Baby, it’s cold outside. The winds are howling and piercing to the bone. Yet, even with these blustery evenings three Lawrence households are combating these frigid temp’s with the warmth and glow of an outdoor fire feature. Cold weather won’t keep these folks hibernating indoors. They say, rather bring on the wintry weather, and the colder the better.

Permanent outdoor fire features are a growing trend in architecture, and these three examples are all distinctly different; one is reminiscent of a girlhood spent scouting under the Kansas stars. Another is used as everything from an eating table to an imaginary castle turret. Lastly, the highly refined mantel and chimney that accessorizes a poolside retreat. They all have common elements however, in that they emit heat that sparks conversations and spellbinding flames that keeps these Lawrencians outside year round.

Back to Nature

Deanell and John Tacha have nestled in for the long, hard chill in their country home. The picturesque setting is alive in the barren winter landscape with horses grazing, geese flying overhead, dogs belting out a lively harmony and the crackle of a fire blazing in their rustic fire pit. The Tacha’s fire feature is a simple one that co-exists with the towering trees and spacious acreage; it is a perfect reflection of John and Deanell’s childhoods. “John and I both grew up loving outdoor campfires.” Say’s Deanell, “John grew up on a creek farm where they regularly had weiner roasts and picnics. I was a Type A Girl Scout, went to camp most summers and grew up on the river where we had campfires on sandbars. Our fire pit allows us to recreate those experiences.”

Not only does their fire feature conjure up memories of a carefree childhood but it serves as a way to decompress as well. The Tacha’s find peacefulness in cooking their dinner over an open fire, gazing at the Kansas stars and remembering what civilization was like when we all moved at a slower pace. Deanell recalls, “One of the most fun nights I ever spent with my daughters was a freezing cold evening on a frozen lake in north central Kansas when we built a fire on the ice and cooked our pre-made packet dinners.”

Neighborhood Hot Spot

Grant and Rachel Lechtenberg have a beautiful fire feature as the centerpiece on their northwest Lawrence patio. Grant and a friend constructed the feature themselves as a central place for the neighbors and the Lechtenberg family to congregate. Grant explains his design thoughts, “I wanted to use limestone to tie in with the retaining walls in our garden. I had a disc from a farm implement that I used for the center. I raised the base so that we could use it as a table when not in use as a source of heat or for roasting marshmallows. The pit was made round to compliment our round patio and other round curves found throughout the garden.”

With three children Linc, 3, and twins Ford & Finnigan, 14 months the importance of fire safety has been paramount in their education. Grant states, “Our oldest son Linc has always been accustomed to being around the fire pit and uses it almost daily, be it as a table top for playing cars or using it as a place to sit and have a snack. When we have a fire he knows it is a special treat so we let him help prepare the fire to teach him about safety issues. He respects the fire enough that he can now roast marshmallows and hot dogs with our supervision.”

Bringing the Indoors Out

Harry and Cindy Herington have created an outdoor oasis. Harry even jokes that the family did their landscaping backwards from the back to the front, placing most of their attention on the backyard, which no one really sees, but their family and guests. The backyard is a playground, with a large swimming pool, a miniature putting green, large multiple person hot tub and a full mantel and fireplace feature. Cindy states, “Everyone loves our fireplace. We’ve used it year round but it is especially magical to have a fire blazing on a sub-zero night while you relax in 100 degree swirling water.”

The fireplace has the same natural stone that is used on the façade of the home and throughout the interior fireplaces, pulling the architecture through to the outside with a fluidity of design and aesthetics. The Herington’s have certainly captured a warm and captivating outdoor space where the family spends long, lingering evenings having fireside chats.

Tips

If planning on constructing a fire feature you may want to consider the following suggestions.

• The location of a fireplace feature is crucial – it can serve as a courtyard wall for privacy as well as a chimney.
• You will want to see the fire from the indoors, if you are constructing it around the patio area.
• Round fire features lend themselves to conversation more.
• If it is a pit-like fire feature, make sure no tree boughs or eaves will obstruct the flames and possibly catch on fire.
• A fireplace can put a major dent in the pocketbook, costing roughly $5,000- $10,000 for the masonry alone.
• A fire pit is much more reasonable on the pocketbook and can be just as stately.
• Always respect a fire and never leave one unattended.