Fall in Georgia is a beautiful time to get outside and enjoy the weather. As a state where hot weather begins early and seems to linger, many look forward to cooler fall temperatures.  Some popular fall activities in Georgia are hot dog roasts, ghost stories, and toasting marshmallows around a campfire.

But who says one has to leave the comforts of home in order to enjoy fall? With a backyard fire pit, it is possible to enjoy these activities not just during the fall, but into the colder months, too!

Recently, many Georgia residents have discovered the thrill of having a fire pit created for their landscape. Not surprisingly, the number of homes with a fire pit is increasing.

Here are just a few reasons people are getting out and enjoying their backyard fire pit:

1. Anyone’s yard can be enhanced with natural walkways and gardens. But when you add a custom designed fire pit, you add another level of out ambiance. While you may enjoy having company, sometimes it’s nice to have people hanging out outside, rather than inside of your home.

2. A backyard fire pit can be sized according to the space and design of your yard. Whether just a simple fire pit framed with logs or an elaborate one enhances with a stone patio or deck, fire pits can take on a myriad of shapes and be built from a variety of materials.

3. When constructed properly, permanent fire pits are completely safe. They are built with walls on all sides to prevent sparks from spreading beyond the pit. For extra precautions, many homeowners opt for wire mesh on top of the pit.

4. Patio fire pits can use gas for fuel, rather than logs. This makes them more controlled and safer. Having a gas fire pit is also a great option if you plan to cook over your fire pit.

5. As referenced, the fire pit is the perfect outdoor kitchen element. Depending on how large the pit is, items such as barbecue or even the Thanksgiving turkey can be prepared on it.

6. Fire pits are a budget friendly way to add to the design of your backyard. Working with a landscape designer such as Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces means you are can rest assured your yard will be utilized to its full advantage. We carefully design landscapes that incorporate every aspect of your yard.

7. Do you love to star gaze? Perhaps you need a quiet retreat after a long day at work. With a fire pit, you can escape – and without the need to leave the comfort of your own home.

8. Fire pits can add to the resale value of your home. As their popularity has grown, many potential home buyers look for backyard elements such as fire pits.

Adding a fire pit to your Atlanta landscape this fall will transform your outdoor living experience. From roasting food to providing extra entertaining space, there's nothing quite like the fun of having a fall fire pit in your backyard! To learn more about custom fire pit designs, contact Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces. Our landscape designers are here to craft your fall outdoor living space.

The post Get Out & Enjoy Your New Fire Pit This Fall appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

Outdoor Fireplaces or Fire Pits are the trendiest elements in Atlanta’s backyards. Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces completed over 130 fire pits and fireplaces in 2019 alone. That is a lot of happy families!

Fire features like an outside fireplace or outdoor fire pit with a chimney are great for the backyard or can be your patio’s companion. Even the most magnificent patios could seem incomplete without the right fire features.

When it comes to outdoor entertaining, fire features are some of the most popular outdoor living elements. Fire pits and fireplaces provide plenty of outdoor entertainment for your family. They are also an inexpensive way of entertaining guests. Many of our clients who categorize themselves as “outdoorsy people” often find out that keeping a large group of people outside takes more than a book. They need an activity to keep their minds happy and entertained.

Why Are Fire Features So Popular for Landscapes in Atlanta?

Residents of Atlanta enjoy a balanced four seasons of weather. In spring, fall, and some winter nights, the weather can be cool and relaxing. We don’t have to travel far in a campground to gather with family members. No more packing, scheduling, and headaches.

Our designers can design a fire feature in your backyard or on your patio. You could enjoy a safe fire with chimney fire pits right in your backyard at any time of the day or night!

Outdoor Makeover designs fire features in specific locations to provide access to them with minimal effort. For example, we place fireplaces, chimney fire pits or stove gas on decks right outside your living space. We can also add one on a patio attached to the main access to the backyard through a basement or deck stairs. On the other hand, some homes require the placement of fire features further away in a natural area of the property. Especially if there are lakes, a creek, or a really nice site at the end of the property. Our team can install fire features wherever you enjoy them most.

Outdoor Fireplaces Pros

• Outside fire pit and fireplaces are more elegant. They attribute much more to the aesthetics of the overall backyard.
• Carefully designed fireplaces maximize the enjoyment of natural wood.
• Provides extra safety to the experience as it contains the flame with three surrounding walls.
• Only heat radiates out and not the smoke. Smoke rises through the chimney and is less likely to get in your eyes and lungs.
• Fireplaces provide a good place for a TV and decorations on the hearth.
• A wood storage compartment can be built into the fireplace.
• They can be fireplaces gas stoves or wood.

Outdoor Fireplaces Cons

• Fireplaces are more expensive than a fire pit.
• With three walls around the opening, fireplaces limit how many people can sit around it. Unless it is a double-sided fireplace.

Benefits of Fire Pits

• Outdoor fire pits cost much less than fireplaces ($1500-$3000) depending on the model and type of stone.
• Fire pits seat many people who can sit around 360 degrees.
• They are smaller than - usually around 5 feet in diameter.
• Fire pits can be turned into a table for people to sit around.
• They an be a gas fire pit or wood.
• They provide a natural camping experience without the hassle.
• Great for a big family.

Disadvantages of an Outdoor Fire Pit

• Fire pits take up a minimum of 150 sq ft a patio so the patio must be bigger to accommodate outdoor tables.
• If the fire pit is wood burning, the smoke could potentially bother you and clothes may smell like a campfire.
• Fire pits do not provide the height to a landscape as a fireplace would.

Whether an outdoor fire pit or fireplace is ideal for you, Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces is your best fire feature resource. We are Atlanta’s outdoor living experts. Contact us today for a design consultation or more information.

The post Pros and Cons: Outdoor Fire Pits and Fireplaces appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

If you are looking for the perfect way to enhance your backyard and get all you can from time spent enjoying nature, then a backyard fire pit is the answer. Whether you opt for a small space designed just for your family or want a space big enough to host a large party, having a custom-built patio with a fire pit is the perfect way to get more from your backyard.

At Outdoor Makeover and Living Spaces, you can count on us to help you determine the perfect way to add fun and functionality to your outdoor space. We have years of experience with designing outdoor getaways and have designed spaces for homeowners all across North Georgia. These custom builds are more than “just another place where grass needs to be cut” but a place where you, your family, and friends can find respite, relaxation, and rejuvenation. While we have many locations where we have worked our outdoor magic, we would like to share one of our most recent makeovers.

Check it out:

If you have been toying with the idea of turning your backyard into a quiet getaway where you can unwind after a long day at work, what’s holding you back? We want you to find the peace that comes from nature and make it even easier. We offer you the best installation services for outdoor stone patios with fire pits for $5900. This includes the patio (but not the sitting wall) and Belgard Fire pit. Of course, the wonderful thing about designing a patio with a fire pit is that no two projects have to be exactly alike! There is a variety of colors and types of pavers that can be used, and the shape and size of your patio are hindered only by the amount of space and your budget.

A few of the stone and color options for your patio include:

• Cambridge Cobble
• Country Blend
• Brasstown
• Lafitt Paver
• River Street
• Avondale

The Outdoor Makeover team has years of experience and a wealth of knowledge that we will use to help you turn a basic, bland backyard into a gorgeous space perfect for your every need. Whether you have already decided to go with a hardscape design or simply want to know what types of options are available, we can help you determine what kinds of elements and designs will work.

Talk to us today about a patio and fire pit design that will work for your space and budget.

The post Fall Sale! Save Big on an Outdoor Stone Patio & Fire Pit appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

If the home is one’s castle, then the yard is the palace grounds. And, like the landscape of any palace, your yard needs to be a place where you can rest, relax, and be rejuvenated. However, it is difficult to find these three “R’s” if looking at your backyard conjures up a list of To Do projects or makes you cringe. But perhaps looking at your backyard is much like an artist with a clean canvas. You know the possibilities are there, you just haven’t determined how to best utilize the space. If this is you, then here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Custom designed patio or deck: From mini-kitchens to fire pits, delightful chandeliers and romantic seating options, the sky is the limit in designing an oasis where you can entertain or simply relax like royalty.
• Define the zones: Create specific areas in your yard based on activity. Be it a space for that hot tub you have always wanted, an outdoor chimney with a casual dining area, a place for croquet or a shaded area perfect for encouraging creativity, a landscape designer can determine a plan that will meet all your outdoor needs.
• Privacy is a must: Just because you live in a neighborhood doesn’t mean that the whole block has to know what you are doing! When thinking about an outdoor oasis, be sure to include shaded areas or enclosed spaces such as fences or garden walls –don’t forget a beautiful gate! Or, you may want to consider a secluded patio or seating area that allows you to relax in private.
• Water feature: Have a pond or waterfall built to add the quiet sounds of water trickling and creating a soothing melody. Add a larger pond and you can have fish to make the water element even more relaxing – as well as entertaining.
• Take a walk: A quiet garden path that meanders around delightful gardens, through an arbor, perhaps a footbridge over a water feature, or nooks that give the element of privacy are great ways to add delight to a backyard area. Be sure to include secluded, comfortable seating, some statues, and soft lights to make night strolls more doable!
• Add some romance: Don’t forget the citronella candles that not only help minimize the bugs, but add some soft lighting. Other lighting may include strings of white lights, buckets with light or even old school lampposts.
• Don’t forget the kids: Make your backyard an oasis for the kids. Include swings, slides, and other items that make children feel welcomed, while allowing them to get their wiggles out and develop their imagination. Of course, sometimes the problem with the backyard is more about the planning. After all, not all of us excel at designing the perfect backyard oasis! Thankfully, you don’t have to be a backyard design expert to have a gorgeous backyard retreat. The Outdoor Makeover team has a long list of ideas, and is always looking for new ways to take a basic, inviting yard and turn it into an oasis worthy of royalty. Give us a call today to get started on your outdoor oasis.

The post Ideas to Make Your Backyard an Oasis appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

Now that the busyness of summer and fall are behind you, and Christmas is looming, it may seem strange to be thinking about lawn care or landscaping. However, this is the best time of the year to prepare your yard for all the great plans you have for the year ahead. Even better, by making plans and taking precautions, you can ensure that your yard is even better next year than it has ever been. Before many outdoor makeovers can be made, it is vital that some preparation steps are taken. Here are few tips to help you get ready for that 2017 yard makeover.

1. Winter Landscaping Tips  Plan Now for Your Spring Landscape Projects As days get shorter and cooler, this is the time to begin planning your yard’s look for next year. Consider taking time to spread mulch, cut back trees or shrubbery that may still need to be pruned, remove any dead plants, and wrap any delicate shrubbery. For most yards this will take one busy weekend but it will go a long way towards a beautiful, working yard next spring.
2. Think about Drainage Did you discover this summer that your yard did not move water out of the way properly or effectively? Then now is the time to talk to a landscape pro about grading your yard so that rain water is moved the direction you need it.
3. Clean Up If you still have leaves or debris from fall in your garden areas, take time now to remove it as this will make it easier to see your yard’s canvas and begin planning for next summer.
4. Minimize Walking in the Yard Once you have your yard cleaned up and prepped for winter, endeavor to keep walking across your yard to a minimum otherwise you risk displacing your grass. Plus, frequent walking on the lawn - especially should it be a wet winter- can cause damage such as compaction.
5. Irrigation Irrigation systems are a great addition to any lawn. If you are considering one for your space, now is a great time to follow up on it.
6. Dream Now is the time to sketch out what you want next year’s war to look like. From plant life to decorative elements, and features such as patios and fire pits, there are many ways to enhance your yard for greater functionality and design. Need ideas, give the Makeover Landscaping specialists a call. Outdoor Makeover is ready to meet with you and help you move forward on designing the best landscaping design you have ever had. Contact one of our landscape pros today to learn how we can help you give your lawn and backyard areas a complete makeover.

The post Winter Landscaping Tips for Your Georgia Yard appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

What is your favorite time of the year? Is it spring when all the flowers are starting to poke their heads through the earth and the trees are beginning to wear their new coats? Perhaps it is summer when the weather is perfect for outdoor entertainment, long sunny days, warm sultry nights and yard parties. Or, maybe it is fall when the trees are filled with yellow, orange and red hues and the temperatures are crisp and cool – just perfect for relaxing around a fire pit. Then, of course, there’s winter with its cold though sunny days and a plethora of holidays to bring family together. Yes, no matter what time of year it is, there’s always time to enjoy the outdoors with a group of friends and family. But to make those opportunities for visiting and enjoying the outdoors even better, you need to have a landscape designed for entertainment and pleasure.  So, what should that look like? Here are a few ideas for creating the perfect outdoor entertainment area:

1. Outdoor lighting: Lights are a great way to make your yard more interesting. From spotlights or to hidden up lighting in a pond area, to twinkling lights draped in the trees and shrubbery, a string of lanterns along the edge of a patio, torch lights around the edges of an outdoor kitchen or even sconces on the walls of an outdoor bar area – there is no end to how lights can be used outdoors.
2. Custom built tables: Who says that traditional picnic tables are your only choice? Design tables that show off your style and compliment your landscape. Consider alternative materials such as stonework, pottery, recycled materials and other products for a piece that is both functional and fun.
3. Stay warm – Be it a fire pit only large enough for toasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, a large double fireplace for grilling or more simple fireplace where sharing a glass of your favorite beverage is the norm, having a contained fire element is a great way to add life to your backyard entertaining.
4. Stroll along: If you are a fan of gardening, and have multiple garden areas, why not connect the various space with a meandering garden path lined with delightful pavers, small stones or whimsical edges? When combined with lights, you can create a fun place to escape the stresses of the day.
5. Keep it green: Be sure to include plenty of greenery in your backyard – and not just in the form of your grass. Choose an assortment of flowering plants and trees that can be easily maintained yet showcase your home and outdoor features in style. Designing an outdoor landscape perfect for entertaining can be done with a bit of planning and by talking to one of the Outdoor Makeover experts. After all, there is no reason for you to stress over creating the perfect yard. Let us look over your yard and help you decide what elements will be best for your needs. Give us a call today.

The post How to Create the Perfect Outdoor Entertainment Area? appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.