Outdoor Living

(Large)

A few summers ago I was having lunch with a very clever landscaping guy who told me about how he was staying busy by building outdoor fireplaces for people.  I was somewhat familiar with the idea because my house, which was built in 1950, had a wood-burning, brick fireplace in a screened-in back porch.  

We rarely used the porch or the fireplace and eventually we knocked down the wall that separated the kitchen from the porch and turned it into a family room. The fireplace is still there, but now it's inside and still doesn't see much use.  

Anyway, outdoor fireplaces are now being surrounded by outdoor living rooms, complete with outdoor plasma screens mounted over outdoor mantles.  Swimming pools and spas are also getting the same upgrades.

Here's the whole story on outdoor living.