With a serene, calm aesthetic and natural inspiration, Asian style refers to spaces with Japanese and Chinese influences. Japanese-style rooms use raw materials like bamboo and a natural subtle color palette. While Chinese interiors draw on highly stylized furnishings with hand-painted designs, lacquered finishes and a red and black palette.

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.

Why reserve a roaring fire for a camp-out? Families and friends can gather to enjoy any night of the week. Here are a few tips for building a fire in an outdoor fire pit.

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.

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.

Outdoor Fire Pits and Fire Bowls are perfect for outdoor entertaining, or creating a private hideaway.  Firepits and firebowls make outdoor spaces a great place to invite friends for lively conversation or a place to relax after a long day away from home.  Whatever the style or design of your space, we have a gas or wood fire pit, fire bowl or chiminea that will fit your outdoor vision.

Gas Burning Firepits, firebowls, and fire Tables:Gas Fire Pits and Fire Bowls offer ambiance and warmth in the comfort of your own backyard without the hassle of a traditional wood burning outdoor fireplace. Use them on the ground or tabletop. These portable units are generally for use with Propane gas. You will find a wide variety of gas firepit styles, with either lava rocks or ceramic logs. These fire pits are durable, require little maintenance, and are easy to start. You may place gas fire pits directly on wood decks and patios. Enjoy the beauty of an outdoor fire with the convenience of gas!

Wood Burning Firepits, Firebowls, and Fire Tables: You simply can not beat the ambiance that a wood fire pit creates. Enjoy fun filled evenings during all seasons of the year, with a portable wood burning fire pit. You will find a number of fire pit styles, made of a variety of materials. Many styles are available with optional covers. Our variety of fire pits makes it easy to select one that will coordinate with your outdoor furniture. If you are looking for a a more formal outdoor fireplace, we also carry a broad selection of wood burning outdoor fireplaces, and chimeneas

Chimineas and Pagodas:Chimeneas are miniature ceramic or steel fireplaces, perfect for use on decks on and patios. The difference between a chimenea and a basic fire pit design is that the chimenea (chimney) forces smoke up and away. That is a real benefit for windy evenings and for those who are sensitive to wood smoke. The chimenea’s recognizable shape, with its rounded body and cylindrical, flaring stovepipe is an ageless design. Traditionally made out of ceramic, this outdoor stove provides heat by burning wood logs. Chimeneas should be placed on a brick, stone or concrete surface for safety. Wood decks require a fire resistant pad or barrier.

Visit us today at www.mantelsdirect.com for the best summer prices on Outdoor Fireplaces.  Hurry, summer sales are ending soon!

MantelsDirect is pleased to introduce the new Napa Collection Outdoor Fireplaces just in time for summer.  The Napa Collection joins our Perfect Outdoor Fireplace in offering a simple-to-install, low-cost alternative to traditional gas line custom outdoor fireplaces.

MantelsDirect customers have praised the Perfect Outdoor Fireplace for it’s simple assembly, and we are confident the Napa Collection will be no different. These all-season, wood-burning fireplaces arrive in three major inter-locking pieces that fit together without mortar or glue. The reinforced concrete exterior can withstand the forceful elements of nature, and the concrete mixture will continue to harden and cure over time.

Custom gas line outdoor fireplaces can cost thousands of dollars, why spend so much when our simple assembly outdoor fireplaces are more economical and can be relocated if needed?

The Napa Collection features Outdoor Fireplaces in varying sizes and finishes. Let us help renovate and update an old tired outdoor space. With an outdoor fireplace, any patio or backyard can easily become a place to entertain and socialize. Transform a garden into a private hide-a-way and let the world go for a moment. Relax…Outside.

The Perfect Outdoor Fireplace™ units are truly the perfect choice for your outdoor fireplace. The unique interlocking construction allows for quick and easy set up without mortar, glues or fasteners. This outdoor fireplace kit looks great in any of our 8 Colors OR add your own brick or stone for a custom look. Fireplaces are available in styles that burn charcoal/wood and have an adjustable grill (see BBQ Edition) or natural gas, complete with optional logs (see Multi-Screen Version).