John Bendall owner of Re/Max Classic Group talks about the trend towards outdoor living spaces.

Is the living space in your home a little too small?  Do you prefer to spend more time outdoors?  Then the new trend of bringing indoor living out is for your!  Homeowners have really grown to see their yards as extensions of their homes and have found creative ways to make outdoor areas more livable.  While luxury amenities for backyards and patios may include built-in barbecues and plush sofas surrounding a weatherproof plasma television, it is the outdoor fireplace or fire pit that is increasingly becoming a backyard staple.

During the transition months in the spring and the fall outdoor fireplaces get a lot of use, making spending time outside comfortable when it may normally have been too cool.  Some people get far more use out of their outdoor fireplaces than the ones inside.  There are several different types to choose that fit just about any budget.   You can spend anywhere from just over a hundred, to thousands of dollars.  On the lower end of the price scale you can pick up a free standing fireplace or chimnea from your local home improvement store.  These models require no installation and can be used right out of the box.  On the higher of the spectrum you can have a custom fire pit built right into a patio, with a gas line that burns over lava rock.  The ease and cleanliness of units like this guarantee frequent use. 

Before considering making any kind of investment in an outdoor fireplace make sure to check out local zoning.  Different areas have different requirements and restrictions.  If your area does not allow outdoor fireplaces there is still an option for you. Electric fireplaces have lights that create the look of flames.  However this option will not help you out on a chilly evening as they provide no heat.  Which ever type of fireplace you decide on you can be sure that spending family time telling stories by the fireside beats zoning out in front of the TV any night!

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