A dramatic sphere can provide the spark your patio needs to conquer backyard boredom.
Roasting marshallows over a stone firepit can be fun, but let’s face it—that’s all child’s play. Add visual interest and a little warmth during a cool autumn night with an aged-steel fire globe. Created by artists and blacksmiths, the rustic steel of these spheres can be molded into various shapes and depictions that tell their own tales as you and your guests share late-night conversations. Lithuanian blacksmith Andrius Ziedas, for example, constructs scenes, such as an army of Vikings approaching land (at left), that add dramatic flair (and flare) when backlit by a wood-burning flame. Whether you choose conquering Norsemen, an African safari or a forest landscape, companies like Parker Homescape in Basking Ridge or Horizon Landscape Company in Wyckoff can help you find the backyard fire feature that fits your style.