As June ushers in the outdoor entertaining season, New Jerseyans are once again turning their attention to the spaces that make summer gatherings memorable. Among the most coveted backyard amenities, fire features have emerged as both a design statement and a practical extension of outdoor living, creating inviting spaces where guests naturally gather long after sunset.
Whether it’s a sleek fire table anchoring a contemporary terrace, a dramatic linear flame feature bordering a pool or a classic stone fire pit nestled within a garden retreat, today’s fire features blend warmth, ambiance and architectural appeal. The right design can transform an ordinary backyard into an elegant destination for conversation, relaxation, and entertaining.
But which type is for you? We flipped through our archives, as well as the pages of our sister publications and our image library, for some of the hottest fire features:
For this Tenafly backyard, designer Welington Gomes at Paramus-based SJ Pools and Landscaping installed an Archpot gas fire table in the lounge area. For those by the water, Archpot fire-water vases add a distinctive spark.
The owners of this Ramsey home love to entertain, so the team at Thomas Flint Landscape Design in Waldwick created an ideal lounge area for them. A natural gas firepit is the focal point, as its surrounded by a conversation-friendly curved sofa and the outdoor bar and television.
Husband-and-wife team Mike and Ellie Mroz (owners of Michael Robert Construction and Ellie Mroz Design, respectively) redid their own Westfield yard with several tranquil features. Fire bowls accentuate an entire wall that runs seamlessly into the pool.
The linear style fire table by Archpot lets everyone shake off the evening chill in this Kinnelon backyard, also designed by Gomes and the team at SJ Pools.
The owners of this Franklin Lakes home had an ambitious list for their backyard redo, which CLC Landscape Design in Ringwood was tasked to complete. Instead of a small firepit or fire table, the team custom built a fireplace for the outdoor living room. It was constructed from fieldstone that was specially split and rounded for the project.
Thomas Flint created entertainment central in the backyard of this Saddle River home. The oversized gas-burning firepit is perfect for day or night. When not in barbecue use, it doubles as a dinette or coffee table with a stainless-steel cover.
For more entertaining ideas, be sure to read the latest issue of NJ HOME.