As more homeowners are looking to bring the comforts of home outdoors, fireplaces are taking center stage as the focal point of outdoor relaxation and entertaining. A new outdoor fireplace brings warmth and ambience to your outdoor living space. It’s also an opportunity to make an artistic statement. To inspire you, here are eight outdoor fireplace designs trending in 2020 in Lake Forest, IL.
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Minimalism
The minimalist philosophy of less is more lends itself to creating a stunning focal point. A minimalist fireplace doesn’t have embellishment. Often, the firebox is a simple unframed square or rectangle, and mantels are typically absent or starkly simplistic. Minimalist outdoor fireplaces can, however, be exceptionally interesting if the emphasis is placed on texture, such as a thin stacked flagstone veneer in one color.
Location
Outdoor fireplaces are increasingly placed where they are part of something else, rather than as stand-alone features. By placing a fireplace adjacent to a pavilion, you effectively create an outdoor room that extends your enjoyment of the great outdoors well into the winter months. Placing a fireplace near a pool or hot tub lets swimmers warm up. Fireplaces placed adjacent to outdoor kitchen/dining areas re-create the heart-of-the-home feeling under the big open sky.
Integration
If minimalism isn’t your thing and you feel that minimalism equals a monolithic box, don’t feel compelled to do something that doesn’t fit. Today’s outdoor fireplaces can be double-sided, tall, short, wide, narrow, and sleek, traditional, or rustic. The most important thing to consider is how it will integrate with the rest of the hardscape and your home. Take design cues from your home to determine the size, shape, and materials you will use.
Size
Choose a fireplace size that accommodates the number of people you typically host. A large family will need a larger fireplace than a couple. The size also depends on how the outdoor fireplace will look in proportion to the home and the landscape. Always take into account the balance between your outdoor fireplace and the size of your home and property. A very wide fireplace, for example, may look odd next to a tall home, or too big and boxy for the allotted space. By contrast, a diminutive fireplace meant for two will be lost next to a large home, a spacious hardscape and expansive backyard.
Pizza Oven
A wood-fired pizza oven is an instant hit with family and friends. The oven is typically placed immediately adjacent to the firebox for convenience and gives your fireplace a homey feel.
Cozy Nooks
Consider surrounding an outdoor fireplace with low walls on either side, to reflect warmth and create a cozy nook where everyone can benefit from the warmth even if they aren’t directly in front of the firebox.
Built-In TV
Many indoor fireplaces feature a flat-screen TV over the firebox. This is something you can do outdoors as well, if the fireplace is sheltered (such as under a pavilion or covered porch). You can also enclose the TV in a custom cabinet to protect it from the elements.
Materials
Today, you aren’t stuck with fireplace kits that don’t meet your aesthetic preferences. A fireplace can be completely smooth, brick, stacked fieldstone, or feature river rock. Even stock fireplace kits can be customized by a qualified mason. For example, if your home is brick and your fireplace is faced with tumbled manufactured stone, you can add a brick inlay to tie everything together.
Related: Importance Of Outdoor Fireplace Safety In Wilmette, IL
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