#firepitdreams

[fiorellooutdoorliving]

Friday Evenings and Firelight: Why I’m Dreaming of a Backyard Fire Pit

Jackson evenings are starting to get that golden-hour glow again—the kind that makes you pause for a second in the driveway and wish you had a spot to linger outside, even when the air dips a little chillier than you’d like. For years, our backyard has been more afterthought than destination. But lately, I’ve caught myself picturing something simple: a circle of chairs, laughter, and the scent of woodsmoke curling up into dusk.

The idea of adding a fire pit crept into my mind during an impromptu family BBQ. After the sun disappeared (and the mosquitoes arrived), everyone sort of migrated inside, abandoning burgers and s’mores supplies. There was just nowhere comfortable to hang out once it got dark and cool. Since then, I can’t stop imagining what it would be like to have a real gathering spot—a touch more magic than our rusty old chiminea.

But I know myself; I’m not about to haul rocks from the woods and hope for the best. I want something safe, sturdy, and stylish—that actually works with our house. The question is, how do you start?

Scrolling through ideas for fire pits, I found myself circling back to local options that know how crazy New Jersey weather can get. That’s when I hit on Fiorello Outdoor Living’s fire pit installation page. It was one of those late-night Google searches—“custom fire pit Jackson NJ”—that led me right here: https://fiorellooutdoorliving.com/fire-pit-installation/.

What stood out was just how many ways there are to get this right (or wrong). This isn’t just throwing a ring of pavers together and calling it a day. They talk about designing fire pits that actually fit into your yard, with cushions for wind direction, local safety codes, and even things like integrating seating. Stuff I never would have considered, but now feels really important.

Their approach has this whole “backyard centerpiece” vibe—where the fire pit isn’t an afterthought, but the reason you plan nights outside all year long. They mention things like:

Custom stone designs that won’t crack or shift by next spring.

Options for wood-burning or gas (that gas starter feature honestly sounds dreamy for spontaneous get-togethers).

Smokeless fire pits, which…listen, I love a campfire, but not the next-morning laundry.

Shaping the sitting area so it actually becomes a destination, not just a circle in the grass.

Building with New Jersey’s super-variable weather in mind, so it’s not a one-season wonder.

One thing I never realized: how much a good fire pit depends on setup—from foundational work and fuel lines to smart placement away from overhanging trees (I’m looking at you, maple in the corner) and code compliance. They have a process that starts with walking the yard, planning materials and layout, and then managing all the messy stuff from clearing and digging to the actual build and final walkthrough. Suddenly, even though I'm not a “project manager”—just a regular Jackson homeowner with a marshmallow habit—it feels more accessible than I thought.

Maybe it’s the stories on their page—neighbors mentioning family nights that stretch into fall, or the relief that comes from a fire pit that actually lasts—but there’s a contagious sense of possibility. Now, I’m out back in the evenings, pacing out imaginary circles and eyeing the best wind breaks. I keep comparing fire pit materials online, but the convenience of having it all handled, safely and correctly, is winning me over. (And let’s be honest: the memory of that smokey chiminea still haunts me every time I open the garage.)

Am I calling Fiorello tomorrow? Maybe not. But after digging into their guide, I feel a shift. Instead of some pie-in-the-sky “one day” plan, an actual fire pit feels possible—something that’ll let us stretch the backyard season into cozy October nights and spontaneous summer s’mores. I might not be ready to pick out pavers next week, but you better believe there are already sticky notes in the cabinet marked “future fire pit.”

#firepitdreams #backyardgathering #JacksonNJ #fiorelloliving #outdoorliving #jerseyhomes #fallnights #hardscapingideas #familytime #homeprojects

[toptierland-scaping]

I want it to feel like it’s always been there

That’s what I wrote in my journal when I tried to describe the kind of outdoor space I want to build. Not trendy. Not something that looks like it was plopped into place last summer. But something timeless. Solid. A little rustic. A little refined. Like it grew into the land instead of being added to it.

I’ve been walking around the backyard more lately, barefoot with coffee in hand, imagining it. The way a stone path might meander toward the old elm. A small sitting wall curling around a fire pit. Even just defined lines between lawn and beds would be a huge upgrade.

The bones of our yard are there. What it’s missing is the structure.

Hardscaping = Structure + Soul (I Finally Get It)

I used to think “hardscaping” was just fancy concrete patios or maybe the word contractors used to sell you on pavers. But lately, it’s started to click for me—hardscaping is how a yard holds itself together. It's the part that doesn't wilt, doesn't get soggy, and doesn’t need to be replanted next spring.

After falling into yet another late-night research spiral, I found this page from Top Tier Landscaping about hardscaping in Loch Lloyd. And... wow. Here’s the page that got my wheels turning: 🪨 https://toptierlandscapingkc.com/loch-lloyd-kc/hardscaping/

They break it down in a way that made me start picturing real solutions:

How retaining walls can both solve erosion issues and look beautiful.

How decorative concrete can mimic natural stone (without the upkeep).

How smart drainage is often invisible—but makes everything else possible.

How patios, walkways, and fire pits become not just features but destinations.

And the photos on their site? Honestly, they gave me design envy—but the good kind. The I-can-actually-do-this kind.

A Backyard With Purpose

What I’ve realized is that I don’t need a million plants—I need a plan. Something that gives the space rhythm and reason. Right now our yard feels like a blank page. But with some intentional hardscaping, it could feel like a story.

Here’s the vision starting to form in my head:

🔹 Flagstone path from the porch to the fire pit. Slight curve, nothing too formal. Just enough to feel guided.

🔹 Raised paver patio with space for a small table, chairs, and a string of lights overhead. No more dragging out folding chairs to the middle of the lawn.

🔹 Seating wall that doubles as a retaining wall—our yard has a bit of slope, and this could make that space both prettier and more useful.

🔹 Natural stone border around the garden beds, giving them definition (and keeping mulch from migrating into the lawn every storm).

🔹 Subtle drainage channels that do the work without turning into eyesores. It rains hard here in KC. We need function and form.

Top Tier’s page even talked about how they use different materials based on slope and water behavior. That kind of attention to how a yard lives—not just how it looks? That’s what sold me.

The Dream Is Closer Than It Feels

I’m still gathering ideas. Still measuring. Still pacing the yard barefoot and mumbling about symmetry. But for the first time in a while, I feel like I’m not just wishing—I’m planning.

And maybe that’s what I love most about this kind of work. You don’t have to rush it. Hardscaping isn’t seasonal. It doesn’t bloom and fade. It lasts. It grounds the rest of your landscape. And it gives everything else—plants, lights, people—a place to belong.

Here’s to structure, soul, and outdoor spaces that tell stories.

#LochLloyd #KansasCityHomes #hardscapingideas #retainingwallinspo #paverpatios #backyardrevamp #TopTierLandscaping #outdoorlivinggoals #landscapedesign #firepitdreams