I just want it to be Summer again!

I was just going through some old images that I had on my computer and I came across this one that just made my pine for Summer again. It has been raining here in Los Angeles and also a little cold, so I am totally ready for the sun to come out and warm everything up again. One of my biggest goals for this summer is the redesign of my back garden. It has been sitting dormant now for about a year since we bought the place and I am finally ready to start moving ahead. One thing that I know I want is an outdoor fireplace. Southern California has the perfect climate for that, although, maybe not at this time of year.

Here are some thoughts about fireplaces you may want to consider if you are planning one for your yard too:

• If at all possible, try to find a place out of the wind, they are particularly susceptible to windy conditions.
• You may want to consider building a wood fire pizza oven instead, it can give off as much heat, but also produce great pizza!
• Consider using a rough stone on the outside, it will help give it the look of an old relic.
• Be sure to be generous with the seating area in front. Don't make the mistake of putting the seating too close to the flames, it will be uncomfortable and not the popular place that you imagined.

Outdoor Fireplaces

With summer quickly becoming a memory, for many people trying to get those last few days and nights of outdoor entertaining it's getting down to the wire. One thing that will help to extend the season is an outdoor fire. The image above is a house that I did at the beach, which has a tendency to get a little cool, even on some nights in the summer. So, a big roaring fire is the perfect solution, but there are other ways to get this, if you aren't so lucky as to have space or budget for a full fireplace, here are some thoughts:

• Many of the big retailers, like Smith and Hawken still have some portable firepits still available (it's a seasonal item and now is not the season).
• If using a firepit, be sure to use it on a hard surface and have lots of comfortable chairs. As the nights get cooler, your friends are going to want to sit closer and closer.
• Another idea, if you are having a special party is dig a firepit in the ground, this will let you build an even bigger blaze, perhaps its not even too late to try this at the beach, now that the summer crowds have gone.
• When building these fires, don't forget that adding some scented woods, such as apple or pear can make it even more festive.