Fire Pits and Chat Groups: The Hot Patio Furniture Trend for 2011

You’ve heard of patio sets – which typically consist of four chairs around a dining table. But are you familiar with chat groups?

Chat groups, also known as conversation sets or chat pits, consist of four chairs gathered around a fire pit. Whereas the focus of patio sets is on sitting and eating, the focus of chat groups is on – you guessed it – sitting and chatting.

The focal point of a chat group is the fire pit (also known as a fire bowl).  A fire pit sits lower than a table, creating a relaxed (and warm!) atmosphere conducive to conversation.

Here's an example: The Vesuvius Chat Pit, manufactured by O.W. Lee (available from Rich's):

What is a Fire Pit?

If you haven’t seen a fire pit in action, it provides the ambiance and comfort of a campfire minus the smoke and ash. Fire pits are designed for outdoor use, but they are not wood-burning, so you shouldn’t attempt to cook (or roast marshmallows) over them. 

Many fire pits have adjustable flames and they are powered with either liquid propane, gel fuel (an alcohol-based blend), or natural gas. The bowl can incorporate realistic log sets, river rock, lava rock, or tumbled glass.

Below is an interior view of the Glass Top Firelight, from Agio, along with an exterior view of the same fire pit:

Following are examples of various styles of fire pits:

Largo Chat Pit, from O.W. Lee:

Santorini Chat Pit, from O.W. Lee:

Hampton Real Flame Fire Bowl:

Mix-and-Match

If you already own a patio set, consider adding a fire pit to your set. You can mix and match chairs, sofas, and swivel gliders and add a complementary fire pit to create a fresh, updated look for 2011. We has several chat groups on display in our five Puget Sound showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale, so you can get great ideas for what will look best on your patio.

Our chat group displays include outdoor dishware as well as a variety of statuaries and planters so you can easily design a new look for your entire outdoor room.

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