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Draw a Crowd With a Fire Pit
For an alluring patio or backyard and a happy group of guests, get cracking with a fire pit
Cassy Aoyagi is passionate about California native foliage and sustainably crafting a distinctive California aesthetic. She is president of the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants and of FormLA Landscaping. Her work has been featured on the Eco Echo Park Home and Garden Tour, at the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, on the Theodore Payne Foundation Native Garden Tour, and a multitude of other Los Angeles garden tours. The Los Angeles Times and InStyle Magazine, among others, have featured gardens designed by Cassy.
Cassy Aoyagi is passionate about California native foliage and sustainably... More »
Want butterflies? Plant lupine. Want humans? Light a fire. We are like moths to a flame. And while all fires fascinate, it's hard to beat the draw of a fire pit. S'mores, anyone?
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| The mix of water and fire is enchanting, day or night. |
| Adding fire instantly creates a sense of destination. |
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by Vignette Design
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| Even when the sun is still high and there is no flame in sight, there is something about a fire pit that brings people together. |
by Greg Trutza
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No ocean or lake view? A pool or spa can create a similar aesthetic.
While fire pits are long on charm, it's important to ensure they are also long on safety. Here are a few design tricks for keeping all the appeal while ensuring that your fire is safe and sustainable.
While fire pits are long on charm, it's important to ensure they are also long on safety. Here are a few design tricks for keeping all the appeal while ensuring that your fire is safe and sustainable.
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Surround with hardscape. As the fire in a pit is more likely to escape than fire contained in a fireplace, surrounding the feature with nonflammable materials like the brick of this patio is key.
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| The decomposed granite and stone border that separates this fire pit from the greenery beyond is a smart safety precaution, particularly in drier climates. |
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| Likewise, this mix of concrete and gravel is a safe platform for flame. Can you just hear the fantastic crunch of gravel underfoot as we approach this fire? |
| Dig a pit. The recessed nature of this pit will help keep dangerous stray sparks inbound. |
Create boundaries. Elevating the surrounding hardscape is another great way to capture stray sparks.
| Maintain a distance from tall foliage. Placing the fire pit at a safe distance from tall foliage is also a smart preventative measure. |
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| Build in seating. If young people will be enjoying the space, built-in seating can encourage a safe distance. |
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by Jane Ellison
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| Use heavy seating. If built-in seating is not an option, the use of larger furniture can establish breathing room for the fire. |
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| Use structure. The shape and structure of the fire pit itself can also encourage appropriate respect. |
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Consider custom. While portable fire pits seem to be available at low price points from all the big-box home improvement stores, local landscapers can often create custom, optimally safe fire pits for very reasonable prices. It may be worth a few phone calls to see if creating your dream fire vessel is actually less expensive than you think.
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| Enchanted? See more fascinating fire pits, get tips to build your own or check out Annie Thornton's tips on moving the party out of doors (hint: using fire is one of them). More: The Beauty of Fire, Without the Smoke |
Ideabook published on May 5, 2012.
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You should avoid these woods and unseasoned wood all together and also avoid construction lumber and especally stay away from plywoods or composite woods such as MDF. The fumes from these is quite dangerous.
It goes almost without saying that cooking with anything but well seasoned medium to hardwoods is a waste of time. These are the only way to go if you value the result.
A good thing to have handy with firepits is a fireblanket. It can extinguish the fire quickly, and can be used to extinguish someone on fire in the worst case. Get anyone who has caught on fire down on the ground immediately to avoid burns to the face. This makes it easier to smother them with the blanket as well.