Page 14 - November-December Klahanie Magazine

Your fireplace

. . .is it stuck in the 80s?

by Jeff Skierka

In many homes, the fireplace is chosen for the new exterior,
the centerpiece for relaxation and it may not be necessary to
where home activities take place. remove the existing brick.
Too often, this centerpiece is Dimensional tile works well
dated in another era and does not for this type of application.
fit in with the appearance of the Another relatively new stone
rest of the home. During the 80's option is thin set stone strips
and 90's, it seems that every new that are glued together. They
house was built with a standard give the fireplace a beautiful
used-brick fireplace facade. The color scheme that will
majority of these home fireplaces compliment the other design
were wood burning and let in elements of the home.
cold air, offsetting the heat the
fire produced. • The brick that is on many
of existing fireplaces is only
In upgrading your old fireplace for looks and not a part of
functionally and aesthetically, the the chimney construction.
first step to consider is bringing Therefore, changing the layout
gas service into the fireplace. This of the new fireplace does not
involves a tap at the gas meter have to be based on the shape
and running a line to the fireplace. of the existing layout.
Then, decide if you want a gas
insert that will help heat the • Hearth and mantel options
home or just add new doors that present another design
reduce heat loss. opportunity. The options range
from no mantel, to stone slabs,
With these key questions concrete, and traditional wood
decided, it is time for the fun mantels. For a client who
part, deciding what the fireplace wanted a lodge-like feel to her
could look like. As a designer, home, large pieces from a tree
when helping my clients to make were cut to create the desired
the correct decision, I consider effect.
the following:
Regardless of which design
• What is the style of the home features you select, a modern
and the elements surrounding appearing fireplace should be
the fire-place? While the a visual anchor to your home.
fireplace is the centerpiece, And with a simple addition of
it must connect to all the gas service, it can also be a heat
surrounding elements. source on those dark and stormy
nights.
• Are there plans to change any
of the existing elements, such
as remodeling the kitchen or
other areas surrounding the
fireplace? Do you want a
television above the fireplace?
• I ask the clients to give me
words to describe the way
they want the home to feel.
Descriptive words often range
from ‘Nantucket and Cape Cod’
to ‘Salish Lodge’ and ‘log cabin’.
• When applying a new ‘facing’
to the fireplace, there are a
wide variety of options. For
example, if a thin stone is

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