Typically February is the month cabin fever kicks in. And while it’s almost impossible to think warm thoughts when you’re shoveling snow or scraping ice off your windshield, now is the best time to start thinking about your outdoor living space.
Along with a pool, full kitchen and lounging and dining areas, fireplaces are a must-have amenity for outdoor enter-taining. “Over the past three years, outdoor fireplaces have continued to grow in popularity,” says Jay Stong, president of Salter’s Fireplace, Patio and Grill in Eagleville. “People are spending a lot of money on their outdoor rooms, and fireplaces help extend the enjoyment into the cooler spring and fall months.”
Outdoor fireplaces can be as modest or over-the-top as the homeowner wishes, with materials chosen to either match the house or complement it. “We can give the fireplaces a formal look with a granite surround or keep it more informal with stone,” Stong says.
These days, more and more indoor fireplaces are of the convenient gas variety—and the same goes for the outdoors. And if the area is spacious enough, more than one fireplace may be a good bet, or some of Stong’s customers opt for a fire pit.
Another much-requested item is the Tempest Torch by Travis Industries House of Fire. Its one-of-a-kind spiral gas flame provides an immediate focal point in any space, with numerous display options for a personalized look. “It’s purely aesthetic, but it brings another fire element to the space,” says Stong. “And people definitely want multiple fire elements in these outdoor rooms.”
Salter’s Fireplace, Patio and Grill, 3130 Ridge Pike, Eagleville; (610) 631-9372, saltersfireplace.com.
