One option is to keep the fire pit simple and use natural stone as a foundation, as pictured below. Then throw in your preferred color with your decor! This allows you to change up the look of your outdoor area as often as you'd like.

We are about to do almost the exact same project tomorrow, in the space left behind from tearing down out 15' round above-ground pool and deck. I appreciate the info about how you secured the retaining wall, as we were wondering that too, and knowing that normal Adirondack chairs didn't fit well. That was a big help too, as we need to get chairs for this area when done. We plan to put some of the large irregular pavers throughout the floor and use the pea gravel around them to fill in the space, so we have some harder surfaces to put the chair legs on. Otherwise, it will look just like yours!

I have a propane firepit. It has a nice hard cover that converts it into a coffee table when not in use. The propane puts out some heat but it's not a lot...if it's chilly or windy it won't keep you toasty warm and is more of ambiance. Keep in mind some of the propane firepits connect to the tank via an external hose. They often sell table covers for the tank if that's the case...or look for one that has a fully integrated tank underneath. However, the fully integrated tank models usually sit up higher and may have a special smaller propane tank that you need to refill vs. just a standard propane exchange cylinder. I guess you could roast marshmallows, but the propane doesn't give the same embers that a wood fire would. The propane firepits usually use lava rocks which will hold heat but can be a pain to clean off if you drip marshmallow on it. Fireglass beads don't hold the heat as well and is mostly just decorative. The propane is convenient. Quick on/off. No smoke and cleaner burning. You won't have to worry about wind direction getting smoke in your eyes. But a wood fire pit will put off way more heat.

With our brands you certainly can. We design and manufacture both indoor, ventless fire pits but also have our new www.brownjordanfires.com collection which the ability to choose between three very accommodating fuel sources based on your needs: propane, natural gas and ventless ethanal; all of which can be used and come standard with decorative media. We're happy to discuss more to help you make the best choice - +1 (888) 611 7029