With the weather starting to change and the holidays rapidly approaching, it’s that time of year when we all start searching sites like Pinterest, Instagram and Houzz for “Fireplace Inspo” to cozy-up our homes for the season. Whether you are looking to add a new fireplace to your home or upgrade an existing one, our RNDD Designers and Design Showrooms have all the fireplace design inspiration you need right here.
The First Step in Fireplace Design: Selecting Stone Shape, Fireplace Shape and Materials
Before you start to think about which fireplace you are going to sit around for the holidays, you need to think about the two categories—stone shape and fireplace shape. These two will be the biggest factors when choosing the right fireplace for your space. Materials Marketing has listed out some of the most common stone and fireplace shapes to consider when planning your own fireplace design.
Stone shape:
- Uniform – If going for an elegant or contemporary fireplace, then a single stone piece is your best fit. Whether made of marble, limestone or travertine, stone fireplaces with smooth exteriors give a sleek yet refined feel.
- Stacked – Similar to a brick wall, a stacked fireplace is constructed with layers of block-shaped stones. This can be more rustic (uneven surfaces, asymmetrical layering) or more traditional (smoother texture, measured layouts).
- Chopped Stone – Whimsical and laidback, chopped stone fireplaces use stones with rough edges or uneven shape. These stones can be slightly gapped (displaying a smooth surface between stone) or tightly packed.
Fireplace shape:
- Full-wall – Floor-to-ceiling fireplaces add extravagance to a room. If going for a full-wall model, combining a thin veneer stone and carved design will create a substantial focus in the room.
- Column – Have height but not width for your fireplace? A column style may be your best bet. This shape pairs well with stacked stone or contemporary designs, emphasizing a room’s open space.
- Display mantle – Play up tradition and coziness with a mantled fireplace design. It fills out a room and adds ample space to show off your best framed photos.
- Inlaid – Another modern design, an inlaid fireplace has zero mantle or outsticking elements. This is a great option for those who want an easily convertible wall or minimalist look.
- Corner – While less common, corner fireplaces instantly give snug warmth to a room (especially if round in shape). Perfect for smaller spaces or cottage-style homes.
A fireplace draws attention to any space. To ensure you choose the right one, make sure you know all the options available to you. These are some of the materials that you can choose from:
- Marble – A hard, crystalline form of limestone. Elegant, striking, and strong. For a modern stone fireplace, you can’t do better than classic marble stone.
- Limestone –A multi-use stone for outdoors or indoors. Subdued, simple, and versatile. A limestone fireplace is also a more affordable option when compared to a marble fireplace.
- Travertine – A limestone variant from hot mineral springs. Durable, smooth, and classic. The travertine fireplace is also more affordable when compared to cast stone, and requires minimal maintenance.
- Adoquin – Made from compressed volcanic ash. Earthy, rustic, and light. This fireplace stone has a unique look and works well as a rustic stone fireplace.
If you don’t know where to start or are ready to get your fireplace of your dreams started, come to your local Material Marketing Showroom located in the River North Design District at 212 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654.
A Fresh, New Fireplace Collection from Elizabeth Scott Design Group
The Gerherty Fireplace Surround is from a collection that Elizabeth Scott Design Group created with Atelier Jouvence. Elizabeth and her team have created two fabulous assemblages with them to suit anyone’s design taste. Just think how this fireplace shown here in Danby would also look in a rich Negro Marquina. They also have a line with metal integrated into stone also for those clients that want something extra special. Each is customized to fit your opening and wall dimensions.
See more from Elizabeth Scott Design Group here.
The Ultimate Indoor/Outdoor Fireplace Surface from Cosentino
DEKTON is Cosentino’s innovative, ultracompact high-performance surface that offers endless design possibilities for outdoor and indoor spaces. DEKTON withstands heat up to 660 degrees which makes it perfect for fireplace applications. With a wide variety of colors and textures DEKTON can meet any design style and needs.
Explore the option of using DEKTON for your next fireplace project.
Surround Your Fireplace with Cambria Quartz
Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces has a myriad of qualities and attributes that lends itself to being specified for alternative applications outside of just your traditional kitchen countertop or master bath. Because Cambria is virtually maintenance-free, extremely hard, and durable, and has a MAX heat rating of 450 degrees, it is the perfect solution for Fireplaces and Cambria makes it easy to specify with an extensive technical services department to guide you through substrate preparation and finished material installation as well as numerous other applications.
Designed by Paloma Contreras for Cambria, the Blackpool, Matte is vast and commanding. This powerful design is darkest ebony with a stealthy silken Cambria Matte™ finish that absorbs light like a starless night over the Irish Sea.
This space designed by Artisan Signature Homes, Gretchen Black, and Luxe Surfaces features the Brittanicca Gold™ fireplace surround from Cambria. Flowing, multi-hued streams of copper gold, fog, and translucent greige course through this grand design accompanied by wisps and ribbons of warm earth tones against a temperate white background.
Set against a bone-white marbled backdrop, Skara Brae from Cambria features bold translucent taupe-green veins plunge in various directions with subtle white and black tributaries interspersed throughout.
Check out more Cambria fireplace applications at the Refine & Define Blog here.
Centaur Interiors Sets the Standard for a Show-Stopping Fireplace
In this modern condo designed by Centaur Interiors, you are initially drawn into the home by a feature wall incorporating translucent Quartzite stone floating in Bronze channels at the fireplace. Both of which are backlit with a LED flat light to thread the custom Mahogany bookshelf into the fireplace as one cohesive feature.
In this next home, the fireplace became a focal wall which provided an opportunity to expand the space with mirrors to reflect the intimate view of the park. Centaur Interiors also incorporated specialty mosaic tile and high-gloss lacquer cabinetry to complete the look with elements of both style and function.
Fireplaces can also divide spaces. Centaur Interiors used a floating millwork cabinet in the bottom right space which hides the TV and, with the stone fireplace feature, it divides the space between the living and dining room.
This final space, designed by Centaur Interiors, will inspire you to go big with your fireplace. This vertical duplex enabled the design of a stone tile and millwork focal point that spans the two-story height. This design integrated lighting, TV/media, and calming fire feature.
Get more fireplace design inspiration from Centaur Interiors here.
From Mid-Century Modern to Minimalist, Roca Tile Can Build It
This Mid-Century Modern design combines the industrial and raw look of Roca Tile’s Concrete slab with the monochrome and subtle tones of their Ombre Pure Black vertically stacked. The wood tones from the fireplace shelves and furniture tie the pair together to make this room feel modern yet cozy.
To create a bright and airy space around your minimalist fireplace, add Roca’s Calacata Light to both, floors and walls. Its light veining will allow the room to retain as much light as possible. Plus, to balance the yellow and red tones from the fireplace area, add nickel pending lights and dark wood furniture.
When it comes to fireplaces, they tend to be a room’s focal point. Roca’s Terre Blanco tiles were installed to the floors and walls surrounding this living room’s fireplace to add contrast and variety ( a combination of 24″x48″, 24×24 and 24″x48″ formats).
View Roca Tile’s entire collection here.
An Above the Mantle Design Tip from Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors
You have selected your fireplace stone surround, the mantle is in place, but what goes above it? In this space designed by Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors, the fireplace was existing stone and painted wood. Sarah and her team used metallic textured wallpaper to cover the wall above the fireplace which in turn highlighted a focal point piece of art. By mixing textures with the gold metallic grasscloth, it added contrast with the stone and painted finish.
Get more fireplace design inspiration from Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors here.
A Fireplace for Every Room from eggersmann
No matter what room in your home, eggersmann can create an inviting, stylish fireplace. Cozy up on a much needed relaxing night in or add to ambiance while hosting a gathering; eggersmann has you covered. This living space is surrounded by Aristide Cabro Putty Vegan-Leather combined with Fineline Oak Mocha, Black Anodized Aluminum, Décor Dark Brown & Blackened Steel for a calming, neutral palette.
Elevate Your Fireplace Styling with Ligne Roset
When planning your fireplace design, it must seamlessly integrate with the design style of rest of the room. When shopping for furniture to place in front of the fireplace, think cozy, think sophisticated, think Ligne Roset. Whether you are looking for a comfy chair to curl up with a good book in front of the fireplace or a more elegant seating area, they have something for you. This space features: the Moa reclining armchair and Moa side table by Keiji Takeuchi, the Ura mirror by Pierre Charpin and the Calot lamps by Patrick Zulauf, all of which can be found at Ligne Roset online here or shop their River North Chicago showroom at 440 N Wells.
View the entire Ligne Roset collection here.
