Outdoor fireplaces are a favorite landscape feature, providing character, heat and ambiance to outdoor spaces. However, an outdoor fireplace doesn’t stand alone in a vacuum. Here we’ve put together some features that you can use to dress up your Long Island, NY outdoor fireplace area, complement the aesthetic of your fireplace and put to functional use while you enjoy cozy nights by the fire.
Firewood Storage
No outdoor fireplace is complete without a decorative storage area for your wood surplus. A variety of storage methods are available ranging from racks to cabinets, to firewood feature walls. These can be used to provide storage space as well as to contribute to the aesthetic of your outdoor spaces. Remember, however, that when it comes to functional firewood storage, accessibility is key. Firewood storage should be close at hand when firing up the log fire and the wood should be kept covered and elevated slightly off the floor to prevent moisture from soaking into the wood.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are ideal for enclosing an outdoor fireplace area to provide a comfortable and intimate niche in which to enjoy the fire. The retaining walls can function as additional seating as well as allowing you to carve your fireplace area out from a hillside, providing protection from the wind and cold. Retaining walls present vertical surfaces that can be matched to the natural stone or concrete aesthetic of your fireplace and patio. Stacked slate or stone veneer can be a perfect complement to the surface material of your outdoor fireplace.
Natural Stone Patio
Natural stone contributes visual warmth, natural coloring and organic character to any outdoor space. A richly decked natural stone patio is the perfect foundation for a multi-functional outdoor fireplace area. The beauty of an outdoor fireplace is that it can be erected on existing patio spaces, so if you already have one, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to the other.
Pergola
A pergola is a wood or steel structure that provides shade and, if laid with additional covering, shelter from rain. This makes for a handy covering for your outdoor fireplace area that remains light and airy, allowing you to enjoy the open sky while staying protected from the sun. A pergola has the additional advantage of being easily fitted with temporary covering such as shade cloths and outdoor curtains to provide shelter and privacy for a romantic fireside evening.
Permanent Seating
Permanent seating is a convenient way of kitting out your outdoor areas with ample seating that is always available. For an outdoor fireplace, permanent seating can be arranged in line with the back wall of the fireplace, or placed in a semi-circular arrangement in front of it. Back wall seating can be formed from retaining walls or benches and is best done in an arrangement that flares outwards from the fireplace rather than running along a straight line behind the hearth. This arrangement allows for both socializing and even distribution of heat amongst guests. Additional moveable seating can then be arranged in front of the fireplace as needed.