Before and After: 4 Yards That Stay Toasty Thanks to Fire Pits

1. An Intimate Gathering Spot in Wisconsin

Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenage daughters
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Designer: Jim Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio

Before: This Cedarburg, Wisconsin, yard was a grassy blank slate when the homeowners hired landscape designer Jim Drzewiecki. The family of four wanted a range of areas to enjoy gathering in the backyard as well as a pool. While ample patio space provides areas for grilling, dining and lounging, this tucked-away fire pit area offers a more intimate spot to hang out among the beautiful perennials and grasses.

After: Drzewiecki extended the concrete pool deck seamlessly into the fire pit area. He used radial-cut limestone on the wood-burning fire pit surround.

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The fire pit enjoys a lovely view of the pool. Taller shrubs and ‘Mountbatten’ junipers (Juniperus chinensis ‘Mountbatten’) provide privacy from a neighborhood walking path that runs behind this area.

Other plants surrounding the fire pit include ‘Goldsturm’ black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’), blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis), ‘Ruby Star’ purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Ruby Star’), ‘Pardon Me’ daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Pardon Me’), ‘Summer Beauty’ allium (Allium tanguticum ‘Summer Beauty’), Fireland yarrow (Achillea `Feuerland’), ‘Skyracer’ moor grass (Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Skyracer’), ‘June’ hosta (Hosta ‘June’), ‘Blue Fortune’ giant hyssop (Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’) and ‘Glow’ astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii ‘Glow’).

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Here’s a look at how the fire pit fits into the rest of the yard. Its placement makes it an inviting destination and gives it a cozy feel.

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After: Instead of a typical grass lawn, Trembley planted soft clumps of pink sea thrift (Armeria maritima) and woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) between large paving stones. This is a good example of how the designer struck a balance between soft and sharp lines throughout the yard.

Because of wildfire risks, Denver does not allow wood-burning fire pits. So Trembley had to accomplish the campfire look with a gas fire pit. He used granite rocks to create a rugged ring around the fire, then added a curved stone bench to define the area. The bench provides extra seating, while the cushioned outdoor sofa and armchairs are cushier than typical campfire perches.

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3. A Contemporary Courtyard in Dallas

Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Uptown neighborhood of Dallas
Size: Just under 1,000 square feet (93 square meters)
Designer: DDLA Design Landscape Architecture
Contractors: Design Maintenance Construction, Lone Star Decks and Majestic Outdoor Lighting

Before: After moving to Dallas from a chillier climate, this couple was looking forward to using their patio area year-round. Lance Dickinson, principal architect at DDLA Design Landscape Architecture, helped them make the most of the walled-in space off their townhouse in the contemporary style they desired. This is more of an “in process” photo. He had to rip up the yard and start fresh to solve some existing drainage issues.

After: Dickinson used Houzz photos to share design-detail and material inspirations with his clients. The space includes an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor dining area, a fountain, vertical gardens and a comfortable outdoor lounge around a long, linear fire pit.

Dickenson designed an L-shaped sofa to anchor this corner of the patio. The fire pit adds a beautiful patina to the patio — it has an oxidized patinated zinc finish with pebble infill in the fire strip. He used Trex composite decking on the built-in sofa for long-lasting, low-maintenance durability. The base of the bench offers storage for the cushions during bad weather.

Fire pit: Ore Designs

Here’s a look at how the fire pit lounge fits into the rest of the patio design. An outdoor TV is mounted on the wall opposite the lounge. A granite fountain to the right of the sofa helps drown out urban noise.

While most of the plants out here are real, the vertical panels by Vistafolia are composed of synthetic plants. Dickinson used these panels to break up the brick with lush-looking greenery. He also used synthetic grass strips in between the large concrete pavers. This broke up the patio into geometric sections that denote the different seating areas and pathways. The outdoor kitchen is conveniently located next to the dining area and close to the entry door.

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4. An Urban Oasis in Chicago

Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two grown children
Location: Andersonville, Chicago
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters) 40 by 20 feet
Landscape team: Landscape designer Sean Kelly, who oversaw the design; horticulturist Jordan Denny, who finalized the plant palette; maintenance manager Matt Wells, who maintains the garden, all of Reveal Design

Before: This couple, who recently had moved from California to Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, was used to indoor-outdoor living. They hired the pros at Reveal Design to create an inviting spot where they could enjoy an extensive plant collection. “They are retired, so they like to spend a lot of time outside by the fire pit,” says horticulturist Jordan Denny.

This is a view from the home’s deck across the backyard toward the garage. The concrete chopped up the yard, and the existing railings partially blocked the view of the garden.

After: The backyard plan is full of wonder and discovery. One destination within it is the fire pit patio, which provides a spot for quiet contemplation and conversation.

The homeowners wanted an organic look for the hardscape, which the designers created by using dry laid natural flagstone in a meandering design with poly sand. The intention of the design was to create paths to stroll and use for meditation. And the fire pit area is a destination where they can sit, relax and enjoy the 70-plus different species planted throughout the yard.

In addition to the warmth and glow of the fire element, the fire pit area also offers the tranquil sounds of water from this fountain.