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!

MantelsDirect.com is excited to announce the launch of DEECO, a manufacture of unique chimineas and durable fire pits. With summer upon us it’s time to spruce up your backyard or patio space, a cast aluminum chiminea or outdoor fire pit is a sure show stopper for your family and friends. Deeco products are low maintenance and ready to use throughout the year. This product line is artistically designed to fit any outdoor room. Each fire pit or chiminea style includes a spark guard to protect against unruly fire embers and a protective weather cover.

Vineyard Chiminea

The European Vineyard Cast Aluminum Chiminea is classically designed with grape vines and leaves – perfect for any outdoor garden or patio space. The Rock Canyon Outdoor Fire Pit Table is a versitle 3-in-1 party essential. The Rock Canyon model features 3 unique inserts; a 20-inch cast iron fire pit bowl adds warmth on cooler nights, a 20-inch copperized steel ice basin keeps drinks and food cold during backyard entertaining, and a mosaic slate insert with umbrella hole completes this 43 inch diameter table for dining alfresco.

Rock Canyon Fire Pit Table

Anyone who enjoys sitting outside enjoying the fresh air will love owning a chiminea. Chimeneas are freestanding, front-loading fireplaces and have a vertical smoke vent or chimney, perfect for use on decks and patios. Chimineas are beautifully designed and add style to any outdoor space. The difference between a chimenea and a basic fire pit design is that the chimenea forces smoke up and away. This is a benefit for windy evenings and for those who are sensitive to fire smoke.

Blue Rooster has over 12 years of experience designing and manufacturing outdoor fireplaces. They offer aluminum and steel chimeneas; which will not warp, crack or rust and are extremely light making them easy to move. Blue Rooster chimeneas should be placed on a brick, stone or concrete surface for safety. Browse through MantelsDirect.com large selection of chimineas, we’re sure you’ll find a design that’s the perfect addition to your outdoor space!

Outdoor fireplaces quickly become the central place where everyone gathers. Everyone wants to have one, especially in southern regions of the country. They are a luxury that is perfect for warmer winter climates throughout the South. Lay down some gravel or pavers to ensure that your fire pit is on a level surface without organic materials beneath it. Outdoor fireplaces are designed to be used on a patio that’s made of something solid and flame resistant. My top three favorite are patio pavers, flagstone and pea gravel.

Landscaping retailers have a selection of all their products on display so you can see and touch the materials to help decide what will look best with your outdoor fireplace. Gravel is usually available by the bulk bag or smaller bag so you can have the exact quantity you need. Decorative gravels are available in different grades and colors. The grade being the size of the stone. Local landscaper suppliers in your hometown  or any chain home improvement center stocks the weed membrane that stops weeds from rearing their ugly heads.

Not only ideal for use on driveways, pathways, these materials are perfect for a patio with an outdoor fireplace. Unused square footage away from your home and garage are great spaces to lay down  flagstone for an outdoor firepit. My local code states that a wood burning outdoor fireplace should be 50 feet from my home. If you  have a challenging part of your yard that doesn’t have any grass, pick a solid surface: like pavers, stones or pea gravel; it can be transformed from eye sore into a fire pit patio.

You may select a combination of solid surface materials to define an area for the firepit surrounded by seating. Once your foundation has been laid, you are ready to place an outdoor fireplace and furniture that are weather safe. Outdoor fireplaces have durable surfaces that are designed to weather the elements. The Perfect Outdoor Fireplace is made of heat dissipating stone that will not crack even when temperatures dip and the fireplace is covered in snow.  Some fire pits come with covers ensuring longevity.

These surfaces are not only flame resistant and provide a level surface, they look beautiful. Flagstone’s color variations, and pavers unique shapes make for an interesting outdoor space that suits an outdoor fireplace. To read more about unique areas of your property to place a fire pit, check out my post ” Creative Spaces for Outdoor Fireplaces”.

Record high temperatures have been seen around the country this summer, but there will soon be relief with Autumn around the corner. The popularity of outdoor spaces have increased as homeowners take full advantage of their property. You too can create a retreat or entertaining area that would extend your own living space outdoors. Think outside the box when it comes to your own outdoor space. “Outdoor rooms” aren’t restricted to the backyard nor should you limit your activity to simply grilling.

An outdoor fireplace lends an air of sophistication to a back yard patio and invites guests to linger after dinner. However, front yards are great places to gather neighbors around a cozy outdoor fire pit while children play as well. By simply grouping chairs around a firepit, this parking pad could be elevated to outdoor room status. Not only back and front spaces but side yards offer up areas for entertaining. Take an underutilized area along an outside wall of your house or detached garage, and anchor that with an outdoor patio fireplace.

Side driveways and transitional spaces between the garage and backdoor can multi-task, also being utilized for entertaining. By placing fire pits in flexible spaces, such as the driveway of this New Orleans home on the right, they too become a great place for a hosting friends. Patio fire pits are portable making them perfect for these types of flexible outdoor spaces. However, the Perfect Outdoor Fireplace is able to be disassembled, making it an option should you anticipate a need to relocate your outdoor fireplace.

Outdoor fireplaces are designed to be used on a level surface that’s made of something solid and flame resistant, like concrete, patio pavers or gravel. Check back for my top picks for surface materials as you prepare the area for installing an outdoor fireplace. Late summer early fall is the best time for landscaping projects because the cool temperatures allow new plantings to get established without the stress of dry hot weather. Begin now, complete your space and enjoy a colorful autumn gathered around your outdoor fireplace.

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.