Light My Fire

“What better way is there to celebrate Old Man Winter than with a good, old-fashioned fire in the snowy woods?” shares designer Astrid Insieme of Insieme House, who recently designed a permanent fire pit area in the backyard of her A-Frame country home, cast amidst a path of concrete pavers. “The process was relatively straightforward until, a freak snowstorm hit – with no forecast in sight – about twelve hoursafter we had poured the final round of concrete in the form! We rigged some heat lamps and covered the pit to keep the temperature above freezing so that the concrete would cure properly and we completed the project in two days.” Even with arctic temperatures and snowdrifts on the landscape, as long as the wine is flowing, there’s plenty of sustainable warmth to enjoy a winter wonderland. Astrid shares her easy to follow visual chronology of the fire pit project, below:

1. “In collaboration with Raymour & Flanigan, I styled our outdoor fire pit area with simple Adirondackstyle chairs in white (Mopani Outdoor Chair), and a loves eat bench in the same style (Haltom Outdoor Bench). The simple lines of the Adirondack-inspired design of the chosen seating are just perfect for our rustic setting, and conjure up a quintessentially New England vibe regardless of the season.”

2. “Because we’re in the throes of some seriously cold days, the only other elements that are necessary are some cozy layers in the form of plaid throws, pelts, Kilim pillows and lanterns for lighting. Oh, and firewood, of course! Serve up a warm Hot Toddy and you have the makings of a perfect setting to enjoy the stark beauty of winter.”