrete & quartz construction of the fireplace ensures a high level of safety as air is constantly circulating between the outer surface and the furnace area.

These outdoor fireplace kits are very easy for two people to assemble and there is little or nothing to do, as far as maintenance goes. An outdoor wood burning fireplace is maintenance free, but if needed you may lightly pressure wash or hose down at the end of the season. The Buschbeck outdoor patio fireplaces are in stock and available for delivery in time for Fourth of July celebrations!

Pared-down modern style that looks sophisticated but not skimpy, is achieved through a few rich color accents and intriguing focal points. Furnishing  a rooftop patio with unusual treatments in weather safe metals and fabrics allow for expression of personal style. Conversation areas on roof top patios can be centered around outdoor patio fireplaces.  Backyard dining areas benefit from both the modern lines and functionality of an outdoor wood fireplace.

Creating an upscale outdoor space with alot of amenities does not have to be expensive. The ultimate centerpiece for an outdoor room, a wood burning outdoor fireplace, follows modern design by combining form and functionality. It serves as much more than a focal point for those who want to grill over an open fire. With a Buschbeck outdoor fireplace kit being a do-it-yourself aspect of the design plan, more money may be budgeted towards additional furnishings. Not only are these outdoor fireplaces highly functional but the German design adds modern mojo to create a beautiful outdoor space.

If you have a traditional house, introducing contemporary pieces will give an eclectic mix. The selection of  contemporary touches transform a space, an outdoor space in particular, into a chic modern backyard.

Birch tree bark’s light shades and texture can bring alot of interest to an otherwise cold dark space. Buy birch at a garden center or on-line and cut it to your specifications. Measure the opening to get a full look without a gap on the sides. Pile one log directly on top of another in the opening, taking time and try them in different orders until you find the best arrangement.

A mirror would not only reflect light but a gorgeous rug facing the fireplace mantel. Visit your local framer to have a piece of mirror cut to the exact dimensions of the fireplace opening. Ask to have the edges of the mirror seamed, so they’re not sharp. Or simply lean a large framed mirror against the front of the hearth, as you might lean a piece of art against the wall above the mantel, if you don’t have pets or small children.

A surprising way to bring a glow to the fireplace is to insert an electric log set, striking when the light reflects against a shiny floor. This is a way to brighten up the fireplace mantel and hearth until the temperatures drop in the fall, so go ahead and snake the cord out of the opening to plug the electric fireplace in.

If it’s the mantel itself that you cannot get over, and the surround is what has caught your eye, I suggest you check out Ramsay from the Majestic Series of Classic Stone Mantels. Summer is a great time to renovate the whole fireplace mantel and surround to ensure the project is completed and ready for year end holidays.

Since serene calming Asian-style rooms provide a great place to clear your head after a long day, the design aesthetic easily translates to exterior spaces. A few key elements of Asian style would be natural materials, clean lines and objects with a low profile. The raw materials suitable for the space would include bamboo, slate and rock and nature’s subtle colors helping create a tranquil space. Asian-style rooms typically don’t have many accessories or much clutter in order to create a calming environment.

An outdoor space would call for multifunctional furnishings with clean lines and a sleek profile. Having a firepit with a wooden top allows it to function as both a table and fire pit. The Revolver firepit converts from a fire pit grill to a cocktail table once the hardwood top is placed in position. Stone accessories such as a fire bowl, sized smaller for table top, or larger freestanding fire bowls on a column provide accent lighting and warmth if the night air is chilly.  Introducing fire bowls styled with natural elements reinforces the Asian feel of the outdoor space.

In addition, Japanese design often includes water features such as Koi ponds or waterfalls. The Cliffstone series includes a fire fountain with a waterfall. Functional pieces, such as a fire pit or fire fountain satisfies the senses and contribute to simple uncluttered Asian design. And despite its antiquity, Asian design is a very modern style that will look current for a long time.

Before you get your fire going here’s a few items to gather:

• tinder
• kindling
• wood
• matches

First step is to pick a location for your fire. Whether in the backyard or campsite, location is key. My local code calls for fire pits to be fifty feet from structures. Pick a spot that’s away from trees or flammable brush as well. Natural surroundings may be lush in the spring but summer drought may dry out grass or plantings around the firepit.

Tinder should be natural material that will burn easily when lit. Small twigs, dried brush or newspaper will work well. You will need a dozen or so sheets of newspaper, crumple each up like a tennis ball. Next, wood can be placed on top inside home fire pits. Make sure the kindling and tinder have enough space for air flow and are not smashed. Properly aged wood will light most effectively. Light it four sides and as the tinder ignites blow air into the fire allowing it to burn hot enough for the kindling to catch. This is a fun step to get age appropriate children involved around outdoor fire pits. Think about how much they love to blow out birthday candles. Once the wood ignites you only have to occasionally add wood to keep the fire going.

Now sit back and relax. You’ll be eating s’mores and telling stories  around the fire pit before you know it.

I also put the kitchen chairs around the patio table. You may be  surprised how many guests can be seated around a round table. That freed up the wrought iron chairs, which I placed out in the backyard, around the fire pit, for an additional seating area. To save on the expense of disposable paper products, I used my everyday dishes and glassware. It’s more eco-friendly and paper plates never support a plate overflowing with bbq balanced on your lap.

Help company stay comfortable outdoor all day and into the night. Near the seating area around the firepit, I put out a big basket filled with amenities like sunblock, bug spray, hand wipes and a stadium blanket. As the party continued after dark, lighting the outdoor fire pit added a warm glow, especially welcome because it was chilly.

S’mores  aren’t exclusive to camp outs. Why not choose these for an easy inexpensive no bake dessert? I handed everyone a  skewer and a marshmallow as they hung out around the fire pit. Neighbors, both young and old, roasted marshmallows right over the fire pit, then layered it between a bit of chocolate bar and a graham cracker. Dessert was big hit, with little effort and expense. Don’t let costs of extra outdoor furniture, serving pieces and gourmet dishes hinder you from entertaining. Parties can be done inexpensively.  Let me hear your ideas?

Experienced real estate agents will give staging tips that include cleaning until your home is spotless, next declutter, followed by depersonalizing. You may have taken the photos off the refrigerator, hidden stacks of paper from your desk and freshened up with a new coat of paint.  Look past your furniture, art and fireplace screen, it’s the bones of the house that must have a draw to the buyers.

Homes with strong architectural details add interest and anchor the home in a period or style. These features include crown molding, the stairwell and fireplace mantel. As you walk into a room the eye is drawn to the focal point, most commonly the fireplace mantel. To declutter and freshen up the mantel fireplace is one of the biggest staging tips I could give. A fireplace make-over project could include refacing the fireplace surround and installing a new mantel shelf. Fireplace mantels can be designed to overlap your existing facing material and provide a completely new custom look. Remodeling the fireplace mantel is completely adaptable keeping staging to sell and the home improvement upgrade within your budget. Think of this as an investment in your home. You may find illustrated measuring instructions or an installation guide helpful in deciding fireplace mantels that would best stage your home for buyers.

Enhancing the architectural elements of the fireplace mantel, as  your room’s primary focal point, will add to the overall home value, get it staged to sell and impact your showings. Staging is a short term marketing tool focused on the showing keeping the end goal in mind: SOLD!

Studies show staged homes sell for more money than un-staged homes. Where could a short term investment in your home have the greatest impact? The first step is getting buyers to actually come to see your house. Staged houses look better on the MLS pictures. Naturally these photos of your home would include a living or family room. The fireplace mantel is the focal point within a space that draws the eye and makes your home stand out. Beef up or update the mantel fireplace and surround could be what makes your home memorable during a showing.

Review competing listings and compare your fireplace mantel to others found inside homes in your market. This may help determine the extent of work the fireplace mantel needs. Out with the old shiny brass fireplace accessories. A new updated fireplace screen may be the only staging needed. A do-it-yourself update of the fireplace mantel shelf, replacing the facing on the fireplace mantel surround or complete remodel of the wood fireplace mantel with the help of a contractor may be in order. Putting a little work toward to stage your home and make-over the fireplace mantel may be what gives your home the edge over competing properties.