Decorating & Design
November 26, 2020
20+ Warm & Inviting Fireplaces That Go Beyond The Living Room
A living room fireplace plays a central role in the home: the mantel can be dressed seasonally, and when the flames are flickering, nothing is more cozy or welcoming. Designers have long since relied on fireplaces to create instant ambience. The sound of crackling logs and the flames’ warm glow are sought-after lifestyle features, and these handsome hearths prove just how appealing and versatile having a fireplace can be in any room. Kitchen? Entryway? Bedroom? We want them all!
Food writer Lindsay Cameron Wilson makes a case for moving your kitchen into the dining room. The perks? A statement fireplace remains the focal point of the historic space, where she cooks and writes scripts for The Food Podcast.
Designer Shauna Walton opted for a pared-back palette of blond and white to compliment this Edwardian dining room’s original fireplace. It adds textural interest and a distinct European quality.
Topped with a swag of garland, this handsome hearth gives the adjacent kitchen even more French bistro flair. The moody mantel makes the custom tile surround pop.
In this West Coast garden, a substantial exterior stone hearth is built into the retaining walls to create an ideal spot for dining.
“The double-sided fireplace in the entry of this home went through a major glow-up,” says Jessica Bennett of Alice Lane Interior Design. “To create a more fashionable statement, we replaced the original wood beam mantle with a modern cast stone surround and added grout to the existing rock to brighten things up and highlight the texture. The fireplace is now a sparkly statement as you enter the home.”
What better way to create a live-in kitchen than with a cozy fireplace? Designers Tommy Smythe and Lindsay Mens Craig painted this 230-year-old home’s original hearth an off-black to match the ebonized island.
There’s no place we’d rather be on a warm, sunny day than this ultracool backyard. A Corten steel fireplace is the perfect outdoor option, thanks to its weathered patina that will age gracefully over time.
A stunning fireplace does double duty in architect Darcie Watson’s downtown Toronto home. It separates the bedroom from her luxe ensuite, and offers a view of the flickering flames in both rooms.
In the 2020 Princess Margaret Showhome in King City, Ontario, designer Sarah Baeumler created major drama in the dining area with a stone-veneer wall. Instead of placing the hearth on the floor, the fireplace is set eye-level so those seated around the table can enjoy it.
In this spare West Coast cottage, a petite fireplace is sandwiched between built-in banquettes, and there is even a niche for firewood.
Food stylist Sasha Seymour’s stunning kitchen is a true showpiece with a fireplace oven and double fridges. The white brick chimney makes the fireplace even more striking.
A fireplace turns this grand foyer into a gathering room, and may eventually become a functional sitting area with the fireplace as the focal aspect.
The highlight of designer Sharon Mimran’s yard is the large ethanol-burning fireplace with a weatherproof faux-limestone resin mantel.
In food blogger Julia Sherman’s Brooklyn kitchen, the non-functioning fireplace has been repurposed as a fancy dog bed so it gets plenty of use. The family pup, Lucy, snuggles up inside (not pictured).
There is nothing more luxurious and romantic than having a fireplace beside a bathtub in the bedroom. Imagine starting your day cozying up in a fluffy robe with a coffee in hand next to the fire? Le sigh.
In landscape designer Meredyth Hilton’s aquatic, restaurant-style dining room, the fireplace is completely painted out so it melts into the monochromatic surroundings.
A glassed-in veranda off the kitchen is this Quebec family’s go-to spot, thanks to its tree-lined wraparound views. A tall brick fireplace draws the eye up and keeps the space warm.
This dramatic marble hearth fireplace, in a Calgary new-build, reflects a European vibe (and yes, romance) and adds quiet glamour to the principal bedroom.
This home office has an enviable view, thanks to a chimney breast wallpapered in Cole & Son’s Circus wallpaper which complements the clean-lined, custom-made mantel.
To extend the use of this cottage’s screened porch, a herringbone-brick back fireplace is exactly what’s needed to entice people to stay gathered around the dining table when the temperatures drop.
In this city guesthouse, it’s easy to believe you’re on vacation miles away. Attention was lavished on this structure — located behind the main house — which includes airy vaulted ceilings and a soaring stone fireplace.
In this contemporary family cottage‘s lounge area, a double-sided fireplace shared with the bedroom creates a warm ambience. A classic Eames’ chair and an eclectic display of art suits the bold, modern design of the fireplace.
In a bright sunroom in this Larchmont, New York retreat, a petite flagstone fireplace grounds the whimsical floral upholstery and ocelot rug.
This monolithic outdoor fireplace has a cool, clean design to match the substantial outdoor furnishings. Throws add that extra element of warmth, so this spot can be enjoyed three seasons a year.