Outdoor Living Spaces
Outdoor Kitchens, Fire Pits and Seating Walls That Extend Your Season
An outdoor living space turns a patio into a place you'll actually spend time. We build fire pits, seating walls, pergolas and outdoor kitchens, designed together with the patio so everything fits from the start. Tell us how you picture using the space and we'll put together a price.
Plan the Utilities Before the Patio Goes Down
If there's any chance you'll want a gas fire pit, an outdoor kitchen or lighting down the road, it's worth planning for it now. Running a line after the patio is finished means cutting into the surface and resetting it.
Installing a sleeve and conduit during the patio build costs very little, even if the feature is a few years away. We ask about it during design for exactly this reason, so the patio, the lighting and any gas work are planned together.
What We Build
Fire pits and fireplaces
Wood-burning or gas, in stone that complements the patio. Wood is simpler and less expensive, and many people prefer a real fire. Gas costs more up front because it needs a line run, but it lights in seconds and produces no smoke, which helps when the seating area is close to the house or a neighbor. A built-in fireplace with a chimney is a larger project than a fire pit.
Seating walls
Low walls at sitting height around the edge of a patio. They provide permanent seating, define the space and often cost less than people expect. They're one of the most useful additions to a patio project.
Outdoor kitchens
Anything from a grill surround with counter space to a full kitchen with refrigeration, a sink and storage. Utilities drive the cost and complexity, so gas, water and electrical are planned before the patio base goes in.
Pergolas and shade structures
Cedar, composite or aluminum, freestanding or attached to the house. Footings go below frost depth, so the structure stays solid through New England winters.
Designed Around How You'll Use It
A fire pit needs more room than most people picture for chairs to push back comfortably. An outdoor kitchen works best near the house so serving is easy, but not so close that smoke drifts inside. A seating wall in the right place makes a patio feel like a room.
These details are worth working out on paper first, which is why larger features usually belong in a full design and build plan. We're also glad to build from a landscape architect's drawings.
Common Questions
Wood or gas?
Wood if you enjoy a real fire and don't mind some ash and smoke. Gas if you'd like it lit instantly, with no cleanup and no smoke drifting toward the house or a neighbor. Gas costs more up front, mostly for the line.
Can you add a fire pit to an existing patio?
Usually, yes. A freestanding wood fire pit can go on an existing surface with the right preparation. A gas feature means running a line, which involves opening and resetting part of the patio.
Do I need a permit for a fire pit?
It varies by town. Some require a permit for a permanent outdoor fireplace or a new gas line, and fire departments set clearance requirements from structures and property lines. We check what applies in your town during design.
What does an outdoor kitchen cost?
It varies widely. A grill surround with counter space is a modest addition to a patio project, while a full kitchen with utilities, refrigeration and stone counters is a significant project on its own. Appliances and utilities usually drive the cost more than the stonework.