January 31, 2014 | seo
Anyone who has spent a winter in the Northeast can attest that New Englanders have an affinity for fireplaces, and with good reason. The scent of the wood, crack of an ember, the dance of the flame, it’s soul-warming. Architects, builders and contractors in this area are outdoing themselves with truly magnificent designs, inspiring us to come in from the cold.
Talk about a great room…This wood-burning stone fireplace plays the lead role in this living room interior by Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc. Its sky-high masonry stands in stark contrast to the environs’ refined white millwork, beautiful built-ins and arching, architectural mouldings.
(Architecture by Jan Gleysteen Architects; Built by Kells Construction; Photography by Richard Mandelkorn)
Intentionally unrefined Westport fieldstone comprises this bold, almost elemental, fireplace—the same stone used for the piers and exterior walls of this sweeping home by the sea in South Dartmouth. Selected by the owner for its warmth of tone, this fireplace serves as a rugged counterpoint to the polished furnishings of the living space, echoing the terrain of the coastline indoors. Its mantel is a 12-foot piece of solid granite reclaimed and repurposed from the site’s shoreline.
(Meyer & Meyer Architects; General Contractor Lars V. Olson Fine Home Building Inc.; Stone Mason Patriot Masonry, LLC; Photography by Richard Mandelkorn)
This simple yet elegant wood-burning fireplace designed by the client and S+H Construction cozies up this wonderfully inviting bedroom. Heavy on character, this fireplace and hearth are crafted from absolute black granite, distressed for a textured surface—the perfect foil for the space’s enveloping angles and romantic appointments.
(S+H Construction; Stone Fabrication & Install by Cumar Marble and Granite; Photography by Michael J. Lee)
This cleaned-lined, contemporary gas fireplace is a standout among Commonwealth Fireplace’s wide array of gas and wood-burning fireplaces, gas inserts and wood stoves. A warming trend to be sure, Ortal’s Clear 150 LS gas fireplace is making appearances in living and dining rooms, bedrooms and baths; it’s both sleek and convenient, with authentic-looking firelight that turns on and off by command.
(Commonwealth Fireplace, Ortal’s Clear 150 LS Gas Fireplace)
In this room with a view, the veining and colors of the slab in this fireplace by Cumar Marble and Granite was chosen as it suggested an ancient map to the homeowners. A seamless design, the stone mingles with the mouldings that run through this penthouse, while a stone on steel “floating hearth” provides fireside seating.
(Stone Work by Cumar Marble and Granite; Contractor: Metric Construction Corporation; Design and Architecture by Guy Grassi, Grassi Design Group; Decorator Maureen Cyr; Millwork by Mark Richey Woodworking; Photography by Neil Alexander)
Jim Mellowes of Mellowes & Paladino Architects offers that, because the bones of this fine home allowed, his firm was able to design an outdoor fireplace abutting one within the home as well. Using a shared chimney, the masonry of the exterior fireplace resonates in the aesthetic of the interior hearth, though the latter is finished with wood paneling and other refined materials. Homeowners have the best of both worlds, and can sit fireside whatever the weather.
(Architecture by Mellowes & Paladino Architects; Photography by Greg Premru)
Kenneth Vona Construction, Inc.—one of the Boston area’s premier builders of luxury homes—“is building more and more outdoor living areas to extend the New England seasons.” This stone fireplace, which serves as the focal point of this extraordinary courtyard canopied by fine millwork, is “used all year, no matter the weather.” The builder explains that “people are drawn to an open fire,” and embracing the elements with outdoor living has become a new standard.
(Built by Kenneth Vona Construction; Photography by John Horner)
For ultimate relaxation, consider adding a fireplace in your bathroom. This has become a popular trend in new homes. Fireplaces can be easily installed in various sizes and styles to fit your lifestyle.
Another trend is a two-way fireplace. The fireplace is position between a wall of the master bedroom and the bathroom – perfect for enjoying the warmth in two rooms at once.
(Architecture by Duckham Architecture & Interiors)
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