If you’re a homeowner who has realized investing in your property leaves you with space to cook out, entertain and relax in your own backyard, let’s draft a plan and get started. The same design principles used in home building can be applied to landscaping. Sketch plans for landscaping, mapping out each feature of your yard. Mark property lines, telephone poles, water or gas lines, spigots, and other structures that influence where you locate plants, turf, and the outdoor patio. Taking panoramic photos of the yard may help if you can’t visualize the plan.

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.

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.