The Hearth: It Makes a House a Home
Ask any architect what the heart of the home is, and more often than not, they'll say the hearth. Once used only for practical reasons, to heat an entire house and for cooking, the hearth is an element that was celebrated and accentuated during the Arts and Crafts movement in response to all of the new technologies being used in the home. Fireplaces were often accented with decorative handmade tiles, flanked by built in shelves surrounded by nooks that emphasized as cozy family gathering spots.
When designing a home, celebrate your hearth. Surround the fireplace and chimney with texture you love and make it the focal point it deserves to be. It's also a great way to show off your personal style. Here are some gorgeous and unique fireplace designs from around Houzz.
When designing a home, celebrate your hearth. Surround the fireplace and chimney with texture you love and make it the focal point it deserves to be. It's also a great way to show off your personal style. Here are some gorgeous and unique fireplace designs from around Houzz.
This intricate stonework radiates out from the fireplace to create an oversized and striking chimney wall. The ceiling beams and light take their cues from this pattern.
This rock looks like it was already sitting there an the house was built around it, with a fireplace just naturally rising out from it.
This beautiful stone slab is a showstopper.
A minimal metal wall around the fire makes a strong statement.
Rugged stones are painted a warm winter white to bring a level of sophistication to the room.
The tiles around this fireplace are by Heath Ceramics - a popular modern classic in contemporary design.
This is a classic brick fireplace wall. The look of this will always be in style. Side Note: Having a hearth in the kitchen is a huge bonus!
Outdoor fireplaces are a red hot trend right now. As we try to live in smaller spaces and expand into outdoor rooms, an outdoor fireplace extends the time it can be used.
Decorative tile can often be applied over existing brick fireplaces. This tile gives this room a Scandanavian feel.
Variation in hearth color can also be achieved with subtle changes in tile color.