The charm of resting around a hot fire in the fireplace on a chilly evening in winter is enchanting. The hypnotic fire helps take the bite out of the room while creating a special ambience. For many years, fireplaces have served to provide warmth and a place to cook as well. They have never lost their attraction and, in fact, have made considerable gains. In my short life, fireplaces have been strolling southward where winter seasons are punctuation marks and summers are overextended sentences. Though home heating technologies have (evolved over the years, fireplaces are still in vogue|Although the latest advances have been made in HVAC systems for our living spaces, fireplaces persist in being fashionable.
With improvements in home heating the reason for fireplaces has clearly diverged. They are definitely not about simply heating your home. Nor is it about cooking. Stoves have been around for many decades. So why do we have this ever growing love for fireplaces? My spectulation is that fireplaces offer ambience when they're lit. And when they are not, they continue to add interest, focus and character to a room as well as charm. Fireplaces and the mantels that frame them, have been, for some time, one of the definitive architectural elements that adorn our homes much like embellished stairways, arched doorways, or decorative range hoods. In these examples, there is a wonderful marriage, in many cases, of function and art.
"Wonderful marriage" is a conditional statement because not all marriages of art and function are blessed marriages. I recently had the occasion to observe a home that was about 80 percent done and witnessed some really awful unions. There was a kitchen island that had incredibly large and ornate brackets supporting the counter . The fireplace also had gargantuan stone columns supporting the mantel board. The best thing that could be said is: "More is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are many beautiful examples of form and function-just not in that home.
Over the years millworks suppliers have specialized in mantel shelves and surrounds. Demand is usually one step ahead of supply And since the "media" of cabinetmakers is wood, most mantels are made of wood-which is fine by me since wood is my "media". Thick wooden slabs, under laid with crown molding supported by carved brackets and fluted legs are a familiar form for many cabinet makers. Not so common are the hand carved assortment still made available by artisan carvers in foreign lands. The distinction of these carved showpieces is unmatched by the latest 21st century technological genius. The slight nuance and minor imperfections are a signature that says "hand carved" and ehances the charm and unique quality. Mass production methodology will, never attain to the techniques of the masters. These artisans can undercut and form sharp interior cuts that are presently not possible with modern tooling.
It is obvious that fireplaces and the mantels that frame them are here for a long time. This is a marriage that has passed the test of time. As long as there are homeowners and designers that can appreciate the charm and homey pleasure afforded by them, we should not expect their demise. More likely they will continue to grace the homes in the cold North as well as the hot and humid South.
