The hearth is the heart of the home. Even without a blaze going, it evokes warmth, comfort and romance.
A fireplace dominates a room as no other single decorating device can do. We design seating arrangements around this natural focal point as much for emotional warmth as for the warmth generated by the dancing flames.
And the mantelpiece draws the eye as unerringly as the fire does, a place just made for everyday adornment and holidays, when we dress the fireplace to the nines with garlands, $l ornaments and collectibles.
No one knows exactly how many fireplaces there are in American homes; some have more than one. But in 1995, close to 2 million hearth appliances, including those for wood-burning and gas fireplaces and stoves, were sold.
And fireplaces, once used exclusively for practical purposes like cooking and heating, are finding their way into every room in the house -- even the bath, where some builders design two-sided models to share with bedrooms.
The range of styles is enormous, including entire walls -- mantel-free -- that can be clad in marble, limestone, river rock, ceramic tiles, flag or synthetic stones, or stucco like Dryvit. Vintage mantels can be found in flea markets for around $50, and some go for tens of thousands of dollars in antiques shops.
When Marie and Bill Trader redesigned the kitchen of their home, they were delighted to find a Gothic-style mantelpiece at a flea market. The mantel has a mirror (which makes the room look larger) and shelving for their collectibles.
A blue-and-white checkerboard tile surround, which matches the kitchen stove, also inspired the use of cobalt as an accent in chair cushions, napkins, dinnerware and a Delftware chandelier.
Whether you're building a new home or have decided to add a fireplace to an existing room, consider the impact a particular style can have on the room.
Traditional mantels, typically in pine or oak, are widely available. Cherry, maple, mahogany and other exotic woods are more expensive, and ornamentation or unusual shapes will add even more to the mantel's cost.
There are ways to give even an ordinary mantel a more elegant look. You can, for example, dress a plain mantel with decorative molding (home supply stores are one source for stock molding) or create a decorative tile surround.
