Modern Blaze fire bowls appeared in two episodes of Capturing Home Season 2 on Magnolia Network. The show follows designers Amy Neunsinger and Kate Martindale, who build each renovation around the homeowners' own story rather than around a trend.
Both episodes used the same piece: our own Modern Blaze Smooth Outdoor Gas Fire Bowl, in Ivory for one project and Raven for the other.
Episode 2, Empty Nesters: a back yard with nothing to gather around
A couple whose children had moved out wanted their house to work for the two of them again, and to host well when everyone comes back. The back yard was the weak point. It had space and no reason to use it.
The designers built the outdoor room around a single fire feature. That is the practical move in a yard like this one: a fire bowl gives seating something to point at, which is what turns an open lawn into a room.
Episode 9, Midcentury Modern Living: matching the fire feature to the architecture
Megan and Michelle wanted their outdoor space to read midcentury modern, in step with the house rather than fighting it.
This is where a smooth concrete bowl earns its place over a more decorative fire pit. Midcentury design runs on clean geometry and honest materials, so a plain round form in raw-looking concrete belongs, where anything with applied ornament would not. The darker Raven finish keeps it grounded against the planting instead of pulling focus.
Why a gas fire bowl suits a renovation like this
Both projects had the same constraint any renovation has: the outdoor work happens late, and it cannot wait on trades that are already booked.
A freestanding gas fire bowl sidesteps most of that. It needs no electricity, so there is no circuit to run and no electrician to schedule. The ignition is match-lit, which means nothing to wire and no batteries. The bowl is GFRC, glass fiber reinforced concrete, which holds a thin, clean edge that ordinary cast concrete cannot and stands up to weather better. The burner is stainless steel because anything else rusts outdoors.
The one thing worth knowing before you order: the decorative media is required and is not included. A gas burner needs fire glass or lava rock over it to spread the flame and shield the burner. How much you need scales with the bowl, so order it at the same time rather than discovering the gap on install day.
Where to watch Capturing Home
Magnolia's own streaming site has closed, so the old episode links no longer work. Season 2 is available on Apple TV and YouTube TV. The two projects above are Episode 2, Makeover for Empty Nesters and Episode 9, Midcentury Modern Living.
See the fire bowl the designers used
The piece from both episodes is the Modern Blaze Smooth Outdoor Gas Fire Bowl, in a range of widths and finishes and in either natural gas or liquid propane. If you are still deciding on a format, the wider fire bowl, gas fire pit and fire pit ranges are a good place to start.
Not sure which size suits your space, or whether natural gas or propane makes more sense on your property? Call us at 866-713-2399 or email support@modernblaze.com and we will work through it with you.
