Rebecca Rogers, 12, roasts marshmallows at a portable firepit in the backyard of her home in Toronto.
Photograph by: Tyler Anderson, National Post
Back in the day, no self-respecting backyard would be caught dead without a display of patio lanterns.
Now, it's all about firepits and firepots, stylish gizmos that cast a merry glow, can help warm the cool evening air, and run on everything from propane to ethanol.
They range from the $399 Jackson Patio Fire, a Jackson Grills firepit available at Romantic Fireplaces & BBQS in Orléans and dandy for a wiener roast, to the four-footlong, decorative Linear Patio Flame by Napoleon Grills ($1,299 at Ottawa's The Fireplace Center & Patio Shop).
Both products are made in Canada and are even safe for backyard decks. Whereas strict regulations govern open-air wood fires, natural gas, propane and ethanol-fired appliances like these are permitted in the City of Ottawa.
"People like creating backyard oases," says Mike Pilon, president of Romantic Fireplaces & BBQs (romanticfireplaces.com). "These give you some heat and comfort and extend the season."
Pilon's company also designs and builds larger, custom firepits starting at $1,500. They include traditional campfire-like models and sleek, contemporary designs.
Some off-the-shelf products use a standard barbecue-style propane tank or alcohol-based gel fuel. Others tap into natural gas lines or large propane tanks, requiring professional installation.
Big box stores have got into the act. Home Depot (homedepot.ca) sells the Paramount line including the mood-creating, table top Gel Pot Cream. At $39.99, the seven-inch-tall ceramic firepot has river rocks cradling a small, central flame. It runs on clean-burning gel fuel.
http://www.househunting.ca/montreal/homes-and-gardens/baby+light+your+fire/4837016/story.html
