9 Stunning Fire Features to Warm Your Desert Nights
As sweltering Arizona heat reluctantly gives way to cool winter temperatures, locals look to fire to fight off those chilly desert nights. There is a primal urge driving us all to gather around the crackling flames of a fire together. Sharing our stories, passing them down throughout time with those we love. Whether inside a stylishly designed great room with a sleek modern fireplace, or outside around a rough stonework fire pit, one thing is for sure—we are all drawn to the flames.
Drawn to the Flames
Fireside Views
This Desert Mountain home designed by Brissette Architects and built by Arnette Custom Homes creates a dramatic scene with its novel fire and water-jet feature bordering the pool. For 30 years, founders Ron Brissette and Jeff Kamtz have created awe-inspiring, contemporary homes. Brissette explains why this fire feature was different: “The wall of fire had to embrace the Old-World character of the home, framing the pool and the down Valley view,” he says. The interplay of fire and water provides a striking contrast with the Jeff Franklin-built pool. “It also sets the tone and experience of the bocce court below,” Brissette adds.
So Cool
The Aquafire Pro uses water vapor to mimic a flickering fire without heat or smoke. Choose between thirty colors to match your mood. 20-inch model shown. $3,995.00. (aquafire.com)
Iconic Flame
Photo by Kevin Brost courtesy of Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe
Interior designer Kaitlyn Wolfe created a surprising modern mountain cabin feel in a Paradise Valley home dubbed the Desert Chalet. “The client wanted me to create something that would stylistically stand out from everything else,” Wolfe says about her stunning spec project for developer Arcadia Fortress. Wolfe delivered with a vintage-style Vita Fireplace suspended from the cedar ceilings and surrounded by white oak floors. “It uses safe water vapor to create flames and is cool to the touch or can provide heat,” she says. “I am inspired by our Arizona desert landscape and nature and strive to integrate calm functionality into all my work.”
Stylish & Sustainable
The Sky floating fireplace from Le Feu burns clean bioethanol with zero carbon footprint. It provides sustainable warmth to any home from ceilings or walls and is available in multiple modern finishes. (Shown in Mocha). The Sky’s crisp Danish design maximizes any small space style. 20.47″W by 18.9″D. $2,195.00. (lefeufires.us)
Partners in Fire
A gorgeous room to rival the breathtaking views outside contrasts the sleek Emser white porcelain tile-clad wall and brawny fireplace. “This open-faced fireplace with cannonball feature is very popular right now,” explains Keith Richardson, president of Arizona Fireplaces. “The focus is on the inside, selecting the right media to keep it clean, and match the client’s decor.” Adds Platinum Companies Carrie Vorwerk, project manager at Platinum Companies: “Everyone is into this metal look right now.”
Warms the Soul
Bundle up by the fire with a Mountain Throw blanket from Trek Light. Each piece is hand-crafted from recycled materials into a unique work of warmth. 6.5’L by 4.1’W. $168. (treklightgear.com)
Burning Bright
Builders Erik Helm and Christa Pizzolanti-Helm specialize in creating luxury outdoor spaces. When the couple designed their breathtaking Gilbert home, they wanted something extraordinary. “Our inspiration was to overwhelm guests with the look and feel of a Cancun resort, with lush greenery surrounding the pool, and lots of fire,” Pizzolanti-Helm explains. The impressive pool boasts a swim-up bar, an acrylic viewing panel and seven distinct fire features. “The majority of the fire features were custom designed of poured concrete and are unique to this property,” she says. “We try to be innovative and create something functional that is exclusively the homeowner’s style.”
Metal Magic
Brandon Williams’ passion translates into every Modfire piece he creates. The Phoenix metal artist’s Tribal Bonfire model welds midcentury style to a bold industrial edge. Available in wood-burning, propane or natural gas. 84″H by 33″W. $3,337.50. (modfire.com)
Art of Fire
An artisan set of fireplace tools worthy of your hearth. Phoenix Handcraft hand-forges solid steel with traditional blacksmithing for each unique set. Custom monograms are available. 40″L by 4″W. From $185.00. (phoenixhandcraft.com)
