e are not strangers to fire. Stone fire pits have been used to cook over and to warm ourselves around for somewhere in the area of one million years. But things have changed a bit. Dominique de Bruin and Don Eberly, of Eberly & Collard – Public Relations, recently reported from The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago on “Fire with form and function.”  This event calls  itself  “a four day trade show that provides retailers with a destination to find all things related to outdoor and casual living” and where you go  “to see the newest most innovative products from leading manufacturers around the world and discover the latest trends in color, product design and fabric pattern.” This is “all under one roof.” In covering the show, de Bruin and Eberly reported  that “outdoor fire places and fire features always seem to fall into the category of trending items. Fire pits and fire tables with artistic themes can act as stand-alone items, but provide both aesthetic form and practical function. A fire feature with the union of décor style and multi- purpose use gives homeowners the opportunity to enhance outdoor environments from nuts to bolts.”

Five design tips:

1) Always be sure the hearth and fire pit floor is high enough so the heat is reflected towards the user’s and not the walls of the fire pit.
2) Always create at least one or two expansion/contraction joints in a fire pit that has a diameter over four or five feet.
3) Always line your fire pit with fire brick.
4) Try to obtain and use refractory mortar or mortar that is considered “fire resistant” for the lining fire brick.
5) Design the fire pit to allow for proper air flow.