As the centerpiece of our holiday gatherings, the fireplace gets a lot of play this season. Here’s a peek at what’s hot in hearths.
“Fireplaces have a different purpose in life today than their original intent,” says Tony Sutton, owner, president and C.E.O. of Scottsdale-based design firm Est Est. “They were for not only heating a room, but they were for cooking food. No longer do we need a fireplace for [these reasons]. They are really more for our visual focal point and the entertainment value.” So how can homeowners ensure that they have the most fabulous focal point possible? Sutton says to keep in line with the architectural influences of your home. For instance, limestone, marble and stone are used in more refined styles, like French and Mediterranean, whereas glass and stainless steel are popular choices for contemporary homes.
Size and scale must also be considered before settling on a fireplace. As today’s homes take on more square footage and ceiling heights rise, so must the fireplaces to ensure a proportioned look. “In a large room, the key is that there [should be] something of visual strength in any direction you look,” Sutton says. “The fireplace gives verticality to accentuate the height of the room.”
As the function of the fireplace continues to evolve, so does its form. “If you think of a fireplace, you conjure up images of a traditional brick fireplace with a marble mantle,” says Alexander Eburne, national sales manager for Los Angeles’s EcoSmart Fire. In current homes, though, there is a shift toward eye-catching hearths whose mantles serve as more than just a catchall for trophies and picture frames. “We are doing a lot of…recessed sections [above the fireplace] for accommodating flat-screen TV’s,” Sutton says. “We cover it up with some artwork.” Some popular options don’t have a mantle at all, like many of the EcoSmart varieties, to create a streamlined look.
Indeed, fireplaces are exceeding expectations in the looks department. They are also moving out of just living rooms and master suites, and into less expected areas of the home. “We might do a raised firebox for a morning room that is tied into a kitchen,” Sutton says. “Some people are getting…fire rings and conversation pits on the outside. We are [also] combining fire features outside with the swimming pool area.” For fireplaces that do remain in the living area, Sutton says it is key to cluster the three crucial focal points that usually occur in this room: the outdoor views, the television and, of course, the fire feature. This way, furniture can be arranged easily to pay homage to each of these essential elements.
On the flip side, there are those folks who don’t want to commit their fireplace to just one area of the home. This is where moveable, freestanding fire features come in, such as The Tower by EcoSmart, which require no venting or gas connection. “You are not limited as to where the fireplace goes,” Eburne says. “Previously…you needed to have a chimney. We are now able to have fireplaces all over the place.” In fact, during a recent gathering, Eburne moved his indoor fireplace outside to provide an alfresco area for his guests. “That is really what the market is attracted to—you can have a fireplace anywhere, and you can move it.”
Apart from their flexibility, EcoSmart’s freestanding fireplaces are also appealing because they are planet-friendly. Not only do they not need precious logs to burn, but the fuel they use is concocted of renewable resources (such as potatoes, corn, wheat and sugar cane) and the emissions are minute—which is especially beneficial because it seems this old-as-time trend is here to stay.
To Learn More
EcoSmart Fire, 310.914.3335, www.ecosmartfire.com.
Est Est, 480.563.1555, www.estestinc.com.
