Landscaping trends come and go, but there are some things that always make a backyard look incredible: Fire pits and barbecues are two of those things. These additions add a functional and fashionable update to any yard, and it creates an irresistible pull to the backyard space, whether you’re entertaining or enjoying a relaxing evening at home.
Creating the perfect fire pit or cookout station is easier said than done. You’ll need to plan the space and design the features so that it best matches the design of your yard. This isn’t a task that should be taken lightly, and you’ll likely need professional help to get it done.
Some of the most important elements of designing your perfect fireplace include the following:
- A prime location
- A design that reflects the space
- Beautiful stone masonry
- A metal fire ring
- Practicality with style
- Soil and rocks for fire safety
- Stable seating areas
- A thorough knowledge of masonry and building
The average do-it-yourselfer shouldn’t attempt to build their own fire pit or barbecue. It takes a skilled artisan with an understanding of how things fit together firmly and safely. Without that knowledge and experience, your fire pit will end up with unsightly or even dangerous. Hire a professional to handle the masonry and building of the custom fireplace you’ve designed.
Before you approach a professional mason and landscaper with your custom designs, it’s important to get a feel for the many different options out there for fire pits and barbecues. Don’t limit your vision by not doing some research first, and use these examples to spur some creativity.
Small and Rustic Pit
Minnesota-born MacGyber star Richard Dean Anderson says that rustic is one of his favorite flavors in design. “I always sort of swooned at the sight of the classic barn structures in central and northern Minnesota, where everything seemed rustic and weathered and made to age gracefully,” he says.”
Rustic style in combination with minimalist design can be very attractive. Many people like a fire pit that stands tall from the ground and provides the focal point of their landscaping, but something a little more rustic, minimal, and less noticeable can often create a more dramatic effect. Try a smaller fire pit that’s sunken in to the ground. Surround the area with beautiful cobblestones and masonry to create a patio feel.
Via HGTV
Stone Barbecue Station
For cookouts, you don’t have to settle for the traditional stainless steel barbecue. It’s a handy feature, but it doesn’t do much for your landscaping. Instead, create a barbecue station out of hand-crafted stone masonry. Build a stone stand for your barbecue with areas for preparation. A walled-in seating area with stone benches and a table can complete the look.
Via Houzz.com
Gravel and Stone Fire Pit
Create a section off of your patio that’s designated for your fire pit and entertaining. Create a border for your fire pit station with stone masonry and a customized stone fire pit in the center. Use lounge seating for a relaxing experience.
The area can be paved with loose gravel and surrounded by grass or woodchips and drought-resistant plants that won’t be affected by the flame. Plants surrounding your fire pit should be resistant to flames and planted at least seven feet away from your pit for safety.
Stone Bench with Matching Fire Pit
Forget about dragging in lawn chairs or building benches out of logs. Create a semi-circle stone bench with a high back and accent pillows to make it feel homier. A fire pit with identical stone to match will complete the look.
Lighting can be installed under the bench ledge if the light of the fire isn’t enough to light your way. This is the perfect addition to a cobblestone patio. You might think that lighting in a fireplace is redundant, but an article from Houzz says it’s the perfect addition. “Underlit benches create a bulls eye around the fire, beckoning people down to meet at the center of an impeccably groomed backyard.”
Via Pinterest
Sunken Barbecue Built-in
To create a more dramatic effect with your cook station, try a sunken barbecue area built in to your patio floor. You’ll walk outside and down a few steps into a beautiful outdoor kitchen getaway with a barbecue grill built into a stone countertop. A stone eating station is also a must with chairs or benches for seating. Try installing a pergola or covering above the area to give it an outdoor restaurant feel.
Built-in Barbecue Station
If you’ve never liked the look of a stainless steel barbecue grill, even if it’s been built into a stone cookout station, there are options to ditch the steel altogether. Build a barbecuing station right into your stone patio. It will essentially be a rectangular hole in the top of your patio walls with a grate for cooking. As long as the patio is made completely from heat-resistant stone, this is a safe and attractive option.
Via Houzz.com
Perfectly Round Fire Pit and Patio
The renowned philosopher Pythagoras once said, “There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.” This is a profound statement that perfectly underscores the power of geometric shapes in design. Using perfect circles in the design of your fire pit and patio can give the space some extra life to the stone that makes up the area.
Swinging Fire Pit/BBQ Combo
For those seeking both flexibility and beauty in their fire features, a swinging fire pit and barbecue combination is ideal. A heat-resistant stone or cast iron pot is used as the pit where you can build a fire and roast marshmallows.
If you want to turn it into a grilling station, you’ll use a pulley-action hanger to extend your grill over the fire. You can move it closer to or farther away from the fire to match what you’re cooking. This combination can be built into a patio or in the center of your backyard, making it one of the most flexible and attractive options available.
Via pinterest
