Add to Del.icio.us
Digg this Article
Add to Mixx
Decorations aside, fireplaces themselves are showing up in innovative, architectural forms made from beautiful materials. Some that caught our eye: Tulikivi soapstone fireplaces with bake ovens, a delightfully low-tech way to cook. The Finnish soapstone exterior stays cool to the touch while the bake oven inside builds heat from the fire until it’s high enough to bake bread or pizza. As the temperature lowers, it’s ideal for browning quick breads and casseroles. One pile of wood will generate enough heat for a few hours, and the cooking temperature can be seen on a thermostat mounted on the outside. The fireplace creates radiant warmth for the house, but heat is also evenly distributed through the bake oven. Available in several customizable designs from Mid-Atlantic Masonry Heat in Troy, VA.
François & Co. continues the natural materials theme (we rarely see anything else these days) with a vast collection of distinctive mantels. The forms are available in hand-carved limestone salvaged from old French estates; Scagliola stone, a technique developed by monks that pieces together marble chips, stabilizing agents, and pigments to conserve materials; and pewter and copper, which in time develop a rich patina.
Outdoor fireplaces have been innovated, too. The Stone Forest Fire Vessels are a low-commitment way to bring fire outdoors but sturdy enough that they don’t look like a last-minute purchase from a chain hardware store. Crafted from granite, hand-forged iron, and natural boulders, the vessels blend with many looks and help to elongate the outdoor entertaining season. Available at stoneforest.com.
