Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Fire Pit Designs and Plans


Courtesy of Julie Martens Forney

Hi Friends,

Thinking about adding a fire pit to your yard? Discover great design ideas to make your fire pit a favorite gathering spot.

Dress up your outdoor living spaces with the warmth and ambience of a fire pit. This hot trend makes any backyard a go-to destination, especially when you customize fire pit designs to suit your lifestyle. The simple backyard fire pit has come a long way from traditional campfire-style to sleek gas-fired fire bowls and boxes. Before you make any decisions, consider these key points to create winning fire pit designs.

Deciding which outdoor fire pit design is right for you depends on a variety of factors, including budget, where you intend to light the blaze, and how you want to use the fire pit. Before you kindle any outdoor fire pit plans, check with your local city hall or firehouse to determine what types of outdoor flames are legally permitted in your area.

A small budget may dictate a DIY fire pit, where you purchase materials and supply your own elbow grease to build a fire pit. This type of outdoor fire pit design may limit you to traditional wood-fired options, like a metal fire ring or paver stone fire box. Or you may want to explore stone options, utilizing native stone to build a ground-level fire ring.

If you’re confident with concrete, you can craft permanent fire pit plans that mortar local stone or colorful tiles as part of the design. Even with a limited budget, check with local contractors that specialize in outdoor fire pit designs. You might be able to get a customized plan that you install yourself.

Location is another key consideration as you ponder outdoor fire pit designs. Where do you plan to savor the dancing flames? Many people prefer locating a fire pit near an existing patio or other outdoor living area. Always keep safety in mind when you’re deciding where to create your fire pit. Avoid spots too close to flammable structures or overhanging and nearby vegetation. Also locate your fire pit near an easily accessible water source.

As you ponder fire pit designs, think about how you intend to use the fire pit. To create a gathering place, make sure your fire pit plans are large enough to accommodate more than just a few people, especially if you have teenagers whose friends will be eager to huddle around a campfire. If you hanker to roast hot dogs or marshmallows or grill meats and veggies over the flames, choose fire pit designs that accommodate these activities.

You might be counting on your fire pit to warm a patio on chilly evenings. In that case, select a design that provides maximum access to the flames, like an above-ground fire or a bowl. Also look at fire pit designs that include metal, brick, or tile copings that radiate heat. Just be careful because, when hot, these materials do become burn hazards.

Outdoor fire pit plans feature different shapes. A round fire pit offers an informal feel and allows more people to cozy up to the flames. A square or rectangular fire pit creates a more modern, contemporary look.

Cozy up a crackling fire this Fall...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Friday, September 22, 2017

First Day of Autumn!


Courtesy of Anna Fletcher

Hi Friends,

Hope everyone enjoyed the hot days of Summer and ready to welcome Autumn with opened arms. We have a lot of great ideas in the coming weeks and look forward to sharing them with all our friends...

Now that the Fall season is almost upon us! The leaves are about to start changing, the days will get shorter, and mornings will grow chillier and crisp as summer fades away. And though we will miss long summer days and warm nights, we have a brand new, exciting season approaching! So why not start thinking about some fun outdoor activities you can do to celebrate the coming of autumn?? Here are a few…

10 Outdoor Activities to Kick Off the Autumn Season!

1. Attend a Barn Dance. Whether it's contra dancing or square dancing, hoedowns are a great way to spend fall evenings and nights. Have a blast and work up a sweat in the cold, autumn night air while you dance along to foot-tapping bluegrass and fiddle music!

2. Go Mountain Biking. Okay, so you can mountain bike at any time of the year (except maybe the dead of winter…ice and snow are no bueno for your tires). But there's something about the chilly air and bright orange, red, and yellow leaves all around you that makes biking during the fall so amazing.

3. Take a Scenic Drive. Early to mid-fall is one of the prettiest times of the year, as the trees still have most of their leaves which have turned vibrant with the coming cold. This is the one of the best times to take a drive through the woods, around town, or through the mountains.

4. Go Pumpkin Picking. Fall season means one thing - pumpkin season! Restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and many other places around town start selling pumpkin foods, drinks, and products to welcome in the season. You will also be able to find whole pumpkins all over town, whether you want to go pick your own at a patch or get one from the store. If you do take a trip to your local pumpkin patch, you can do many fun, free activities that they offer, like hay rides, corn mazes, and petting zoos. Make a jack-o-lantern with your new prized pumpkin and be sure to keep the seeds so you can roast them! Yumm.

5. Host a Bonfire. Shorter days and cooler weather make perfect ingredients for a bonfire. Grill out, have a tub of hot apple cider, and don't forget s'more fixings!

6. Go Climbing. One of the best times of the year to rock climb is during the fall. As leaves begin to drop and greenery wanes in anticipation for winter, rock faces become more exposed. Cooler weather also means fewer bugs zipping around your face as you make your way up the cliff!

7. Do Some Photography. Bright multi-colored leaves, teaming autumn wildlife, colorful pumpkins and gourds, and clear, sunny days make for great photo ops. See what amazing autumn things you can capture on your camera!

8. Go Camping. Cooler, dryer weather means fewer bugs and fewer people, so fall is one of the best times to go camping. Just remember your cold weather hammocking gear, and you'll be toasty and comfy in the chilly autumn air!

9. Visit an Orchard. 'Tis the season for apple picking! The prime months for ripe apples is September and October, and most local orchards open their doors to the public during this time to do some picking. Just think of all the pies, apple butter, cider, and applesauce you can make! And even if you're not a big apple-eater, just strolling through the trees in the cool fall weather is a great way to spend the day!

10. Play Some Pick-Up Football. Labor Day weekend officially kicked off football season, so what better way to celebrate that than to play some football yourself? Grab family and friends and head out to the park or backyard for some down-set-hike!

Check back for more great ideas and recipes from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

5 Fire Pit Ideas to Steal for Cozy Fall Nights


Courtesy of Erica Reitman

Hi Friends,

Here are a few ideas to steal for your fire pit design dreams, as well as some tips for creating the coziest outdoor spots this fall.

An (Outdoor) Room With a View

Eric Perry

When you’re thinking through where to put your fire pit, consider the view while creating your design. Try to choose an outdoor spot that gives a majority of people the best view. Even if your home doesn’t have a mountain or water view, it’s smart to think this through. For example, if you place the fire pit in a spot that has everyone staring at your garbage cans while roasting their marshmallows, that could really put a damper on your s'mores mojo.

Simple Setup = Big Fun

DarrenMcCollester/Getty Images, HGTV/Scripps Networks, LLC.

A simple solution can be achieved with a few chic outdoor chairs and your own DIY fire pit. Try cozy-ing up your space with some outdoor cushions and faux sheepskins thrown over the backs of your chairs if you want to go for a glamping vibe in your backyard.

All Shapes and Sizes


Forget a pit, and go for a bowl! If you’re tight on space, a fire bowl is a great solution. Typically, these have smaller profiles than a traditional fire pit and can easily fit into tighter or non-symmetrical spaces. If you have a larger area to use and still prefer the look of a bowl, use a large fire bowl instead.

Above Ground or Below?

John Martinelli

Just like a pool, you can choose to have your fire pit above ground or below. Below ground has a more modern look and is a great option if you want to maintain the site lines of your outdoor space. Using natural gas for these fire pits are a great option because you can kick off your cozy gatherings with a simple flip of a switch.

Cozy up to your very own fire this Fall...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!





Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Creating a Cozy Fall Outdoor Space


Courtesy of Sam Henderson
Photography by Sam Henderson

Hi Friends,

Continue entertaining outdoors well into the chilly weather with this simple idea to cozy up your outdoor living space. Add warmth to your space. Surround chafing dish warmers with river rocks or lava rocks for a cozy glow.

Editor's note: Always use caution with open flames.

Now cozy up to the fire...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Fall Door Decorations That Aren't Wreaths


Courtesy of Chelsea Faulkner
By: Jaime Costiglio

Hi Friends,

Break the wreath mold this season with creative door decor ideas that are sure to stun. Now don't get me wrong, I love a gorgeous fall wreath. But sometimes it's nice to take a break from the norm and try something new. So this year, I've decided to swap out my usual grapevine wreath for a front door decoration that's equally as beautiful but totally unexpected. Who knew there were so many gorgeous non-wreath options out there? Check out a few of my faves below.

DIY Door Tags
Simple and chic, the featured fall-themed door tags from DIY blogger Jaime Costiglio are a fun, elegant way to add a touch of seasonality to your outdoor decor.

Dried Florals

Jeremy Hartwell

Get a long-lasting fresh flower look by filling a vintage hanging container with dried hydrangea, cotton stems and curly willow branches. When it's time to switch out your fall door decor, simply rearrange all materials in a vase to be enjoyed indoors.

Garden Rake Welcome

Is last year's rake looking a little worse for the wear? Instead of tossing it, give it new life as a cheery fall welcome arrangement.

Basket of Flowers

iStock/WichitS

A woven hanging basket is a simple, pretty way to display potted, dried or faux seasonal blooms.

Corn Door Hanger

iStock/Brian McEntire

Nothing says "fall" quite like a bundle of dried flint corn. For an elegant presentation, choose three to five large ears in a variety of colors, then hang with a trailing branch of fall foliage.

Wow With Wheat

Julie Blanner

This quintessential fall door decoration from lifestyle blogger Julie Blanner is as pretty to look at as it is easy to make. All you need is a handful of wheat, a rubberband and some ribbon.

Chalk It Up

Sara Syrett

I'm in love with the way DIY blogger Sarah Syrett upcycled this old silver tray with a little chalkboard paint and some eye-catching fall florals.

Pumpkins Aren't Just for Carving

Hortus Ltd.

A rustic metal basket lined with wheat straw creates the perfect base for displaying pumpkins, apples or other decorative seasonal produce. Opt for high quality faux varieties instead of the real thing to keep the basket from getting too heavy and to ensure your decor will last throughout the season.

Great options to the traditional, right? Come share some of yours with us too; look forward to hearing from you...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!





Live well,
Yvonne

Monday, September 4, 2017

Happy Labor Day!


Hi Friends,

Summer's behind us with Autumn just ahead, the perfect opportunity to thank you for visiting us during the hot days with our hopes it will continue through the chilly ones. You know, it doesn't matter if you are white collar, blue collar or no collar; working with your mind, hands or heart; taking the time, devoting the energy or making it happen, we appreciate all of you.

Have a restful and enjoyable Labor Day from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!





Live well,
Yvonne