The charm of resting around a hot fire in the fireplace on a chilly evening in winter is delightful. The
roaring fire helps take the bite out of the air while begetting ambience.
For many decades, fireplaces have furnished warmth and a place to prepare meals as well. Fireplaces have never lost their attraction and, in fact, have made
substantial gains. In my short life, fireplaces have been
running southward where winter seasons are punctuation marks and summers
are overextended sentences. improved over the years, fireplaces are still in vogue|Although
the latest enhancements have been made in climate control for our homes, fireplaces persist in being stylish.
I suppose you"ll concede that with the
improvements in climate control, the reason for the fireplace has markedly
changed. They are definitely not about simply heating your
home. They are no longer used for preparing meals Stoves have been around for many decades. So why this ever growing
liking for fireplaces? My guess is that fireplaces offer mood
when they're lit. And when they are not, they promote interest, a focal point and character to a
room. Should I add "charm" as well? It would seem that fireplaces, and the mantels that surround them, have been, for some time, one of the
distinct architectural forms that add to the flavor of our
homes like embellished stairways, arched entry ways, or ornamental range hoods. These are good
examples of a marriage between function and form.
"Wonderful marriage" is a conditional statement because not all marriages of art and function are wonderful marriages. I recently had the
opportunity to observe a home that was probably 80 percent completed
and witnessed some pretty terrible unions. There was a kitchen island that had
incredibly large and ornate brackets supporting the counter top. The fireplace also had
gargantuan stone columns supporting the mantel shelf. The most
gracious thing that could be said is: "More is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are many decent
examples of form and function-just not in that home.
For many years millworks companies have specialized in fireplace
mantels. Necessity is the mother of invention. And since the
"media" of cabinetmakers is wood, most mantels are crafted from wood-which is fine with me since wood is
my "media". Heavy wood shelves, undergirded with crown moulding supported by
ornate corbels and fluted legs are a common style for many cabinet
makers. Hand carved
mantels fashioned in foreign lands are not as ordinary but are still to be
had. The beauty of these carved showpieces is
unmatched by the latest 21st century technological genius. The small variations
and minor defects are a peculiarity that says "hand carved" and ehances the charm
and unique character. Mass production techniques will in my humble opinion, never match the
skill of the masters. Carvers can undercut and form sharp interior cuts that are presently not possible
with modern machinery.
Certainly fireplaces and the mantels that frame them are here for a long time. Like a
marriage made in heaven, mantels and fireplaces have 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.
