By: HouseLogic

Check out these captivating outdoor fireplace ideas that will transform your outdoor space into a cozy haven.

There’s nothing like gathering around a fire with your friends and family on a chilly evening. The right outdoor fireplace warms an outdoor area and is a gathering spot to make lasting memories. If you’ve been considering getting an outdoor fireplace, here are some ideas to help you get started.

4 Outdoor Fireplace Ideas
Outdoor fireplaces come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. Most homeowners want one that fits the style of their home and is compatible with their outdoor space. Style compatibility affects your design choice, the materials you choose, and the size and placement of the outdoor fireplace. Here are a few styles to consider.

#1 Traditional Outdoor Fireplaces
A traditional outdoor fireplace made of brick or stone can work well with a home that has exterior brick or stone elements. Matching the elements and tones in your fireplace to your home’s exterior helps create a cohesive look. Traditional materials like brick or stone are also a great option for homeowners seeking a classic wood-burning fireplace. If the masonry is sound, stone or brick fireplaces generally won’t require much maintenance. If you choose this option, consider having a professional check your fireplace once a year to keep it in good shape.

#2 Modern Outdoor Fireplaces
A modern, minimal outdoor fireplace can complement a home with a clean, modern look. Combine materials like stucco, stone, or concrete with a pared-back, sleek design. A gas fireplace is relatively low-maintenance option that suits the look and feel of a contemporary home. It also helps keep your patio warm and inviting well after the summer months. Apart from general masonry checks and regular cleaning, these fireplaces don’t usually require much upkeep.

#3 Sustainable Outdoor Fireplaces
Homeowners seeking sustainability might consider gas or electric fireplaces. If these aren’t for you, other sustainable fuel options, such as ethanol or wood pellets, produce less smoke and ash. As for exterior materials, explore locally sourced stone, sustainably sourced wood, or recycled metal.

#4 Customized Outdoor Fireplaces
If your home incorporates some unique design elements that are difficult to replicate, you might check into an outdoor fireplace built to your specifications. You can choose from many materials, including steel, concrete, stone, and wood. Qualified contractors and designers can help you plan a custom fireplace that suits your needs.

Advantages of Outdoor Fireplaces
Building an outdoor fireplace may be a considerable undertaking, but it offers some excellent benefits.
Outdoor Fireplaces Can Add CharacterAn exterior feature like an outdoor fireplace adds visual interest to your home and helps it stand out. It also helps family and guests enjoy outdoor entertainment more.

Outdoor Fireplaces Increase Joy
Don’t underestimate a fire feature’s role in making your home a fun and joyful place. Homeowners who added an outdoor fire feature reported a joy score of 9.7 out of 10 after finishing the project, according to the National Association of REALTORS® “2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features.”

Outdoor Fireplaces Can Beautify Your Space
An outdoor fireplace can be a great focal point in your outdoor patio, backyard, or deck. If you’ve long thought your patio lacked something special, a well-designed outdoor fireplace may give you the refresh you’ve been looking for.

Before You Build
Before deciding on the project, consider some of the issues and requirements.

Safety Matters
In most cases, outdoor fireplaces are a safe addition to your home. But if you have pets or young children, you’ll need to implement strict fire safety rules about keeping a safe distance from the fire. Make sure your outdoor fireplace is a safe distance from your home and other structures as required by the local code. And, before starting a fire, check with your local forest service office to find out about burn authorizations or fire restrictions.

Budget Concerns
When you compare the costs to other features like fire pits, building a fireplace can be pricey. The average cost to build a firepit is around $850, though the range is $200 to $5,000. By comparison, the average cost to build an outdoor fireplace is roughly $3,000, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $9000. Homeowners on a strict budget may want to consider an outdoor fire pit.

Maintenance Needs
While gas and electric fireplaces require professional attention, traditional wood fireplaces require regular cleaning. Even with a small outdoor fireplace, this can be time-consuming and tedious, especially if you have a busy life.

But what kinds of maintenance does an outdoor fireplace require? Take a look at the Cleaning and Maintenance section.

Placement Consideration
Your outdoor fireplace’s location will vary based on building codes in your area, so look up local requirements before starting work on your project. A good rule of thumb is your fireplace should be at least 10 to 15 feet away from your home, property line, and any other structures or flammable materials. You’ll also want to place your outdoor fireplace so it doesn’t face prevailing winds or obstruct any views.

Fuel Options
Many factors can influence fuel choice including your desire for convenience, your aesthetic preferences, and your budget. Consider the pros and cons of a few fuel options.

• Wood: Wood is the natural choice for anyone seeking a warm, traditional fireplace. However, a wood burning fireplace needs frequent cleaning, and some homeowners may not like the smell of woodsmoke.
• Gas: Natural gas is a clean and cost-efficient option offering a controlled burn. However, some home owners may find a gas flame less comforting and more sterile compared to wood options.
• Electricity: An electric fireplace often has a built-in heater that operates separately from the flames. This allows you to get the look of a roaring fire with or without the heat. Electric fireplaces are convenient and produce a different aesthetic and ambience than wood burning options.
  
  

Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular cleaning and light care keep your outdoor fireplace neat and ready-for-use. Here are some important tips to bear in mind:

• Keep the fireplace clean by brushing away dust, ash, and other debris between uses.
• A wood-burning fireplace may require an annual professional cleaning and chimney inspection to function properly.
• Regularly check for potential problems like excessive smoke and ash buildup.
• Check your gas fireplace for fuel leaks and keep the gas valve turned off when the fireplace isn’t in use.
• Certain materials may need extra care. For instance, an outdoor stone fireplace may require sealant.

Fire safety is also important with outdoor fireplaces. Here are some general guidelines homeowners should follow:

• Don’t leave fires unattended.
• Understand your fireplace’s ventilation system and have a professional check it if you suspect any problems.
• Be aware that any custom work must follow local fire safety codes and always keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
  
  

Find Your Perfect Outdoor Fireplace
You can choose from many materials and outdoor fireplace designs. The perfect match can complement your home and landscaping to create a balanced and well-coordinated result. The right outdoor fireplace can transform your deck or patio and make the area more inviting and comfortable, and add character and personality to your outdoor space.

Look for an experienced contractor who uses high-quality materials and can match the outdoor fireplace to your vision while meeting local regulations and requirements.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Yep, quartz countertops are a kitchen trend that’s here to stay.

Your kitchen is the one place where you want to be really careful about trendy choices. The last thing you want is a kitchen that looks dated in just a few years simply because you followed a kitchen trend.

Here are eight trends that are popular now but have staying power because they address lifestyle needs, convenience, and savings — ensuring you’ll enjoy your kitchen for many years.

#1 White on White Kitchens
White appliances are so much easier to keep clean than stainless, which smudges if you so much as look at it. Plus, a white look is always on trend because it’s able to blend into any style. White appliances are also less expensive than stainless.

#2 Smaller Appliances
Small kitchens are big these days. Microliving is taking off for millennials and retirees. Owners of multigenerational homes are installing tiny, secondary kitchens for returning adult children and elderly parents.

Typically, these micro kitchens feature a two-burner cooktop, combo microwave/convection oven, 18-inch dishwasher, and 60-inch fridge or refrigerator drawer.

#3 Quartz Countertops
“Consumers Reports” says quartz is the toughest countertop material, which resists scratches, burns, and chips. A mix of crushed quartz stone and resin produces countertops that range from solid colors to the look of real granite, but they’ll beat natural stone in toughness. It’s easy to maintain, and unlike granite, it doesn’t have to be sealed annually to prevent stains.

#4 LED Rope Lighting
Ribbons of LEDs are showing up in the weirdest — and most wonderful — kitchen places: Along toe kicks as nightlights, on the inside of cabinet doors to show off Grandma’s China, concealed in crown molding to wash ceilings with light. It’s a pretty cool kitchen trend that’ll stick around because:

• LEDs come in a rainbow of colors, from bright to soft white, red, blue, and green.
• You can get creative about where you install them.
• LEDs emit virtually no heat, so you can keep them on forever without burning cabinets or walls.
• LEDs are energy efficient, lasting 50,000 hours on average — five times longer than compact fluorescent lights.

And they’re coming down in price, making them more affordable for the average homeowner.

#5 Multiple Small Fridges Instead of One Big One
Refrigeration is no longer limited to a single, hulking unit. Homeowners are customizing their cooling needs with “point of use” refrigeration, adding cool where they need it.

That could mean adding a counter-height produce fridge in your prep island, next to a wine cooler for the adults, and a juice/soda fridge for the kids. 

Don’t think we’re talking about dorm-fridge quality and prices. U-Line point-of-use refrigerators, for example, offer (depending on the model) 11 shelf positions, full-extension slide-out bins, and five food and beverage settings labeled deli, market, pantry, root cellar and beverage. Units typically sell for $2,500 to $4,000.

#6 Touch-Activated Faucets
Touch-activated faucets have moved from commercial spaces into home kitchens.
On the face of it, touch-activated seems a little gimmicky, and with prices ranging from $300 to $400, it’s certainly a lot of money. But it’s great for those times when you’ve got dirty, chicken-goopy hands, and for those in your household who refuse to turn water on and off between tasks because it’s too much hassle. And as water becomes scarcer, anything that saves gallons will have value — and save you on your water bills.

A reason we recommend touch-activated over touch-free: As you know from public bathrooms with touchless faucets, they’ll often turn on when you don’t want them to and not turn on when you do.

#7 Transitional Design
NKBA designers say contemporary, with its sleek simplicity, is among the most popular kitchen styles. Fussy doodads and decorative and distressed glazes are out. 

Contemporary looks sleek and clean, but can also come across as cold. Contemporary design encourages a noncluttered look, which can be hard to maintain in a busy home. So it’s better to hedge your bets with transitional design, which combines contemporary and traditional to bring out the best parts of each. 

#8 Accessibility
Aging in place is a big snore — until you get to that age when the right kitchen trends will allow you to stay in your home. And since a large part of the population is reaching retirement age, accessibility finally is catching on — even with homeowners who aren’t intentionally seeking those features. Why? Because the designs make so much sense.

It’s a trend that’s not going away. The use of adaptable and universal design features increased from 20% in 2020 to 27% in 2022, according to the American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey.

Three here-to-stay trends:

1. Side-opening ovens at counter height: You don’t have to reach up or bend down to fetch your turkey, just comfortably slide it out. It’s one of those slap-your-forehead tweaks that make cooking so much more ergonomic and accessible for everyone.

2. Drawers with deep pockets: Base cabinets have evolved from back-bending storage for pots and pans to deep drawer space — typically 24 inches deep — that can hold just about everything in your kitchen.

Continuing that evolution — heck, let’s call a revolution — are deep drawer organizers, ranging from $54 to more than $100, that make sure everything stays in its place, rather than rumble around in chaos. You can customize drawers with:

• Slots to hold plates and store knives
• Dividers to keep your water bottles separate from your vinegar collection
• Stackable trays that separate utensils and flatware
• Removable boxes that let you reorganize the drawers at will

3. Microwave drawers: Just like the side-opening oven, by installing the microwave below counter height in a drawer, it’s easier for everyone to use. Just open it up put your food inside, close, and start it. That’s better than above-oven height, which has been the typical location for many years.