Here's a pic of our place when we first moved in. It was built in 1923.
{{!gwi}}

Ours is *very* similar, especially the glass bookshelf doors. I hesitated to respond to this post because ours didn't start out with Arts & Crafts detailing, but was originally an early 1890's Victorian. It was later 'updated' with A &C features, and we even think the windows--which are positioned like those above but have 12 panes of glass each--were added at that time as well. Technically it isn't a craftsman, but someone wanted it to be. The iron vents above are very attractive. We bought a couple salvaged ones when we lived in Ohio, but were told that they're fairly hard to come by in antique stores, salvage yards, etc. It would be great if you could locate some, or find repros.

Thanks for posting. The iron vents are neat- I have not seen that feature before. Our home has a somewhat wide red brick fireplace with a thin and somewhat ornate dark mantle. Our home was built in 1924 and I have assumed that this fireplace replaced the original... I frankly feel it is ugly and thought it was added in 60s or 70s. I had mostly seen tiled fireplaces from the era rather than bricks so it was nice to see another brick fireplace. I have been beginning to question whether our fireplace might actually be older than I thought and possibly the original. Our bricks are cut into the original hardwood floors, not on top of the floors as I would assume they would be if added later. I'm not really sure how to date it. If it is the original fireplace, I'd feel bad replacing it, even if I don't like it. If we do replace, we do want to do an oak mantle and legs with tile surround.

Could you post a picture of yours, sarabeth? Ours is brick like daina's, built-in bookcases, too. In our last house, a 4 square, the fireplace was retiled, but the hearth had been left alone and was original brick. You could have a combo in your living room - new-ish and original.

I researched a 1920-ish bungalow recently for an old house tour and it had a brick LR fireplace, no tiles, and it was similar to the above photo in that respect. It looked very good. While the fireplace and mantle, shelving, etc., extended across the entire wall, the firebox itself was fairly tiny, with angled sides.
I, too, would be interested in seeing a picture of your fireplace, if possible.

Here's ours so far, in progress. Still have some more work to do, particularly on the bookcases, as can be seen. When we moved in the entire LR was painted a dry, flat white, including the fireplace, mantle, bookcases and window trim. Also the fireplace opening had been completely bricked in, then covered by layers of concrete, wire lath, and then plaster. It had a hole in the center for the pipe of a woodstove, which sat on the hearthpad in front of the fireplace or something. We had to literally hammer and chisel off all the above to get the fireplace open, and we had no idea what we'd find underneath (we did try peering through the stovepipe hole with a flashlight, but couldn't see much). After about 3 or 4 days of hammering and chiseling, we eventually opened it up and revealed that the fireplace surround was originally brick covered in plaster. We were unable to get the fireplace open without some surface damage, and so we decided to skim coat the plaster and add a margin of tiles. The tiles are modern Talavera that we got in Taos, but they seemed to be a good blend with A & C, while retaining a little regional NM flavor:

I am attaching a link to my fireplace. (Sorry about the baby swing in front- I hated to wake my sleeping baby to take the picture). I tried to take pictures of the hearth and a close up of the brick. The mantle appears to be pretty cheaply made- the top of it appears to be a very thin pine board. Not sure of type of wood of the more decorative piece. The stain is much darker than the oak that surrounds our windows and door frames.

I had also posted recently asking about the style of our 1924 home. It seems that respondants shared the opinion that the home has some craftsman features. We really just want to be sure we do something that fits with the home.

Here is a link that might be useful: house/fireplace photos

I forgot to add that we will be removing fireplace insert as part of our remodel. So far, we have not used our fireplace during the 3 years we have lived here since we never got around to having a professional come and inspect it to be sure it is safe to use.

Thanks to those who have posted pictures...Kim- Love your fireplace and cabinets- looks like you have done some nice work. The tile looks great!

Here is a link that might be useful: pictures of fireplace

Thanks, sarabeth! The decorative trim around your mantle looks very recent to me, and I think I've even seen that pattern or something very similar sold at hardware and big boxes. I agree with your conclusions that the brick itself may be older and original, but the mantle has been modified. I think you could remove the parts that are bothering you and create a craftsman style mantle.
You noted that the hearth tiles were broken in some places, and that may be bothering you, but I don't know if it's really such a problem. Trying to match tiles to replace the broken ones could be difficult and there's no guarantee the mend wouldn't be just as noticeable as the breaks, and redoing the entire thing in different tile is a big job, too. If you generally like the tiles and think they're original then maybe they're fine as is.
Good luck with the project, and post again when it's done!

We did a craftsman style makeover to our fireplace.

Here is what it looked like when we bought our house:

We replaced the hearth and built an oak mantel and bookcases on either side.

This is what it looks like after our makeover:

I can't seem to find a picture of the final project with the shelves in the bookcases.

Becky- your fireplace brick does look similar to mine. What year is your home?

We are considering two designs similar to ones we have found online at the link below. We like the top and the bottom fireplaces on the page the best. Essentially, we would reface by adding the tile and the wood over the brick. Opinions?

Here is a link that might be useful: www.craftsmanhome.com

sarabeth, Definitely the top one, very, very nice! That particular design works well with the kind of windows you have, and the tiling pattern is quite striking. Oooh, it's going to be a fun project!

becky, yours turned out so well, especially with the small, square, 4-paned window(s) you've got above the bookcases.

Sarabeth - our house was built in 1948. It's a cape cod in the DC area. The designs on that page look great - good luck with your project!

Kim - thanks so much! I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It was my first wood working project (and tile project!) and my dad came to visit and helped me build it. My aunt is making me stained glass inserts to put in the windows on either side.

I have 6 fireplaces ,one a big walkin.My house is circa 1700s/Mine are very plain,one in living room has a little more appeal.Mine are wood down sides,plain mantle.

Just wanted to post an update of our fireplace. At the link below are a before and after picture. Thanks everyone!

Here is a link that might be useful: before and after pics

I had to strip white paint off the bricks , and still need to do something to them , but here it is.

dainaadele and kim...looks like you both have nice old A & C bungallows...can you tell me how you have your living roomsw arranged ? I have no real walls in mine and can't figure out where to put a tv without taking the focal point away from the fireplace...there is either windows or a wide doorway almost everywhere.

Here is a link that might be useful: busy living room

Wangshan: It ain't easy, is it? Ya think they would have realized way back when that we would have things to look at other than the fire at night, huh?

Our solution is kind of funky but works since my hubby has to get a rarely used, but necessary, Powerpoint projector for his business: We have the TV in an amoire in the back corner, where you can only see it from one chair in the room for that daytime/one person watching mode. Then we set up wires to a box above our ceiling light (which I built from am cannibalized ebay light and rewired) to project the TV to above the fireplace when we want to watch a movie as a "family event" at night. In our case, we don't have a gorgeous mirror. And I just have a propped picture that is lightweight to lift up and down when in use.

During the summer the furniture is rotated more toward the corner TV and away from the fireplae, and in the winter we rotate everything about 40 degrees to open around the fireplace. (These are the current summer set up.) If I had your situation,and the area on the floor above accessable, I would be thinking about a neatly trimmed out ceiling access, where the TV gets raised and lowered from above, or a the projector screen with the same set up. It may sound too ambitious, but if you think of the satisfaction it would bring, it may be worth it.

Sarabeth have you seen the little bungalow books ? They have one on fireplaces that might be helpful, if somewhat non gratifying due to their small pictures (what is UP with that?)
Dainaadele...that's quite a setup..I have thought about a cabinet where the tv pops up and goes down , but not coming down from ceiling..my bedroom is right above anyway so that wouldn't work. The mirror above the fireplace isn't original..I bought off this guy in a ghetto neighborhood on the way home from work..he had a little antiques and junk shop right on the main drag and had many old house parts . So I would take it down if I thought we could comfortably view but I think it is too high. At this point I am actively trying to use up my plasma screen so I can replace it with a smaller LCD which would give me another option besides just the 2 bigger pieces of wall. I like your setup. I really would like Debbie Travis or someone to just come and tell me what to do one day......ah well

Here are a couple pics of our fireplace. It is original to the house (1916 bungalow), except we added a gas fireplace. The brick appears to have been varnished (or shellaced?) at some time, and needs a good cleaning. Still working on stripping and refinishing all the wood in the living room. Cleaning the brick will come later.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Joyce that is a great example of a bungalow /A&C ..it's gorgeous. I can see the woodwork looks great too. I find it impossile to find pictures in decorating mags of dark woodwork ..it seems like every room has white painted trim.That's the most frustrating thing.

Thanks for you nice compliment. I was also looking at your pics, and your home is wonderful. I love your kitchen!! Your home is full of personality.

Our woodwork was almost black when we moved in. Most of the wood including the floors are quarter sawn oak, and the dark finish hid that beautiful grain. So I'm stripping it, have the living room 3/4 done, and just finished the dining room. That wood is so gorgeous.

Our fireplace actually looks smaller in the pictures than it really is. It's 5 1/2 feet tall, is 8' wide, and the mantel is 2' deep. The room is large as well, 20 X 30, and very difficult to arrange furniture. The room is all built ins, windows, and doorways. I keep looking at pictures hoping to find ideas on arranging his room, but most bungalows have more modest living rooms. Right now we have it divided by furniture groupings. Not a perfect set up, but works for now.