Last Updated: September 2026
An outdoor fireplace is both a focal point and a gathering place. Because of its function and beauty, it is a welcome addition to your landscape and outdoor kitchen in Kings Park, NY. Incorporating an outdoor fireplace need not be complicated, as long as you keep these few points in mind, and have the expertise of an Above All Masonry Design and Outdoor Living professional at hand:Design and Material
An outdoor fireplace can be made to seamlessly blend with, or accent the style and surfaces of, your existing outdoor kitchen. The exterior of the fireplace can be made of many different kinds of material. Whether modern stacked stone, natural river stone, classic brick, contemporary concrete units, or even stucco for a classic southwestern look, your fireplace will be a reflection of the taste and style of your home and landscape. Typically outdoor fireplaces are rectangular in shape, but they can also be designed to be round, oval, or square, in order to fit into many different kinds of spaces. Additionally, there are many custom features, like decorative tiles, a custom mantle, or an extended hearth, that can be added to make your fireplace a unique addition to your outdoor kitchen.Fuel Options
A wood-burning fireplace puts out more heat and is less expensive to operate than gas, but it does require a chimney to burn adequately. A wood-burning outdoor fireplace creates a lot of smoke and so there are specific code regulations that must be abided by for the sake of safety. A gas-burning outdoor fireplace does not require a chimney, only adequate venting. A gas-burning outdoor fireplace does require a gas line that will need to be connected to the house. Thus, if your outdoor kitchen is located some distance away from the house, there may be potential restrictions. A professional will be able to determine which fuel option is best for your space.Related: Add Warmth to Your Oyster Bay Backyard with a Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplace in Oyster Bay, NY
Safety
Particular attention must be paid to safety and the prevention of fire hazards. An outdoor fireplace requires proper ventilation and shielding to prevent sparks from igniting. The fireplace cannot be placed under a roof or wall without an airway to provide ventilation for smoke. Thus, an outdoor fireplace can’t be placed just anywhere. The careful planning of a professional will ensure that your fireplace is safe and meeting all of the codes and regulations of your area while not compromising aesthetics.Storage and Placement
A professional will make sure that there is adequate space for storing fire-related necessities before installing the fireplace. Space in close proximity to the fireplace should be reserved for the storage of wood or propane, a fire extinguisher, cleaning supplies, fire-tending tools, and cooking utensils. In addition to storage, a professional will pay close attention to placement. The outdoor fireplace should be placed in a dry spot that allows for proper drainage. Drainage is an important consideration when living in Kings Park, NY. Snow and ice can damage your hardscape and hardscape structures if a proper drainage system is not in place.Related: Get Your Outdoor Kitchen Ready for BBQ Season in Smithtown NY
Size and Seating
Outdoor fireplaces come in a variety of sizes. Your local professional will help you to choose a size that is proportionate to your outdoor kitchen. An outdoor fireplace should not be so small that it looks misplaced, or so large that it takes away from the outdoor kitchen as a whole. Additionally, before installation and with the guidance of a professional, the seating arrangement must be considered. Is additional seating needed? Is there adequate space available for seating? If not, can seating be incorporated into the walls of the outdoor kitchen?What else belongs in the kitchen around the fireplace?
The grill is the centerpiece, but the pieces around it decide whether you actually cook out there. Side burners earn their keep, and so does a refrigerator, as long as it’s an outdoor rated unit on a GFCI protected circuit. An indoor fridge won’t hold temperature in summer heat and isn’t built for the exposure. A flat griddle covers breakfast. A wood fired pizza oven gets everyone involved, though it needs its own footing for the weight, a non combustible surround and a flue with clearance from anything that burns.
Plan the unglamorous parts at the same time: access doors, a trash pull-out, closed storage and enough clear counter for food going on the fire and food coming off. One item isn’t negotiable. If the island runs on propane, the cylinder can’t sit in a sealed cabinet. Propane is heavier than air, so the enclosure needs vents low down, sized to the appliance instructions. Gas piping and the electrical for a fridge or a kegerator are licensed, permitted work.
For surfaces, granite is the easier countertop. It’s dense, it takes heat and it wipes clean. Bluestone ties the kitchen to the fireplace face and the rest of the hardscape, but it’s a porous sandstone, so it stains more easily and wants sealing. Dark stone in full sun also gets hot enough to notice. Underfoot, concrete pavers, natural stone and exterior grade porcelain all hold up outdoors. Look for a porcelain paver rated for outdoor use and slip resistance, not an indoor tile. Concrete pavers often cost less than natural stone and can resemble it closely.
Work with the yard you have. If there’s a view, point the seating at it. If the space is tight, a straight grill island next to the fireplace beats a large layout that crowds the patio. Decide about shelter early: once there’s a solid roof over a grill or a fireplace, you’re into venting, clearance to combustibles and carbon monoxide, and adding screens makes that worse rather than better. That structure has to be designed for it, with the hood or chimney the appliance calls for. A pergola gives shade and keeps the open feel, and an open slat top is not a vent.
See how this comes together on a real property with Rustic Rhapsody, our project in St. James, NY.
