Nothing makes for a better gathering spot than an outdoor fireplace. It gives your patio a wonderfully cozy living room feel and it’s a beautiful focal point even when it’s not in use. The right paver choices can make a lot of difference too. Here are five paver patio design ideas that complement a South Whitehall, PA, outdoor fireplace.
Related: How a Landscape Designer Can Make Your Paver Patio Dream a Reality in Allentown PA
Rustic Charm
In a rustic setting, your fireplace is likely to be stone (or at least, faced with natural or manufactured stone) for a substantial appearance. If your backyard is relaxed, with an easygoing country charm, then consider pavers inspired by flagstone. Some flagstone-inspired pavers feature the same texture as natural flagstone; and others are smooth for a more contemporary look. You could embrace the textures of both, or contrast the textures of your outdoor fireplace with smooth pavers.
Another good option for country-inspired patios is granite: this timeless stone has been used for centuries and works well with any architectural style. Granite-look pavers tend to be smooth, though not polished as you would find on countertops.
A Fire Circle
Gathering around the fire is as old as humanity itself. Gathering in a circle around a fireplace (as opposed to a fire pit) isn’t possible because the fire box directs the fire outward in a triangular fashion, which means only a few people can get close to the fire. However, you can increase the amount of warmth that is held in the space - and therefore allow more people to enjoy the warmth - by partially encircling the fireplace with a low seat wall, or preferably one with a high back.
The feel of a circle will still be there; and although you’ll most likely be using the fire area with just family most of the time, the seat wall arrangement allows a larger group to enjoy the fire.
Modern Flair
A different approach than the cozy fire circle, a modern fireside patio may trend toward the angular, with sleek surfaces, clean lines, and sharp angles. In this case, the fireplace is most likely a uniform material such as concrete; or, it may be clad in large format pavers. A very modern fireplace is often a stand-alone feature, a focal point that has its own presence and doesn’t try to “fit in” - although the materials used are complementary. In the case of a modern fireplace, the patio materials could be the classic modern large-format pavers; or, you could infuse a bit of vintage charm by using brick in more modern colors (such as charcoal or mind-tone grey) and laying them in a herringbone pattern. This will give the fireside area a very chic and classic look.
A Cozy Corner
One of the best places to situate an outdoor fireplace is in the corner of a patio - out of the main flow of traffic, in a quieter area where people can enjoy relaxing together. This is a great solution if there’s a view you want to take advantage of - position the fireplace so that people only have to look slightly sideways to enjoy the views, but don’t block the view with the fireplace.
A Lower Level
One way to define the fire area is to position the fireplace on a lower level than the main patio. This is especially wonderful if you have a sloped site, because the fireplace could be positioned on the outside of the slope, so that people can sit against the comfort of a retaining wall. This will also give people on the upper patio a great view of the fire.
Related: How to Incorporate an Outdoor Fireplace Into Your Outdoor Kitchen Plans in Reading, PA
