Backyard hardscape with built in fire pit

A Cozy Outdoor Space in Short Pump

Short Pump, Virginia

Project Synopsis

Before Outdoor Dreams, poor drainage rendered this portion of the backyard unusable. Simply walking through this area would your ruin shoes and leave a trail of mud following wherever you walked. With two active young kids, this was a problem that had to be solved.

The resulting space transformed the muddy mess into a multi-purpose outdoor room with a wood-burning fire pit. To help with the poor drainage, the patio has been installed to be permeable, preventing standing water and soggy soils. A once unusable space is now the favorite room of the house.

built in stone patio fire pit by retaining wall

Outdoor patio hardscape with fire pit and retaining wall and steps leading to the yard

Roaring fire in a custom built stone fire pit

retaining wall and custom stone patio pavers and built-in fire pit

custom fire pit installed into backyard patio

backyard patio pavers with table set with sunflowers

Fire burning in the Stone stacked circular fire pit with adirondack chair and retaining wall

outdoor table set with sunflowers and summer mules

Custom patio built outside screen-in porch featuring a built in fire pit

Stone fire pit built into stone paver patio

Gas vs. Wood Fire Features

When planning Outdoor Living Spaces, one of the most difficult decisions for clients is choosing between a gas or wood-burning fire feature. Though very similar in some ways, gas and wood-burning fire features are also very different. Each has its distinct pros as well as its cons. In this article, we compare the two styles using 8 defining characteristics, including convenience, warmth, smoke, and cost.

Planning

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