San Diego Backyard Transformation With DreamCast Skyline 60 Fire Pit by Kristyn Harvey Interiors
Four years of planning. A sandstone cliff excavated. A backyard that now lives like a second home.
This is the project Kristyn Harvey designed for her own family and that context matters.
When the designer is also the client, every decision gets interrogated twice. Nothing makes it in without a clear reason. The DreamCast Skyline 60 made it in.
A Backyard Built for How a Family Actually Lives
Kristyn Harvey Interiors is a Southern California studio known for layered, livable homes where architecture, interior design, and outdoor space read as a single resolved environment.
This San Diego project started from scratch, and then some.
The goal was personal and included multiple zones for entertaining, cooking, gardening, and relaxing, all held together by a material palette that was carefully curated rather than assembled. Microcement, unlacquered brass, marble, and raw copper made their way outdoors. The result is a backyard where interior-level detailing runs all the way to the perimeter wall.
Why the Skyline 60 and Not Something Else
A lot of outdoor fire features arrive as an afterthought. They get placed, not designed in. Kristyn wanted something that felt like it had been planned from the beginning, something with enough architectural presence to read as a permanent element rather than patio furniture.
The Skyline 60 delivered that. Its clean profile, substantial scale, and visual texture in the Foundation series aligned with the natural texture running through the rest of the space.
Terracotta vessels, raw timber, stone paving, built-in stucco seating: the Skyline sat comfortably in that language. It grounded the primary gathering zone and gave the fire pit area the kind of weight that draws people in rather than simply directing their gaze.
As Kristyn put it, “The Skyline felt much more integrated and intentional. It has a strong presence visually and feels very high-end in the space.”
Zoning an Outdoor Space Around a Fire Feature
The Skyline sits at the center of one of the backyard’s main entertaining zones, flanked by built-in seating with outdoor cushions and surrounded by a palette of cream, warm stone and natural fibre. A cedar pergola frames the outdoor kitchen behind it, while the pool runs alongside. Lounge seating occupies its own zone beyond.
The seating arrangement around the fire pit was planned so that people gathered there could still feel connected to what was happening at the kitchen, the pool, and the dining area.
In San Diego’s climate, that matters year-round. The fire extends usable evening hours well into the cooler months without pulling guests away from the broader rhythm of the space. Kristyn elaborates, “because the project incorporated so many natural and tactile materials, scale and finish were very important. We wanted the fire feature to feel substantial and integrated into the architecture of the space rather than like an accessory added afterward.
We also paid close attention to circulation and seating placement to ensure the fire pit enhanced the flow of the backyard and could comfortably support entertaining.”
Materials That Hold Up and Belong There
For a project where finish quality and material integrity defined every other decision, those specs mattered. The Skyline arrives looking like something designed for the space, not sourced to fill it.
The DreamCast Skyline 60 is cast from high-performance concrete, built for outdoor conditions, and designed to complement natural material palettes without fading into the background.
For a project where finish quality and material integrity defined every other decision, those specs mattered. The Skyline arrives looking like something designed for the space, not sourced to fill it.
The Outcome
“I always encourage people to think about how they actually want to use the space rather than treating a fire feature as purely decorative,” says Kristyn.
Consider:
- How many people will gather around it
- Whether it visually connects to surrounding zones
- Scale relative to the space
- Materiality and how it relates to the rest of the design palette
- Whether it enhances the atmosphere year-round
The best outdoor spaces are integrated rather than a collection of separate features. The backyard now runs from mid-morning to late evening, nearly every day. That shift from an underused yard to a space the family actually inhabits is the measure Kristyn points to. She says, “Since this was my own home, we’ve experienced firsthand how transformative the space has been for our family. We now spend nearly every afternoon outdoors. The fire feature especially helps extend the usability of the backyard into the evenings and creates a natural gathering point when entertaining.”
As far as trends go, Kristyn mentions, “I’m seeing a major shift toward outdoor spaces feeling more like fully resolved interior environments. People want outdoor areas to function as true extensions of the home rather than secondary recreational spaces.”
There’s also a growing interest in:
- More architectural and sculptural fire features
- Organic and natural material palettes
- Layered outdoor living spaces
- Hospitality-inspired entertaining environments
- Softer, more relaxed luxury
- Indoor materials being adapted for outdoor use
For designers approaching similar projects, Kristyn’s advice is direct. “Think about how the space will actually be used, then choose the fire feature that supports that use rather than decorating around it.”
Interior & Landscape Designer: Kristyn Harvey Interiors | @kristynharveyinteriors
Photographer: Charlotte Lea | @charlotteleaphotography
Landscape Contractor: The Landscape Company | @thelandscapecompanyus
Pool Builder: San Diego Pools | @sandiegopools
Get In Touch
Still have questions about fire bowls or fire tables? Give us a call at 1-888-337-0597, and one of our team will be happy to help!
If you’re not ready to make any decisions right now, why not take a look at our product gallery for more inspiration, or follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest trends and promotions.
FAQs
What fire pit was used in Kristyn Harvey Interiors' San Diego backyard project?
The DreamCast Skyline 60 concrete gas fire pit was selected for the primary entertaining zone of this San Diego backyard renovation, designed by Kristyn Harvey Interiors.
Why did Kristyn Harvey choose the Skyline 60 over other fire features?
Kristyn wanted a fire feature that read as a permanent architectural element rather than something placed after the fact. The Skyline 60’s scale, materiality, and clean profile integrated naturally with the project’s organic, high-end material palette.
What materials were used throughout this backyard project?
The backyard incorporated microcement, unlacquered brass, marble, raw copper, natural stone paving, cedar timber, and stucco, with all materials chosen for both durability and visual coherence in an outdoor setting.
Is the DreamCast Skyline 60 suitable for full outdoor installation?
Yes. The Skyline 60 is made from high-performance concrete designed for outdoor use. It is built to withstand weather exposure and maintain finish quality over time, making it well suited for pool-adjacent and full outdoor entertaining environments.
How long does it take to receive a DreamCast Skyline fire pit?
The Skyline is made to order with a production time of four to six weeks. Shipping across the US and Canada typically takes one to two weeks, with the unit arriving fully crated for safe delivery.
As a partner at DreamCast, she has been immersed in the decorative concrete industry since 2007, specializing in fire pits & mantels. With a passion for interior design her expertise drives innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship.
Author
Catherine Traschenko
Fire Products
Design Specialist
Author
Catherine Traschenko
Fire Products
Design Specialist