21 Fireside Tales to Keep You Cozy This Winter
Curl up by the flames or in another toasty spot to read the stories behind these fireplaces in one-of-a-kind homes
Nothing says cozy like a nice spot next to a flickering fire. Read the heartwarming and envy-inducing tales behind these 21 fireplaces featured in our My Houzz series. Then click on the links below the photos to learn more about the rest of the personalized homes.
2. Cozy great room in Canada. Sea-inspired paint and built-in shelving helped new homeowners Jonathan and Tammy Greenland and their sons feel cozier in this room. It’s now one of their favorite spots in their Newfoundland house.
The ocean influence doesn’t end with the paint. The family installed beach rock tile around the fireplace and displayed framed seashells above the mantel.
Read more about this beachy home, complete with a home theater and wine cellar
The ocean influence doesn’t end with the paint. The family installed beach rock tile around the fireplace and displayed framed seashells above the mantel.
Read more about this beachy home, complete with a home theater and wine cellar
3. Online finds in an enclosed Connecticut porch. Homeowner Ellen Allen designed the enclosed porch that surrounds her treasured custom-built fireplace. The room is full of handmade brick, granite and recycled barn wood. To complete the charming spot, Allen tracked down all the furnishings — the fireplace and mantel came from eBay. She finished off the wall with a garden planter from an antiques store, wildflowers from her garden and a commissioned mirror frame that she rusted with ammonia.
Allen retreats to this porch after a dip in the hot tub. It’s one of her favorite things to do in the fall.
Read more about this 1745 farmhouse
Allen retreats to this porch after a dip in the hot tub. It’s one of her favorite things to do in the fall.
Read more about this 1745 farmhouse
4. Minimalist master suite in Toronto. Nestled in the treetops, this master suite draws in the morning light. Those rays of sunshine provide warmth, as does the working fireplace, one of four in the house. As part of a home update, Gloria Apostolou and Kirk Marshall simplified the wall surrounding the fireplace and added built-in cabinetry.
This room’s transformation was just one of many done throughout the family home over more than seven years.
Read more about this home’s changes through the years
This room’s transformation was just one of many done throughout the family home over more than seven years.
Read more about this home’s changes through the years
5. Out with the old and in with the new in California. The weight of the original fireplace was literally dragging down this Berkeley house, causing it to sag on one side.
Homeowner Susan Berry turned to an architect and a civil engineer to fix the problem and design a new fireplace. The architect drew up a limestone fireplace to match the large scale of the living room. Once it was complete, an interior designer restyled the room with new furniture.
Read more about this California home with boho flair
Homeowner Susan Berry turned to an architect and a civil engineer to fix the problem and design a new fireplace. The architect drew up a limestone fireplace to match the large scale of the living room. Once it was complete, an interior designer restyled the room with new furniture.
Read more about this California home with boho flair
6. White and welcoming in Tennessee. The front doors of Clark and Caroline Brewer’s home in Nashville swing open to reveal the couple’s brick fireplace. They painted it and the built-in cabinets white as soon as they moved in. On the mantel, a fresh bouquet of flowers frequently greets visitors; above it hangs a photo of Caroline’s grandmother. As you meander through the house, you’ll find the homeowners’ collections.
Read more about this Nashville bungalow full of DIYs and color
Read more about this Nashville bungalow full of DIYs and color
7. Alluring accent wall in Massachusetts. The wide-plank pine floors and an accent wall caught the attention of Faith Towers and Michael Provencher when they first visited this New England home. Now it’s theirs.
Since they moved in, the couple added a mirror and wall sconces to the accent wall. They also replaced the nonworking wood-burning fireplace with a bioethanol one to bring warmth to the dining room.
Read more about this home’s classic style and DIYs
Since they moved in, the couple added a mirror and wall sconces to the accent wall. They also replaced the nonworking wood-burning fireplace with a bioethanol one to bring warmth to the dining room.
Read more about this home’s classic style and DIYs
8. Floating fireplace to anchor a room in Canada. What was once a crowded room now looks out to an Ontario vineyard. The transformation included adding windows and installing a floating fireplace in the corner. Homeowners Tamara Woolgar and Dave Suydam kept the furniture minimal to make room for the grand views out their new windows.
Read more about this vineyard bungalow with midcentury modern style
Read more about this vineyard bungalow with midcentury modern style
9. Midcentury gems fit for the movies in Salt Lake City. Ron Green has a penchant for midcentury modern furniture. His preference is evident in his furniture store, which has rented pieces from what he considers the golden age of design to film companies.
Green also has remodeled his home to match. For example, he tore out the Victorian-style mantel and replaced the fireplace with a sleeker design. Now he can plop down in one of his vintage Womb chairs and warm up by a more stylish fire setting.
Read more about this midcentury modern home with killer views
Green also has remodeled his home to match. For example, he tore out the Victorian-style mantel and replaced the fireplace with a sleeker design. Now he can plop down in one of his vintage Womb chairs and warm up by a more stylish fire setting.
Read more about this midcentury modern home with killer views
10. Framed fireplace in a renovated Texas home. Michael and Nicola McLaughlin, an interior designer, remodeled a bit of every room in their 1949 home in San Antonio.
This included the upstairs living room, whose fireplace is now flanked by framed wallpaper panels. Nicola ordered the panels and designed the rest of the space around them. She finished off the fireplace with a painting done by a friend and her mother, and a collection of rose medallion china.
Read more about this traditional Texas home
This included the upstairs living room, whose fireplace is now flanked by framed wallpaper panels. Nicola ordered the panels and designed the rest of the space around them. She finished off the fireplace with a painting done by a friend and her mother, and a collection of rose medallion china.
Read more about this traditional Texas home
11. Heat source update in Montreal. When the winters get cold, Sébastien Millette lights a fire to warm up his loft. The space right near the fireplace makes for a cozy sitting area on those chilly days.
The walls around the fireplace are covered with chalkboard paint, which contrasts nicely against the warm wood textures throughout the space. On the other side of the fireplace wall, you’ll find Millette’s bedroom.
Read more about this loft and its new layout
The walls around the fireplace are covered with chalkboard paint, which contrasts nicely against the warm wood textures throughout the space. On the other side of the fireplace wall, you’ll find Millette’s bedroom.
Read more about this loft and its new layout
12. Focal point in a floating Canadian house. Kevin and Jessica Schmid left their 1898 Victorian in Vancouver for a floating house just across Burrard Inlet to the north — and a more peaceful way of life. The new home was move-in-ready, but they wanted to revamp the fireplace to make it a focal point.
The company they hired took care of the whole project, from the masonry to the custom mantel. The surround is made from stacked quarry rock, and the mantel is a piece of live-edge maple with a natural oil finish.
Read more about this floating house
The company they hired took care of the whole project, from the masonry to the custom mantel. The surround is made from stacked quarry rock, and the mantel is a piece of live-edge maple with a natural oil finish.
Read more about this floating house
13. Original beauty in a Tennessee master bedroom. This 1905 Nashville home owned by Genie and Alex Lockwood had “strong bones” and a lot of original charm. That can be seen in the fireplace in their master bedroom. The couple opted to keep their escape uncluttered, open and filled with natural light. At the end of the day, they can retreat here to enjoy the fireplace and its green-tile surround.
Read more about this creative, personality-filled Nashville home
Read more about this creative, personality-filled Nashville home
14. A recorder, not logs, for this Oregon firebox. So what if the fireplace doesn’t work? Jaclyn Campanaro didn’t let an out-of-commission fireplace stop her from making it a focal point in the room. Previously, it had fake logs and gray stamped concrete. She painted everything, including the built-in shelves, white. Then she put a reel-to-reel recorder from her father in the logs’ spot.
She completed the fireplace wall with her favorites: plants and books.
Read more about this colorful Portland bungalow
She completed the fireplace wall with her favorites: plants and books.
Read more about this colorful Portland bungalow
15. Fireplace-turned-art in a Southern California beach house. Kelly Mack wanted the fireplace in her family’s home to look like art. During the remodel, they chose to cover the white brick surround with handmade turquoise, red and bronze ceramic tiles in a linear design.
Above the fireplace, a framed piece of an opium bed hangs on the wall.
Read more about this global-inspired beach home
Above the fireplace, a framed piece of an opium bed hangs on the wall.
Read more about this global-inspired beach home
16. Family-size fireplace in Ontario. A large sectional spans the length of this Canadian family room. At the center is a marble-surrounded fireplace, with a TV above. This space is perfect for Paul Henry and his family to hunker down by the fire in the cold months. They spend time together playing games and watching movies.
The room also gets lots of light from the large window, even though it’s on the ground floor of the home.
Read more about the family center tucked in the trees
The room also gets lots of light from the large window, even though it’s on the ground floor of the home.
Read more about the family center tucked in the trees
17. Midcentury and family style in Dallas. Brad and Laura Godkin, who have two sons, wanted their midcentury fixer-upper to have style yet work for their growing family. They connected with a local designer who helped them navigate their home remodel.
The final design showcases a living room with a streamlined design, complete with a roaring fireplace.
Read more about this midcentury remodel
The final design showcases a living room with a streamlined design, complete with a roaring fireplace.
Read more about this midcentury remodel
18. Cost-cutting wood stove in the Netherlands. This family of five overhauled their Haarlem home to save on energy. Through a bunch of changes, the family reduced their energy bill to a quarter of the original estimate.
A big piece of the savings comes from the wood-burning fireplace. This feature had to be reinstalled after the existing walls were demolished. About 83 percent of the energy it produces ends up in the home’s interior. The remaining heat escapes up the chimney.
Read more about this renovation spurred by energy efficiency
A big piece of the savings comes from the wood-burning fireplace. This feature had to be reinstalled after the existing walls were demolished. About 83 percent of the energy it produces ends up in the home’s interior. The remaining heat escapes up the chimney.
Read more about this renovation spurred by energy efficiency
19. More room for a fireplace in California wine country. Jon and Sue Cretarolo like to entertain. They decided to knock out a wall and incorporate one of their bedrooms into the living room.
This gave them room to install a fireplace and shelving on both sides. The redesign also gave them a place to hang their sons’ artwork.
Read more about this Napa home fit for entertaining
This gave them room to install a fireplace and shelving on both sides. The redesign also gave them a place to hang their sons’ artwork.
Read more about this Napa home fit for entertaining
20. Turning a corner in Seattle. Rebecca West and Damian Konasiewicz replaced their original living room fireplace with a custom corner one. It used to be a dark brick color but now sports light-colored stone. These colors continue in the living room decor.
Around the corner, they have a mantel made of natural rough-edge granite.
Read more about this Seattle bungalow
Around the corner, they have a mantel made of natural rough-edge granite.
Read more about this Seattle bungalow
21. Year-round use in Kentucky. Even in the warm months, Amanda Hervey puts the fireplace in her family’s home to good use. She fills it with candles, and lines the mantel with green and clear bottles. Both create a fun space with lots of visual interest.
The rest of the room isn’t lacking in visuals either. The patterns and shapes differ from one spot to the next, creating a playful energy.
Read more about this farmhouse-inspired, fun-filled home
Your turn: Which fireside do you want to curl up next to? Tell us in the Comments!
More
Find Your Fireplace Style
How to Remodel Your Fireplace
Design Debate: Is It OK to Hang the TV Over the Fireplace?
The rest of the room isn’t lacking in visuals either. The patterns and shapes differ from one spot to the next, creating a playful energy.
Read more about this farmhouse-inspired, fun-filled home
Your turn: Which fireside do you want to curl up next to? Tell us in the Comments!
More
Find Your Fireplace Style
How to Remodel Your Fireplace
Design Debate: Is It OK to Hang the TV Over the Fireplace?
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Northern Virginia Interior Designer - Best of Houzz 2013-2020!
Around the fireplace, frames with Decatur’s artwork fill the wall. She uses the Italian Renaissance as inspiration, and is always looking for more 18th- and 19th-century frames to add to her collection.
Read more about this cottage full of creative touches