With a La Hacienda chimenea or firepit providing light and heat whatever the thermometer says, David Coton discovers that you can continue savouring an outdoor lifestyle even in late summer and the cool of an autumn evening.
There's no reason why you can't continue to enjoy your garden when the temperature drops. Here's our guide to the La Hacienda range of chimeneas and firepits that make this possible.
Classic chimeneas
Chimeneas are reputed to have originated hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago as a vessel for cooking and baking as well as heating. They've become very popular in the States and now over here, attractive garden ornaments as well as practical patio additions.
For something as genuinely Mexican as a Tequila Sunrise or a battered sombrero, our inclement weather may come as a surprise but these classic designs will reliably withstand harsh conditions and use wood as fuel.
Displaying complete authenticity are the chimeneas hand crafted from clay. There's an impressive range including the 'Calida' and the 'Lumbre', and these are both well chosen names as they mean warm and fire in Spanish.
Other examples of traditional style are the El Sol, Campanero and Algeria chimeneas together with the Flower Star which, along with selected others, is available in a range of sizes to best suit the location.
Of similar appearance but constructed from steel with different colour finishes and fired by charcoal or wood are the Leon Bronze Steel Chimenea and Murcia Black Steel Chimenea. Again, there are several sizes from which you can choose.
Towering above them all is the Mega Chimenea with Grill, another which is well named as it stands nearly 7ft tall. Murcia and Arriba chimeneas are two more from this traditionally styled collection. They are all extremely durable, easily cleaned and maintained.
Contemporary chimeneas and firepits
Colorado chimeneas, in an assortment of sizes, and the Circo Steel Chimenea with an integral wood store, are striking designs. You may think they resemble rockets made from matt black powder coated steel taking off from the Nevada desert but they will certainly be attention grabbing focal points in anyone's garden.
La Hacienda's contemporary firepits have become extremely popular over recent years, exuding heat and a warm glow that everyone can sit around and enjoy.
There are a plethora of styles from the simple but very effective bowls of the Pittsburgh, Boston, San Diego and Stamford models to the fabulous Horse and Dragon fire globes that produce flaming silhouettes.
The beautifully coloured Kala and Fasa firepits will introduce an eastern ambiance with their presence while their oxidized metal appearance is replicated by several others including the very impressive Moho and Ruga firepits and upright Ochiba and Teya designs which all have space for logs underneath their bowls.
There are fire baskets such as the Vancouver and Alberta with open sides through which air rushes to fuel the flames in addition to the Casablanca and Minnesota versions which are good examples of enclosed fire baskets with flames dancing behind decorated laser cut grills.
Gas fuelled firepits including the Daytona, Sarasota and Orlando tend to have a more substantial character due to discreetly hidden gas canisters, but there is no doubt that they are eye-catching and intriguing designs.
Firepits with grills
Many of the firepits such as the Moresque, Camping and bright orange Globe Enamelled Firepit, come supplied with cooking grills so they can be used as a mini-barbecue for any foodstuff that benefits from the smoky heat of a log fire.
There's also the specially designed Pizza Firepit with a steel stand with a cordiente stone that can handle high temperatures and on which the pizza cooks under a steel lid.
And any firepit can be turned into a grill with La Hacienda's Tripod with Hanging Grill. This can be quickly assembled and hanging from a central point is an adjustable chrome grill that can be positioned over the flames. It's a wonderful centrepiece and will produce fantastic food.