Decorating & Design
December 13, 2021
75+ Fireplaces To Warm Up Your Home During The Colder Months
A beautiful fireplace not only gives a warm feeling to a room — its architectural style sets the tone for the rest of the space. These fireplaces run the gamut from rustic fieldstone chimneys, to polished Georgian mantels and minimal fireboxes set in monolithic stone slabs. Whatever the design, their presence invites visitors to draw close and stay a little bit longer.
Designer Ami McKay decorates a Christmas tree next to the gas fireplace in her client’s contemporary Vancouver home. The fireplace ledge serves as a great spot for cozying up by the fire.
A roaring fire keeps the chill at bay on Philip Mitchell and Mark Narsansky’s covered portico, just off the living room of their Nova Scotia home.
Philip and Mark’s historical home is a storybook setting for decking the halls. Inside, a maximalist Christmas tree has pride of place next to the living room fireplace that sits below a vertical shiplap wall.
Designer Sophie Burke’s stone fireplace is as cozy as it gets. This English-inspired mantel is decorated with a eucalyptus garland, and large baskets of firewood flank the hearth. “I love the look of large baskets filled with firewood and how all the candles add a soft glow to the room,” says Sophie.
Designer Erin Feasby shows off her fireplace that’s ready for the holiday season. Jewel-toned monogrammed stockings in plaid, tartan and houndstooth patterns line the mantel. “I love lighting the fire and seeing our initials all lined up in a row,” says Erin.
This New York City apartment is filled with character. Designer Garrow Kedigian stands proudly next to his modern fireplace that’s adorned with faux berry branches and pinecones. “My mantel offers a wonderful vista in my open-concept apartment, and I like that it’s a nice deep, dark finish — colorful holiday decorations really pop,” says Garrow.
Brian Gluckstein reads by the fire in his cozy and classic living room. “I love softening a mantel with a garland — this one is faux because we like to leave it up for quite some time,” says Brian. All of the holiday accents are by GlucksteinHome, Hudson’s Bay, which include reindeer and nutcrackers.
Vancouver-based designer Rosie Daykin sits by the fire in her cozy living room dressed for the season. Her modern mantel is adorned with a large-scale floral arrangement. “Our Christmas tree doesn’t get a makeover because of the memories attached to all the decorations we hang, so the mantel is a great opportunity to try something new, ” says Rosie.
Halifax-based designer Deb Nelson creates a cozy atmosphere by decorating her mantel with tall branches, and filling antique baskets with excess boughs cut from the balsam fir trees in her backyard.
An iceberg-blue marble chimney breast gives this formal living room an impressive focal point. Antiqued mirrors flank the fireplace and visually expand the space.
The smoking lounge is a moody retreat that’s equipped with a cigar humidor and vent system. Pencil-point wood plank flooring with inlays of brass and black marble, walnut walls and a black honed Belvedere granite fireplace surround create a handsome envelope.
In the family room, black-framed windows are a graphic counterpoint to pale walls and a Bianco Dolomiti Venato marble fireplace surround.
This is the sitting room of design duo Maxime Vandal and Richard Ouellette’s coach house on their farm in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. The cube-like white oak cabinet incorporates storage niches and a modern black fireplace that serves as the focal point of the room.
A stone mantelpiece is the focal point of this living room, located in the farmhouse of designer Angela Wheeler and her husband Josh Malcolm, a fireplace retailer. Slipcovered seating and a reclaimed wood coffee table amp up the Christmas-in-the-country vibe.
The living room’s fireplace becomes a central gathering point during the holiday season. “You can’t beat the smell of a real wood-burning fire,” says Todd. The fireplace, he adds, is used almost every night throughout the winter months.
Designer Emily Griffin brought European flare to this graceful Toronto house. The French bistro style kitchen is adjacent to the sitting area pictured here. Emily removed the “pedestrian” fireplace mantel and replaced it with a custom design.
A stunning double-sided marble fireplace separates the bedroom in architect Darcie Watson’s downtown Toronto home from her luxe ensuite, and offers a view of the dancing flames in both rooms.
See more of her modern Edwardian abode.
Designer Sarah Richardson (shown with the homeowners, pictured left) made the portico in this Caledon weekend property even more inviting with an outdoor fireplace, baskets of blankets and patterned rugs.
Traditionalists rejoice! It doesn’t get much cozier than this fieldstone farmhouse fireplace in Stirling, Ontario. Hand-hewn beams and heritage-style wingchairs — grandfathered in by the previous homeowners — contribute to the feet-up comfort of the living room.
Tour the rest of this enchanting space.
The fireplace in this 1880s Toronto home is loaded with natural charm, but it’s the decor that made this cover shot a fan favorite with our readers. A play of patterns and striking artwork give a architectural element plenty of modern flair.
Drake’s event planner Catriona Smart knows how to make an entrance and bring the drama. The fireplace in her home is a show-stopping focal point, thanks to the dark, flame-like detailing.
This cozy fireplace lies at the heart of this historic cabin north of Toronto. Reclaimed barn board was added to the ceiling and gives the mantel a warm, weathered appearance, for a result that’s rustic, inviting and authentic.
The saturated, lacquered blue den of society writer Amoryn Engel is elevated thanks to the roaring flames (the Picasso over the fireplace doesn’t hurt either).
See more of Amoryn’s favorite room in her home.
This fireplace in Whistler, B.C. acts as part of limestone feature wall, which continues outside onto the home’s exterior for a seamless look.
Escape to this modern ski chalet-inspired oasis.
A funky, hanging fireplace gives this Quebec chalet a sexy ’60s après-ski vibe. The fireplace can be swivelled (without fear of scorched palms) to direct the heat anywhere in the room.
The owners of this Quebec home wanted a distinctive Tuscan feel. A double-height chandelier plays up the vertical lines of the fireplace to draw the eye up, while twin mirrored alcoves frame the soaring hearth.
The rough-hewn wooded beams and linen drapery convey a European farmhouse feel. The simple mantel is elevated by a marble pedestal in soft, neutral tones to match the grasscloth wallpaper. Sconces sets up a beautiful symmetry that echoes the wood beams overhead.
In a space that’s all glamour, a simple mantle in a crisp white hue — contrasting the deep sapphire walls — is the perfect showcase for an unpolished garland.
A sleek fireplace suits the contemporary character of this barn-style country retreat. The dark stone accents compliment the steel windows for a clean, spare look that’s still enticingly rustic.
H&H‘s 2018 Designer of the Year Nam Dang-Mitchell is known for her standout fireplaces. In this Georgian-style home, she clad the chimney breast in Cole & Son’s Circus pattern to complement the custom mantel.
See more of Nam’s stunning spaces.
A dark marble mantel injects a grace note into this airy, white Calgary bedroom. Carved and fluting details are enhanced by the subtle white veining in the fireplace.
Patterned cement tile on the fireplace underscores this B.C. home’s Spanish flavor and give it real star power. A pretty, scalloped tile border frames the view of the firebox.
This cottage fireplace’s smooth assemblage of rocks echoes the rocky shores outside. Placing a classic nautical accent, such as the sailboat model on the mantel, drives home the lakeside setting.
For a modern twist on a classic cottage fireplace, strips of Corten steel make up the mantel, where barn board panelling gives this Georgian Bay getaway a custom feel that is unique to the family.
In this bright weekend chalet, a simple, clean-lined fireplace is a cool backdrop for woodsy holiday decorating, and makes rustic burlap stockings and a simple garland look right at home.
In designer Nam Dang-Mitchell’s own home, she lets a traditional antique mantelpiece inject a touch of history.
Learn how to decorate your home like our 2018 Designer of the Year.
An ornately carved Old English pine mantel (originally from an 18th-century home) and wood sign gives the country home of interior designer Scott Yetman a rustic charm. He found the wood Sans Souci sign (meaning “without a care”) at an antique store.
An impressive custom limestone fireplace flanked by doors suits the wine country farmhouse theme of the 2011 Princess Margaret Showhome, designed by Lynda Reeves. Artwork by Daniel Schneider and simple candlesticks keep the focus on the carved detail.
A chalet’s fieldstone fireplace merges tech with tradition. A reclaimed wood mantel topped by pine cones and greenery softens the effect of the TV screen.
Candy-colored decorations and a few quirky moments — like mod polka-dot stockings or that giant pear-shaped pillow, for example — are a playful counterpoint to this imposing marble fireplace. The mantel becomes a showcase for vintage decorations in pretty hues.
A monolithic, black Cambrian stone fireplace with a supersize firebox lends visual weight to the living area in this Toronto home, but doesn’t feel oppressive, thanks to its placement between the soaring windows and a door leading to a courtyard.
Cladding the chimney breast completely in large limestone tiles is a clean, contemporary treatment for a fireplace. The stone’s natural striations are warm, visually engaging, and soothing.
Fluted details and a carved sunburst frieze on the mantel of the 1920s neo-Georgian home make the fireplace super formal, so it requires minimal embellishment. A moody, mottled marble surround and elaborate metal fire screen are artful additions.
You won’t find many fireplaces like the one in shop owner Denise Zidel’s Toronto home. It’s circular, measures 12-feet tall, and is clad in luminous tile. “I’m all about the drama!” she notes.
A double-sided fireplace allows glimpses of light to shine through from the living room to the foyer of this 2014 Princess Margaret Showhome. A giant sunburst mirror and sconces add drama and warmth to the room, and balance the mantel’s simple profile.
A white-painted mantel pops against the glazed peacock-blue walls in designer Colette van den Thillart’s London home. The mantel is decorated with artworks by famed British artists and poets, while the black metal surround below is embellished with a beaded border.
The photogenic Chester, Nova Scotia, home of designer Deb Nelson is a Georgian Revival beauty, so it’s no surprise she kept the living room’s original mantel. Deb accented the mantel with nautical references, and a sculptural whale vertebrae (right, on hearth) — one of her most cherished finds.
In the Snowy Creek, British Columbia, weekend home of hockey player Trevor Linden, the existing fireplace was updated with unconventional unglazed porcelain tile. The breast was kept free of a mantel, so the texture remains the focal point.
For the truly bold, take a page from the Bloomsbury group and color-block a fireplace with gutsy jewel tones. Murky blue walls, a coral mantel and a black chimney breast feel rich, and there is no denying the impact of the lushly layered artwork in front of the hearth (handy in summer when an empty, out-of-use fireplace can look sad).
This room by Brian Gluckstein is a master class on symmetry, which adds a calm balance to a room. Not only is the fireplace framed by matching sconces and art easels, the windows and armchairs are a mirror reflection of each other.
In this screened porch, a stone fireplace extends the season into late fall and early spring, and the classic material complements the cedar shake detailing to establish a traditional vibe. The height helps draw the eye up and makes the ceiling seem loftier in comparison.
A two-sided fireplace in this Mont Tremblant chalet doubles the warmth in the principal bedroom and ensuite bath. The stark design is offset by vibrant artwork.
In designer Sloan Mauran’s living room, a black wall melds into the carved Irish limestone fireplace surround, giving this focal point more presence.
In a Québec cabin, the fireplace takes center stage in the living space. Made of striking green and grey bamboo verde stone, it brings the greenery of the idyllic cottage setting inside.
In this heritage Cape Cod getaway, the rustic wooden fireplace was left exposed to show off its natural beauty. A black and white picture hung above echoes the architectural features found in the room, providing a modern contrast.
At the same property, a clean white sofa contrasts the weathered exposed brick fireplace and wood-panelled walls. The painting on the mantle is of the dunes at nearby Provincetown.
A mirrored fireplace surround, with its psychedelic pink stone trim, feels right at home in this funky ’60s-vibe sitting room. The contemporary, variegated stone of the mantel resembles a sculpture.
Tour this home on H&H TV.
In the dining room, an unexpected pop of lilac tiles framed by a luxe gold-leaf surround makes this fireplace a glamorous focal point, amplified by floral wallpaper and jewel-like sconces.
Tour this home on H&H TV.
Even when the fireplace isn’t in use, it’s still worth styling. Here, textile designer Virginia Johnson opted to put lanterns in her white fireplace, contrasting the flowery chintz sofas. The candles can easily be lit to give the room a glow.
Concrete might sound like an unusual choice when choosing a fireplace surround, but designer Vi Jull loved the casual feel and color of the material. It tempers the pink accents strewn throughout the space, too.
The fireplace in designer James Davies’ principal bedroom has a Victorian-esque marbled stone surround and classic decorative touches. On cold days, the divan would be an especially cozy spot to read and lounge.
This cottage’s original wood burning fireplace, with its off center pipe stack, is set directly opposite the view of the lake, providing a warm respite on cloudy days.
Tour this cottage on H&H TV.
The natural stone surround of the fireplace in the great room of a Muskoka, Ontario, cottage brings some of the local landscape to the room. The charcoal color is repeated on the chairs opposite the fireplace.
The tones of the stone floor are brought up the wall onto the fireplace surround — but to keep it from skewing too rustic, sophisticated herringbone tile on the back of the fireplace offers a sense of refinement.
The owners of Toronto’s Mjölk, a homewares shop dedicated to all things well-crafted and modern, are known for their pared-back aesthetic. So naturally, their cottage shares the same simple-yet-curated look. In order to salvage the old fireplace, they plastered and painted the damaged stones — a cost-effective solution which also looks great.
On the screened-in porch, a towering fireplace commands attention. It’s the perfect place for cozy evening fires and s’mores without the worry of mosquitos.
The handsome fireplace in designer Jill Kantelberg’s living room is centered on the striking feature wall. The wall appears as a flat unified front, but behind the charcoal-stained, white-oak panelling is a plethora of hidden storage.
A floating fireplace catches the eye and bridges the open flow design between this dining room and living room.
A basalt fireplace surround flows seamlessly into a dark-painted fireside perch and creates a focal point in the otherwise pale room. A lively red rug balances out the palette.
Symmetrical alcoves frame this traditional fireplace and mantel. The white palette and light wood flooring keep the room a bright and airy, while the cowhide rug warms it up during cooler months.
In the dining room of this colonial Connecticut home, black walls above the fireplace and around the room keep the fireplace from looking like a dark hole in the otherwise light space. Plus, it creates a dramatic cocoon for dinner parties.
In this sky-high Toronto condo, the fireplace was a welcome bonus. A cozy seating area nestled around the fireplace is a natural place for conversation that embraces the views of the city beyond.
A sculptural fireplace brings architectural depth to a cabin on the west coast, thanks to its massive slab surround and simple black trim. Even the logs are geometrically minded, stacked in a pyramid.
Glossy grey walls make the similarly-hued grey marble surround melt into the millwork, creating an uninterrupted wall of architectural interest.
This fireplace went through 20 mock-ups with different pairings of tiles until one felt right. It was worth it though — the floor-to-ceiling mosaic surround is stunning and a showpiece in the home.
The chalky white finish of the walls draws attention to the architectural details of the room, especially around the fireplace. The tableau of white ceramic vases grouped in the painted fireplace creates a quiet moment while letting the bold furniture and art take center stage.
Tour this house on H&H TV.
In designer Montana Burnett’s family cottage, the whole aesthetic has a breezy tropical feel inspired by family vacations in St. Barts. The pale fireplace stone is buff Arizona limestone, which Martha and her mother chose to match the subdued palette of the place.
A Victorian fireplace in the home of H&H design editor Stacey Smithers is loaded with charm, thanks to the carved stone mantel, intricate metalwork grate and deep marble hearth. The playful pompom garland that Stacey dresses it up with during the holidays doesn’t hurt either!
Learn how to make Stacey’s DIY: Pompom Garland.
Donna Griffith
House & Home December 2013
Ray Murakami