Come on Baby Light My Fire
WAYS TO WARM UP THE OUTDOORS By Deann Hammer, Broadway Design
T
he Pacific Northwest has an abundance of nature at our fingertips. We love to be outdoors and enjoy the water, mountains, and singsong of birds.
However, when the sun goes down, temperatures drop—and it gets chilly. There are a number of options for outdoor heat that can help us warm our souls both inside and out. Gas Lanterns Gas lanterns were a staple in New Orleans and the South, and have now made an entrance on the West Coast. These charming fixtures are beautiful on a front porch or back deck, as they have a living fire inside of them and add warm light to any space. You will need to plan ahead when installing them, as they require a gas line to be installed inside of your walls. Built-In or Free-Standing Outdoor Fireplaces You can buy a cinder block kit to build the fireplace structure to accommodate a real wood-burning fire, or you can plumb it for gas for an easier gas log set. Look at the shipping cost, as these blocks are concrete and are delivered on pallets that are very heavy! These units will typically need to be faced with a ledgerstone or brick. Sometimes they are covered
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GIG HARBOR LIVING LOCAL
with plaster for a more Spanish or modern look. MutualMaterials.com sells stone cladding. Outdoor Gas Fireplaces There are gas outdoor fireplace units you can purchase from a fireplace shop that can be framed in with wood, but make sure they are protected from the rain/elements, preferably under cover, as the water will damage your pilot light. After framing, these gas prefab units are then covered with stone surround to emulate the fireplaces we see inside a house, adorned with glass doors or a glass panel. Stone Fire Pits Stone fire pits are the easiest way to roast a marshmallow or burn wood in open air. Kits can be purchased at Morrison Gravel with a metal ring inside in various sizes. Make sure to measure your space first so that there is enough room to walk around the fire pit while also being able to accommodate a few Adirondack chairs. Pre-Made Metal or Stone Chiminea-Type Wood-Burning Units There are various options available online for small metal wood-burning free-standing units. I have found that the front opening of the unit needs