It is hard to imagine that you could envision something more pleasant than sitting beside a nice warm fire on a cold, cloudy winter's day enjoying a steaming cup of hot chocolate.  And thanks to the vision of architects and designers, that experience is even more pleasant with the wonderful fireplace designs they include in new homes today.  A fireplace design normally takes on the character of the homes in which they are constructed.  For example, a rustic log cabin will commonly have a stone fireplace of some design.  Today's modern fireplaces, much like the homes they are constructed in, range from contemporary to Victorian, modern, country and everything in between.  If you can envision it, it can most likely become reality.

Homeowners commonly think of what is seen when entering a room, but we must remember that there are two distinct elements in a fireplace design.  Those being the heating being the heating element and the other being the visual element.  We must first address the heating element by determining the type fuel we intend to utilize in the fireplace  Most of us first think of the crackle and the smoky smell of a free burning wood fire.  While some find that to be a very appealing smell and reminisce about those days in front of their grandparents fireplace, others would just as soon not have their clothing, curtains and other fabrics retain that lingering smell of smoke.  Luckily, there are choices that can help with this issue.  Other fireplace designs allow for the use of vented or non-vented gas logs and now there are even electric fireplaces that simulate the real thing.

Once the heating side of the equation is nailed down, it is time to address the aesthetic element.  The first major decision involving the appearance in fireplace designs is the placement in the room.  The vast majority of fireplaces are built in the center of an exterior wall, but your choices are not limited to this.  You could choose to place the fireplace in a corner which is ideal for smaller homes.  If your home is large enough, consider a multi-sided island fireplace.  These can provide a four sided view and also radiate heat in all four directions making this a great choice for efficiency.  A see through fireplace can separate two main rooms thus providing two fireplaces for the price of one.  As you can see, there are choices for placement other than just the traditional placement on an outside wall and you should consider these before a final decision is made.

Next comes the most important aspect of the visual element of any fireplace.  The material used to face the front of the fireplace sets the tone for the rest of the room decor and allows for personal expression.  Many homes built in the post World War II era, have the more traditional fireplaces faced with brick that matches the brick used on the exterior of the home.  However, you have many choices other than brick.  Some choose to just face their fireplace with smooth, painted sheet rock in order to match the walls in the rest of the room.  This method can be utilized if you want the function of a fireplace but desire it to be less of a focal point.  Another popular choice is stone.  Some of the more dramatic fireplace designs I have seen are achieved with stone.  There are many different shapes and sizes of stone and since it is a natural product, no two stones are alike thus resulting in a truly unique fireplace.  Flat stone can be laid with the face of the stone exposed or with the edge exposed.  If flat stones are not your style, look at the unique qualities of round stone which also make for an interesting fireplace design.  In addition to stone, other natural products such as tile, marble and granite are used in many fireplace designs today.  As you can see, there are many good choices for materials to use in the design of an individuals fireplace.

Now that all the features of our fireplace have been decided upon, we just need to ensure we have a brick and stone mason that is experienced with fireplace and chimney construction.  Contact your local building department and see if they can or will give you some recommendations on the best masons in your area.  Otherwise, contact local builders.  I am sure they will know the best of the best stone masons in your vicinity.  If you take the time to research all the different fireplace elements available, you will find that fireplace designs are quite simple to envision and your plan will result in a fireplace you can enjoy for many years to come.