Creating a focal point in a room is an integral element of interior design. It helps organize a space, drawing the eye to an intended spot that sometimes is enhanced by lighting.
Solus Decor
A floor-to-ceiling fireplace serves as a room divider and offers a double-sided hearth. The material is concrete, and the rectilinear modules come in four standard widths with a variety of hearth configurations from Solus Decor.
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Solus Decor
A clean, crisp rectilinear surround of concrete called Chilco from Solus Decor conveys a modern aesthetic. The variegated gray-and-golden surface of blocks for the liner offer textural contrast and warmth.
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A fireplace needs no such announcement. The hearth long has been a natural magnet, a symbol of physical and psychological warmth.
Add romance to that.
Dining by the warm glow of a fire is considered one of the perfect mood setters. Last year, some 30 million Americans planned to light a fire on Valentine's Day, according to a poll by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA), a trade organization based in Arlington, Va.
Half of the households in the United States have at least one fireplace or free-standing stove, according to the HPBA. And fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new-home buyers, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
The fireplace mantel or surround can dramatically alter a room's style and even the dynamic of scale. Elegant or casual, the epitome of simplicity or adornment, the fireplace complements any decor.
From a traditional wood-paneled library to a rustic lodge look, perhaps underscored by river rock or a sleek wall of limestone, the fireplace covers an enormous design gamut, often with multiple goals.
With the popularity of plasma TVs, the entertainment element often is built into the fireplace wall. The television might be hung above the fireplace, sometimes flanked by shelves or cabinets that house other electronic devices.
The wall above the fireplace also is prime real estate for an important piece of art. And mantel shelves long have been a favorite stage for the display of candlesticks, photos, art or collectibles.
Modern mantels
The fireplace itself has evolved into an art form, architecturally and ornamentally.
Justin Machonochie
The bottle-green glaze of this tile from Motawi Tileworks creates a strong focal point, but it's the dramatic arch that distinguishes the design. The tile is inspired by the Chicago architecture of Louis Henry Sullivan (1856-1924).
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Technological advances with gas fireplaces allow no-vent, chimney-free placement in a variety of layouts, including the master bedroom and bath, home office and kitchen. There is historic precedence for the latter, of course. Old castles had enormous fireplaces that were used for baking. Today's pizza ovens add a modern hearth option.
Some fireboxes are double-sided, allowing the see-through fireplace to be enjoyed in two different rooms. Shared fireplaces also offer an attractive means of dividing spaces in larger rooms.
Traditional wood mantels are classic, but some of the more innovative designs today are happening with stone, concrete, ceramic tile and metal.
Natural materials are especially appealing, with most consumers gravitating to earth tones and colors from nature. The natural markings, variegated hues and grain in stones make installations unique, enhanced by the skills of the designer and the installer.
When Chicago architect Scott Fortman of Gibbons, Fortman and Associates designed a contemporary fireplace for a loft, he chose marble, a classic material.
Justin Machonochie
A combination of ceramic tiles in a matte glaze with oak mantel shelf and frame add up to an inviting rustic hearth. Designer Colleen Crawly of Motawi Tileworks incorporated existing period vent covers into the layout. Together with textured tiles with a design of leaves and berries, they dress the caramel-to-toffee surface.
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“I wanted the material to look like it was sculpted out of a single piece of stone,” Fortman says. “I initially conceived of it as a flower – a rose unfolding, sort of wrapping around itself.”
Fireplace dressing can be subtle and enchanting, and the material may interact with light, dancing off reflective surfaces in different ways by day and night. Interior designer Jillian O'Neill chose an iridescent glass mosaic tile to clad the surround of a living room fireplace in a Chicago residence. The cool blue-green palette was inspired by the room and its furnishings.
“We picked up on all the colors, which are serene,” O'Neill says.
For the family room in the same home, O'Neill took a cue from the more minimalist leanings of the homeowner.
“She showed me a photo of a fireplace done in stainless steel. She liked the simplicity,” O'Neill says.
In keeping with today's lifestyles, a flat-screen TV is mounted above the stainless-clad surround. And in a twist on traditional bookcases, O'Neill designed low-slung cabinetry, just slightly above counter height, for storage and audiovisual equipment. Open shelves are lined with mother-of-pearl wallcoverings for an extra bit of glimmer.
Strong design feature
Mantels crafted with tile offer another look. Motawi Tileworks, a company based in Ann Arbor, Mich., has been influenced by arts-and-crafts style and classic Louis Sullivan ornamentation that graced many of his historic landmark buildings. Many of these designs rooted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are boldly organic as well as precise in their geometry.
In lieu of mantels, plain drywall can be dressed with a surround of stone or tile. Some are inspired by Southwestern-style kivas or bold geometric borders associated with countries like Morocco.
With a hot trend for outdoor fireplaces, just as much attention is being paid to style, with an eye to continuity throughout. Decor and architectural style indoors are just as likely to be reflected in fireplace design outside. And exterior facades, whether brick or stone, often are carried indoors, especially in family rooms, with the same stone or brick forming a fireplace surround.
A fireplace that envelops an entire wall can be commanding, especially important when scale is an issue. In a soaring two-story space, for example, cladding the wall all the way to the ceiling prevents a mantel from looking dwarfed. Tall and beefy furniture is more appropriate than delicate pieces with such a look.
The average cost of installation of a wood-burning or gas fireplace is between $3,000 and $4,500, according to the HPBA. Choice of materials for mantel and surround, of course, can boost this figure. Gas log sets are additional; they run between $100 and $1,000.
Most people who have fireplaces consider them one of their home's strongest design features. There are energy-saving benefits as well. The HPBA has developed a calculator to determine cost and energy savings of a hearth (hpba.org/fuelcalculator). Each fireplace in a home adds about $12,000 to the value, according to the National Association of Realtors.
But no matter what the style, it's the cozy sensation of gathering around the hearth that makes fireplaces so desirable. That almost mesmerizing flickering of flames warms body and spirit, an old-fashioned and romantic feeling in a high-tech world.
Elaine Markoutsas is a freelance writer for Primary Color, a Universal Press Syndicate Service based in Kansas City.
© Primary Color / Universal Press Syndicate
