Article by Bridget Larson

Since there are so many DIY indoor home decor projects to chose from, today I have a cool outdoor decor project. Fire-based furniture like outdoor fire pits and chic fire tables are Hot! Hot! Hot! Fire has always had the ability to draw a crowd and it seems to speak to some ancient instinct lying deep inside of all of us.  Plus, they really add to the look of backyard desert landscape designs and can be multifunctional–you don’t have to heat up your BBQ Islands just to make smores in your backyard. There are many ways to create your own fire pit, and the cool thing about building your own pit is that the results are unique to the individual.

You can choose brick or any variety of stone and create your own variation of patterns. You can interchange different sized stones or choose stones that have distinct colors. You also choose what shape you want your fire pit to be, and you can choose whether you want your fire pit to have a small or large width and height. Just remember, when choosing a shape you do not want gaps between your bricks or stones, so pick them out accordingly. If there are gaps you want them to be as small as possible. You can always choose to seal gaps with some type of mortar or cement as well. Just a tip: a square shape is probably the easiest to start with.

One more thing. Before you begin building you must check your city’s local fire codes, to verify what regulations you must follow. In some townships it is even illegal to have an open fire so make sure you check. Once you have checked your cities fire codes and have decided on the options mentioned above we can get started.

First, pick out an area in your backyard where you think your fire pit would look best. When you’ve chosen an area, you’ll place a starting layer of stones in the shape you want them. Next, you’ll take a shovel and dig it in the earth around the outside edge of your stones. To be safe you may want to dig it in about an inch away from the outside edge of the stones. You will do this around the entire perimeter of what will be your fire pit. Once this is done, you will remove the first layer of stones. At this point, you will start digging a trench inside of the area you marked. Dig about a foot deep and create a level bottom. (Your first layer of stones is going to go back into this trench and you want them to be pretty snug against the edge of the trench.) When you finish digging the trench cover the bottom with about an inch of gravel or any type of drain rocks you can find. Then place your first layer of stones (these become the walls of any outdoor fire pits your build) around the edge of the trench. Again, there should be no or very little gaps between your stones. Press them down so that the gravel beneath them digs into the earth a bit. Now you can start building up your fire pits walls. You will need a caulking gun which you will use to apply a strong masonry adhesive to the top of the first layer of stones. Wear gloves! Then you will place the second layer of stones firmly on top of the first layer. You will continue to do this until you have built your fire pit as tall as you’d like it. When you’ve finished you will fill your fire pit with gravel leaving about 8 inches of empty space at the top. Perfect!

There are also options for capping your fire pit which you can find online. And if you are a shopaholic like I am, you can always bypass creating a DIY pit and purchase a cool outdoor fire pit or even pick up a fire pit kit. Your outdoor kitchen islands may get a tad jealous, but fire pits will help add to your Arizona landscapes designs and will provide a cozy place to warm up on a cool night.

About the Author

Larson’s interior design sense and appetite for all that’s new propelled her into the world of home design consulting where she has thrived for 10 years.

Article by michael russell

Backyard fire pits impart a fairy tale charm to any home. If space constrains does not allow you the luxury of an outdoor pit, you can opt for the handy option of chimenea fire pits. These portable fire pit designs are well suited for all types of landscapes including desert, woods or the beach. If you want to roast chicken, you can also incorporate a rotisserie bar and an ash pan. These pits work on both charcoal and wood.

However there are some Patio fire pits that use natural gas. These pits would always be permanent, built-in fire pits that are connected to your home’s natural gas lines. If propane gas is being used, a semi-portable tank can be integrated into the structure.

chimenea fire pits are available in various shapes and designs. Just like indoor fireplaces, a gas fire pit forms flames above concrete or ceramic logs and are ideal for those cities where wood fire ban is in place.

While setting up backyard fire pits, make sure that you have enough space to move around. It should be far away from fences and garden plants and should have enough space to sit around without the risk of getting too close to the flames. The pit should be set up in such a way that the wind will not blow smoke all over. It is better to use only seasoned firewood as it ensures complete combustion with no smoke.

You can easily set up a back yard fire pit all by yourselves. Dig a circular hole over 4 feet in diameter and 6 inches deep. In the middle of the pit, build a circular shelf and pack the soil tightly. The rim should be outlined by cement bricks leaving adequate space for air

Outdoor fire pits can use propane, charcoal, wood or even natural gas. These are cheaper than grills and faster than smokers and are ideal for cooking enough food for your weekend parties. You can also include the accessories that you may need including rotisserie and a grill over a pit. Backyard fire pits enable you to spend some fun time together with your friends and family. Patio fire pits allow you to enjoy a camp fire like milieu right at your back yard that too complying with the safety standards stipulated by your city.

About the Author

Backyard fire pits and patio fire pits offer the fun of a jungle camp without moving out of your home and are becoming popular features in all contemporary homes.

Chef Tony runs the Fire Magic Electric Grill through the gauntlet and shows you the outcome, by cooking up some of your favorites: pizza, hamburgers, and steaks. Check out www.bbqguys.com for more information, videos, and to purchase this Fire Magic Electric Grill.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Click here to get up 60% OFF: www.amazon.com The Rome Firepan Rotisserie Grill has four 3 inch removable legs and 15.5 inch vertical steel supports for the grill and rotisserie. Grill is 18.5″ x 14.5″ welded steel with baked enamel finish with three height settings. Rotisserie is chrome plated steel,

www.paverstonedesigngroup.com Outdoor living is a fast growing trend in the United States. Many homeowners are beginning to realize that the primary living areas of their homes don’t have to be indoors. A well designed outdoor living space can often times be the most utilized area for a family. Furthermore, an attractive outdoor living area is also a great selling point for a home and can significantly raise your home’s value. If you’re creating a new outdoor living area from scratch, there are several important things to consider before getting started. When building a deck or patio, you should first take a look at the location and nearby structures. If you are building a deck that is attached to a house, for example, you may not want to build over basement windows because it will make your basement darker. If you’re putting in a patio, you may have to excavate a small area, and you’ll want to take care not to damage the roots of any trees in your yard. PaverStone Design Group Inc. 447 Village Park Dr. Powell, OH 43065 (614) 44-PAVER (72837)

SmokingPit.com – Wood Fire Cooked Deluxe BBQ Chicken Pizza cooked on a Yoder Wichita stick burner. Deluxe wood hickory fire cooked pizza at it’s best!
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Want to build BBQ Grill Island with No metal studs?… Check this how to video out! Randy Jones is the best builder! With the help of Flat Top Concrete, Bobbie Loback Mosaics, Barbara Paul Landscape Design & Bress Meats of Garden Grove. www.breesqualitymeats.com We made a Backyard Kitchen BBQ Grill Island. And installed new Marathon Sod lawn.custom outdoor kitchens designs to help you decide what to build in your backyard. Entertain guests with the best built in grill, convenient built in accessories and comfortable seating with resort quality backyard designs The song you are listening to is Cadillac Vamp from Rod Matcham! http Design Concrete, BBQ Island, Patio Cover, Water features, Tile, Fire Place, Retaining Walls, Sprinklers, Sod, Softscape, Masonry, Trees, Pools, and Spas.

www.concretenetwork.com Fire pit design ideas for your yard. Visit several projects to see how fire pits are added to these beautiful homes. Designer Scott Cohen explains each design and the construction process.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Highlights from the HGTV episode of the Mossler family enlisting Scott Cohen to remodel their backyard. Scott explains what a fire hearth is, and the family shows the completed fire feature. The remodeled outdoor kitchen includes a cast in place concrete countertop embedded with glow in the dark glass and a beverage center. The pool has brand new sparkling water features, and there’s a new pergola with more seating further back in the yard. Truly a place to vacation in your own backyard!
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Check out this cool app and learn guitar – howc.st Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from Aloys_Twungubumwe and more videos in the Grilling category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY…
Video Rating: 4 / 5