WINTER WARMERS

AN OPEN FIRE LETS YOU ENJOY YOUR OUTDOOR AREA EVERY SEASON

- TAMARAH PIENAAR

There's nothing like an open fire for bringing light and warmth into a space. And when entertaining outdoors, a fireplace or fire pit is quite literally a beacon, inviting children and adults alike to gather together and to linger. The added bonus? A fireplace or fire pit allows you to enjoy your alfresco entertaining area right throughout the year. Whether you have acres of garden to play with, a roomy deck or a stamp-sized courtyard, there are fireplace options aplenty to suit your home and lifestyle. Read on for Home Beautiful's top tips for planning a cosy makeover of your outdoor entertaining area.

Design & style

The size and type of fireplace that's right for you will primarily be led by your outdoor area's dimensions and local fire codes and building regulations. "Size matters," says landscape designer and horticulturalist Elizabeth Weyer of Elizabeth Weyer Outdoor Design. "A fireplace needs to be in scale with the surroundings: too small and it will lose impact; too large and it may overwhelm the space and potentially restrict movement around it and also around the garden." Next, consider the aesthetics, including views from the house, explains landscape designer Anthony Wyer, principal of Sydney firm Wyer & Co. "A built-in fireplace makes a great focal point that you can design an entertaining area around," adds Kathleen Murphy, landscape designer and co-owner of Kathleen Murphy Landscape Design, who recommends factoring in flexibility. "Including a pizza oven, removable grill plate [for a fire pit] and side benches maximises the possibilities for entertaining."