How I designed an outside room with an open fireplace

Until last year, the patio in the far corner of my garden felt quite empty and lacking in character with only a pergola over it. The area had lovely views across the garden towards the house but never really worked as an entertaining space. The patio is south facing and was too hot in the summer, also the pigeons liked to perch on the pergola and make a mess all over the furniture!

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I liked the oak pergola and the old brick walls, but decided the addition of a roof and a brick built fireplace would make the area something special and a much more usable space.

We employed a local landscape gardener to do the work using my designs, and after an initial delay due to the lockdown in March work began.

First of all some remedial action was needed on the very old walls. The coping stones were taken off and reset and the most damaged bricks replaced. The black braces that you can see in the photo were added a few years ago to stop the walls from splaying.

Once the work on the walls was complete, the grout was removed from the patio and the pyracantha and pear tree were taken out. A cable for the electrics was laid ready to be connected once the structure was completed.

The structure

The footings for the fireplace were put in next. I designed the shape of the fireplace and surround by eye, laying bricks on the ground until it looked right. We also needed to incorporate the oak upright while making sure it wasn’t too close to the fire.

First course of bricks

We used old bricks from the local area which exactly matched the walls. The paving stones were originally from Marshall’s and are a copy of the York slabs laid at Polesden Lacey, a NationalTrust property in Surrey. We reused the ones that were lifted in the base of the wood store.

Quite quickly the fireplace and surround took shape. I decided that three arched openings would look best and most authentic.

We used new sandstone slabs on the top of each storage area, these have proved to be very valuable as serving space for food and drink.

Once this area was complete, work on the chimney started.

Once the chimney was complete, work could start on the roof.

The cross beams of the original pergola were reconfigured to take a pitched roof. The roof is not a regular shape and this was a difficult structure to make. From the front it looks correct and that was the most important thing! To comply with planning regulations the pitch of the roof can be no higher that 2.5m when it is this close to a boundary wall.

We decided on reclaimed slates from the local area, matching the slates on the house. This gives an aged appearance as if the building has always been there. I decided to only have guttering along the gap between the wall and roof and not along the front as this would spoil the appearance of the building.

I chose to leave the inside of the roof structure exposed as it looked more authentic.

Finally the patio was regrouted and the patio edging beams replaced as the old ones were rotten. The structure was then complete.

I used a wood stain to blend the new wood with the old. I chose Wickes Exterior and interior quick drying water based wood stain in warm oak. I always try to use a water based product and this one worked really well – it was rain proof in one hour and gave UV protection.

The Fire

The open fire is a wonderful centrepiece! I chose a fire basket from Amazon, click HERE for the same one (aff link). This basket can hold a proper open fire but also a Bio Ethanol firebox, which are used to create a real fire effect without the mess and smoke and can be used without a chimney, so is a great option if you don’t have an open chimney in your fireplace

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I bought the Bio Ethanol fire box from Amazon. There are lots of different sizes and designs available, I chose a black plain one that would fit the fire basket. I like to place small logs in front of it but not touching it.

To use the box you fill with bio ethanol and light, it can take a few tries to get it lit and the flames start blue and low but after about 20 minutes become yellow and high. To extinguish the flames you simply place the lid provided over the slit. This type of fire is really just used for ambiance as it does not give out much heat and is totally smokeless.

Soft furnishing and decoration

Styled up for October

The rug is from IRugs. I’ve bought their outside rugs before and love them, they feel like an indoor rug but dry quickly and do not mould. This one is from the Jill Zarin collection and is a 6ft round in green (this one was a PR product).

I revamped my old garden furniture by making my own seat cushions, there is a highlight on my instagram of how I made them HERE. The small green scatters cushions are from The Millshop online in their lovely Iliv fabrics.

The wall lights are from Broughtons of Leicester, they have a wonderful of selection of period outdoor lights.

I resprayed my old barrel seats, watch my reel on that HERE.

The storage area on the right is a wood store and on the left I have crates containing materials for the fire.

Most of the lanterns, candle holders and chandeliers are from my online shop.

I’ve added fairy lights and lots of candles and it really is a cosy and atmospheric space. We had a socially distanced dinner party and even ate our Christmas dinner here!

I hope you enjoyed reading this, I’d love it if you would PIN any images you particularly like and follow me on Instagram for future room styling.