| Project by jroot | posted 119 days ago | 447 views | 0 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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We had a fairly mundane patio, which has since been drastically improved by the addition of an outdoor fireplace. With the rug down, it is just like a little room. One person has described it as an ancient ruin of a castle’s room. Since we live near a cedar bush, we cannot be burning wood, as the sparks are a real concern for safety reasons. Hence I have chosen to use a propane firepit, readily available at most building centres or larger hardware stores. I got mine when it was on sale for almost half price.
I poured a pad beside the existing patio, and then using patio bricks, built up the walls of the fireplace, leaving some open spaces in the back for ventilation and decorative appeal as well. For the top, I poured another rectangular concrete slab. With the help of neighbours, this was lifted onto the walls of the fireplace. More bricks were placed on top of that, and a concrete flower urn was placed on top to resemble a chimney. The propane tank hides nicely behind the fireplace. I placed some little rabbits on the mantle piece, as well as some solar lamps placed into an iron candelabra. The rabbits and the candelabra have been sprayed with Tremclad rustproof paint.
I planted some pansies into the top of the “chimney” flower pot. Since this photo was taken, I have also added some purple fountain grass which really looks great. There is a dahlia hedge on both sides of the fireplace which gives us more privacy, and brightens up the area with their many colours. I chose the 3 to 4 foot varieties for there.
We can cook on this outdoor fireplace / BBQ, so it works within the local firecode. We always have a package of weiners or some similar thing handy, just in case. LOL
-- jroot
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17 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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3774 posts in 495 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 119 days ago
I’m just sitting here shaking my head at the beauty and ingenuity.. this is so beautiful, in such a gorgeous setting. Yes, the rug in front of it really turns it all into a different “space”.
Your work is inspiring!! Thank you
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
Iris43
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171 posts in 125 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 119 days ago
This is just lovely. You haven’t missed a detail for comfort and beauty. I’m wondering——do you have time to sit down to enjoy it?LOL
Seriously, John, as I’m looking at your pictures, it looks like there is no motar bewteen the blocks? Does the stability come from the thickness of the fireplace walls? Perhaps this is something I could try in my yard——in a much smaller version, of course.
I agree with Debbie, your work is inspiring!
-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'
Eklectic
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1455 posts in 295 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 119 days ago
I just love it!
Wanted to do one with rocks! Maybe one day, I will!
You are quite the inspiration!
-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a
jroot
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991 posts in 125 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 119 days ago
No mortar, so hence no cracking walls. The stability does indeed come from the thickness of the walls which are two bricks thick, as you can see. Of course, there is an 8 inch pad on which it is built which also adds for the stabiltiy. Because there is no mortar, if it does shift, it is easy to straighten up again with a few taps of the wooden mallet.
I am a retired teacher who specialized in math, drama, and teaching the gifted. The drama flair always comes out in gardening, or any creative work.
-- jroot
XploreOrganics
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820 posts in 374 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 119 days ago
A master of the garden describes you for sure…Just beautiful!
-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20
MsDebbieP
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3774 posts in 495 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 119 days ago
the gifted teaching/inspiring the gifted.
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
Bon
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1701 posts in 275 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 119 days ago
What a beautiful sitting area you have created Jroot.So peaceful.I just love the fireplace.
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more
Bob
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647 posts in 243 days
hardiness zone 3b
posted 119 days ago
Just like another room on your house.
Great idea and one that is in my head and never gets done as I have 200 projects ahead of it.
Good to know you have emergency weiners just in case I come visiting.
Bob
-- I am a strong believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. Alberta Canada Zone 3A or maybe 3B
Scott Hildenbrand
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905 posts in 267 days
hardiness zone 6b
posted 119 days ago
I like the fact that it’s dry stack. Makes for easy removal in the event that you want to do something else there, or to move it to a new location.
-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b
Scott Hildenbrand
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905 posts in 267 days
hardiness zone 6b
posted 119 days ago
Can you snap a picture of the back? I’d like to see how you laid out the vent holes, however pretty sure I’ve got a picture in my head of the stacking layout.
-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b
jroot
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991 posts in 125 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 119 days ago
There is a photo of the back where you can see the pattern and also the propane tank in the blog: http://gardentenders.com/members/jroot/blog/489#comments
-- jroot
roman
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625 posts in 315 days
posted 118 days ago
Nice.
Its on my list…sorry “wish list” for this year. I have collected concrete block, re-bar, fire brick to make an outdoor fireplace/smoker/BBQ/outdoor wood fired oven. Now I just need to find the time
The photos make me wanna get busy
-- Central northish Ontario
Dadoo
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12 posts in 117 days
hardiness zone 4
posted 117 days ago
If I can ever get my hands on a backhoe…
Nice fireplace Jroot! I want one as well but lack the backhoe for the rest of that project…at this time anyhow! We can burn wood here…I’m thinking of a fireplace that can burn like 3’ logs, ya know? Stone pavers, elevated Koi pond, Whole hog BBQ grill!. Now you know why I need the backhoe!
-- Mama plants, Dadoo kills, and Chippy buries it.
Louise
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74 posts in 265 days
posted 115 days ago
I love the setting, what a beautiful place just to set and think.LOVE IT!
-- Louise Edgwood,Md.
jroot
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991 posts in 125 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 115 days ago
Thanks, Louise.
-- jroot
Bunting
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587 posts in 219 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 113 days ago
Welcome to the forum jroot
I love your fireplace
Looks so cozy and inviting
Looks like a great snuggle nook, lol,lol
-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.
lulugardengirl
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42 posts in 123 days
hardiness zone 9
posted 109 days ago
This is a great little room I could live there. just pull up my chair and a book. Wow it’s beautiful!