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.

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:

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!

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.

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!

One of the fastest growing trends in the U.S. today is the concept of outdoor living. People all over the country are creating outdoor living spaces that extend the comforts of the home into the backyard. Lounge chairs, an eating area, and a chiminea or fire pit for cooking are typically all you need to get started, while installing additional fixtures such as outdoor fireplaces or windscreens will allow you to enjoy the space all year round.

If you’ve never had a chiminea or fire pit before, we recommend that you start with a low-maintenance product that is easy to assemble, care for, and use. Deeco in particular makes a number of unique outdoor heating products that match these criteria, so let’s turn our spotlight on a few of the more popular items from this manufacturer.

Deeco Western Basket Weave Jr. Chiminea
This is an attractive cast aluminum chiminea with an antique bronze finish. It features a basket weave motif and a hinged screen door for quick access to the fire. At just 43 inches tall, this particular chiminea is the perfect solution for smaller spaces where full-sized outdoor fireplaces simply won’t fit.

Deeco Chateau Merlot Outdoor Fire Pit
Fire pits don’t get more elegant than this! The Chateau Merlot is an attractive fire pit that will instantly draw the attention of anyone that enters your outdoor living space. The bowl, which is finished in antique copper, boasts a classic design of grape clusters and scrolling vines and the dome-shaped spark screen allows for a 360-degree view while preventing stray embers from creating a nuisance.

Deeco Sierra Swirl Fire Pit
The Sierra Swirl fire pit appeals to customers that prefer simplicity and function. The understated swirl pattern redirects your focus from the bowl to the flames, and the durable cast iron construction ensures that you will be able to enjoy the product for many years. Plus, unlike outdoor fireplaces that must remain in one place, the Sierra Swirl is portable and can be moved around with relative ease.

Deeco European Vineyard Chiminea
If you’re put off by the thought of how much maintenance is required for typical outdoor fireplaces, then you’ll love this Deeco European Vineyard chiminea. Its size allows you to build up a roaring fire that can be used for cooking or for warmth, while its cast aluminum construction keeps it lightweight enough to allow you to adjust its position according to wind changes or a simple desire to rearrange the patio.

Outdoor living is fun for the whole family, and once you get started, you’ll want to spend as many evenings as possible under the stars. Transform your outdoor space into a natural extension of your home by adding a Deeco chiminea or fire pit from Mantels Direct today.

When setting up your outdoor living space, one of the toughest choices you have to make is what kind of hearth product to buy. Should you go with a simple fire pit that is good for cooking but may be a bit too small to generate enough warmth for the coldest nights? Or should you instead buy one of those large outdoor fireplaces that will keep you toasty but can be a bit awkward to cook with? Some folks try one or the other and wind up regretting whatever decision they made, while others leave nothing to chance and buy both a fire pit and a fireplace just to be safe.

If you’re currently wrangling with this issue, we invite you to take a look at the Buschbeck outdoor fireplaces that we carry. Buschbeck outdoor fireplaces are uniquely designed for both warming and cooking applications. They come with a spacious firebox that not only provides you with ample room for wood burning, but also allows for easy grilling. With Buschbeck, you will no longer need a separate fire pit and heating apparatus in order to enjoy cozy meals in the yard because a single unit does it all.

Other great features of Buschbeck outdoor fireplaces include:

• Easy installation. All Buschbeck outdoor fireplaces come with an illustrated manual giving you step-by-step assembly instructions. If you’ve got a few basic tools on hand and a strong friend to help you out, you can finish this DIY project in no time.
• Maintenance-free operation. The last thing anyone wants to do after buying a fire pit or fireplace is spend all their time cleaning and maintaining it. That’s why customers are thrilled to learn that the Buschbeck products we sell are maintenance free, requiring nothing more than a quick rinse with a hose at the end of the season to keep them running like new.
• Quality construction. Unlike a cheap fire pit that will be ready for the scrap heap after a couple of years, Buschbeck outdoor fireplaces are built to last. They are made from concrete and finished with quartz for a rugged look that requires no additional painting or treatment, and all components except the chimney are reinforced with steel for extra durability.
• Wood or charcoal burning. Your Buschbeck product is versatile enough to burn wood or charcoal. Use it as is for wood, or add a stainless steel grate/ash box accessory for those times when you’d rather cook with charcoal.

Homeowners have been engaged in the fire pit versus fireplace debate ever since the outdoor living movement took hold. Instead of putting yourself at risk of choosing the wrong product, consider Buschbeck outdoor fireplaces as an alternative. You’ll get all the warmth of a fireplace with the ease of fire pit grilling in a single fixture, which is truly the best of both worlds.

German engineering is revered the world over because of a long list of products that seamlessly integrate form and function while adhering to the strictest quality standards around. From the graceful lines of a Montblanc fountain pen to the iconic contours of a Porsche Boxster, consumers are assured of getting peerless performance and superior style whenever they see a “Made in Germany” label.

This phenomenon isn’t just limited to luxury goods, either. It extends to outdoor fireplaces as well, which is why we’re proud to offer our customers a wide selection of Buschbeck products imported straight from Germany. Our expanded Buschbeck lineup now includes clean burning, environmentally friendly bio ethanol fireplaces that incorporate the very latest in “green” technology to help reduce your carbon footprint even as you enjoy the warm glow of a fire in your home or backyard.

Bio ethanol fireplaces differ from traditional indoor and outdoor fireplaces in many ways. The following points highlight the most significant differences.

No gas line or chimney required
Since bio ethanol fireplaces run on ethanol-based biofuel, you do not have to hook the unit up to an external gas line in order to produce real flames that flicker and dance just like those of a wood fire. Moreover, because biofuel burns cleanly, there are no odors, smoke, or emissions of any kind to deal with, making a chimney or other ventilation system unnecessary.

Indoor or outdoor use
Buschbeck bio ethanol fireplaces are completely portable, which means you can use them in any room of your home. Put your fireplace in the den for a cozy evening in front of the TV with your family or move it to the living room to serve as a conversation piece when you have guests. Or, if you’re thinking of entertaining outdoors, you can use your Buschbeck just as easily on the patio or deck. Try getting this much versatility out of traditional outdoor fireplaces!

Breathtaking designs
As beautiful as some outdoor fireplaces are, they simply cannot compare to the ultra-sleek, contemporary designs of Buschbeck bio ethanol fireplaces. The Fire Dance Series includes top sellers such as the Boston, Crystal, and Cube models. These stunning designs, which feature nearly invisible safety glass and stainless steel combustion boxes, will bring elegance and class to any home or office.

Just remember: you don’t need to have a luxury car in your driveway to experience the wonders of German engineering. With their exacting standards, modern styling, and exceptional workmanship Buschbeck bio ethanol fireplaces bring you the quality and looks you expect at a price you can afford. Treat yourself to one of these marvels today!

If you’re looking for an affordable fire pit in an attractive package, then Dagan is the brand for you. Dagan combines the very best features of outdoor fireplaces, such as superior steel construction, weather resistance, artistic design, and easy operation, with budget-friendly prices so consumers never have to sacrifice quality in the name of savings. In addition, every product from this manufacturer offers fantastic 360-degree views of the fire for maximum enjoyment from any vantage point, and comes with essential accessories like a wood poker and cover so you can begin using it right out of the box.

While each model in this line has its merits, these are our personal favorites:

• Pagoda. Bring a touch of the Orient into your backyard with this lovely pagoda design. The domed roof gives this fire pit an authentic Asian look, while the window screens add an extra element of safety without impeding your view. Pair this pagoda with some stone lanterns or crane statues to further emphasize the Eastern theme in your yard.
• Natural Slate Tile Top. This is an elegant fire pit that would look right at home in yards with lots of brick or masonry accents. The ring of natural slate blends well with stone walls, brick walkways, and tiled patios to help maintain a consistent decorating scheme overall.
• Steel Flame. Small outdoor fireplaces never looked so good! The bowl features a mesmerizing pattern of flames that will serve as the perfect backdrop for every fire you light. The brown finish is best suited to yards where earth tones dominate or where a rustic ambience is desired.
• Bronze Cast Iron Table. For those that crave the bright blaze of outdoor fireplaces without the expense, we recommend this beautiful Bronze Cast Iron Table. The 42-inch diameter accommodates large wood fires, while the classic styling ensures compatibility with your existing décor. This fire pit would make an excellent centerpiece at any backyard gathering.

The above is just a small sampling of the products we carry from this manufacturer. No matter what your taste, chances are we’ve got a Dagan fire pit you’ll love. Browse our entire online selection of outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, and bring home your favorite design today.

Summer is nearing and spending time outdoors enjoying the fresh air, catching up with family and friends is worth looking forward too! MantelsDirect.com has a new line of fire pits from Patina Products, a laid back company from the coast of California. Where warm days and cool nights make outdoor living second nature to the Patina Products team.

Their line of handcrafted steel fire pits are well-built and are delivered to your door fully assembled. Each uniquely designed fire pit comes standard with a spark guard, cooking/BBQ grill, fire poker, and protective weather cover. Choose from their classic Pacific Coast Fire Pit, their fun, kid-friendly Safari themed fire pit, or the Patina Mardi Gras design for added flare. All Patina Products fire pits come standard with a 5-year warranty!

Outdoor fireplaces make a terrific addition to any backyard. They not only improve the visual appeal of your patio, but also add functions such as cooking or heating, which means they’re as practical as they are beautiful. Buying a fireplace or fire pit is the first step towards creating a comfortable, inviting area for your family and friends to enjoy all year long.

When shopping for outdoor fireplaces, you’ll notice that there is a wide selection of styles and designs to choose from—at least as far as outward appearance goes. Making a decision on this point largely comes down to a matter of personal taste, as you’ll obviously want to buy something that is attractive and blends in nicely with your patio furniture and surrounding landscape. But there is more to choosing outdoor fireplaces than looks alone. Specifically, prospective buyers must also consider the inner workings of the model, as well as the intended use of the product.

Here are the three main options you can choose from:

• Fire pits. It might be that a full-sized fireplace is not what you’re looking for due to space limitations or budgetary constraints. In that case, a fire pit would make a great alternative. You can put a fire pit in a myriad of places, and will still be able to create warmth and produce the cozy atmosphere you desire. Some fire pit designs can even accommodate cooking accessories such as a grill grate or rotisserie arm, so keep that in mind as you shop around.
• Wood burning outdoor fireplaces. These models are most suitable for spacious yards or patios with flat, level surfaces made of a noncombustible material such as concrete or stone. A wood burning fireplace provides the unbeatable charm associated with real fires, and is therefore perfect for those who value ambience above all else. These models are also available with optional grilling equipment to handle all your backyard cooking needs and help you get the most out of your new addition.
• Gas outdoor fireplaces. Although everyone loves the effect produced by wood fires, some folks prefer the convenience of a gas fire. If you fit into this category, then a gas fireplace is your answer. These models use natural gas or propane as fuel, and, use ceramic gas logs or a bed of glass for a modern twist. A gas fireplace provides the warming capabilities you want in a convenient, hassle-free package.

Now that you know a bit more about outdoor fireplaces, you should be able to determine which type aligns best with your entertaining, heating, or cooking goals. The next step is to find a fireplace or fire pit design you like at a price you can afford, and then make the purchase!