OUTDOOR FIREPLACE

An outdoor fireplace is such a great thing for little pyromaniacs such as yours truly. I love building big fires, a thing I indulged in a lot when I was still living in South Africa. Although we did have central floorheating in the house, I preferred to wake up the house by building a fire first thing in the morning.

During my walks with the dogs I always collected pineapples, to use as a kickstart. The secret to a great fire is to build your woodpile with lots of space between the logs.

In South Africa it is very common to have a firepit outside. Most probably this stems from the olden days, where big campfires were necessary to keep away the wild animals.  When we went on safari, we would search for a few big stones, place them in a circle and start a fire. When the wood turned into glowing embers, all you had to do was throw on a steel rack and start your braai (the Afrikaans word for barbeque). But since lots of people have outdoor fireplaces at home, a safari is not necessary anymore to enjoy an outdoor braai under the open sky.

Outdoor fireplaces are functional too, they keep you warm when daytime temperatures drop at nighttime. And don’t forget the aesthetic value of a soaring fire, the natural flickering warm glow is so much better than electric lights. Another perk is that everyone looks at least 10 years younger in this natural firelight. And it’s “green” energy too! Who knows, perhaps you will be inspired by the following examples to build your own outdoor fireplace.

Concrete outdoor firepit in actor Patrick Dempsey’s Malibu home – via Architectural Digest

A very sleek outdoor lounge area with firepit at the Aman-i-Khás resort in Northern India

via The Zush

A typical South African outdoor fireplace, I’m a great fan of this simplicity, at the Hillside House in Knysna, South Africa

Outdoor livingroom with fireplace, clad in Spanish Niwala limestone with Ralph Lauren throw pillows in the Mexican home of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber

Great outdoor livingroom with rustic fireplace, great corrugated steel roof – via Cococozy

via Design Chic

Sleek firepit at decorator Sara Story‘s Texas home – via AD

via The Zhush

Garden in a Malibu house, USA via Jeffrey Alan Mark Design

via Interior Magasinet

via Design Chic

And another outdoor fireplace, this time in George Clooney’s Mexican beachhouse, neighbouring the house of CC and Rande Gerber – via AD

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