Fireplace face-lifts - fireplace renovations

Sunset, Nov, 1997 by Peter O. Whiteley, Ann Bertelsen

Updated and retextured, these six fireplaces step into the limelight

* Although it took more than the wave of a magic wand, there's still a Cinderella quality, to the transformation of these six fireplaces. Each (one is purely decorative) presents a glamorous new face that masks part or all of the original unit and dramatically alters the surrounding room. No structural changes were made to fireboxes or chimneys.

Before: The canted, dark brick fireplace dominated the living room and, after years of use, needed a makeover. The owners wanted a more elegant facade to blend in with their bright, airy decor but didn't want to go through the hassles of a major remodel involving gypsum board and stucco.

After: "I dressed up the fireplace, cladding it in an elegant new mantel," says designer Julia A. Delamater. The remodeled fireplace features a plywood surround painted to match the soft amber-yellow walls. It was prebuilt outside and then assembled in place with a minimum of inconvenience to the owners. Delamater incorporated a built-in entertainment center on one side of the fireplace and added custom-milled wood trim and molding for a seamless finish.

* Design: Julia A. Delamater, San Anselmo, CA (415/453-2826)

* Cabinetry and millwork: Pat Arend, Sonoma, CA (707/996-4044)

SCULPTURE IN WOOD AND METAL

Before: The awkwardly located, white-painted brick fireplace had a skimpy wood mantel with support brackets.

After: A two-part mantel mixes metal and wood and adds eye-catching mass and color to the corner. The mantel's lower section is sheet copper, chemically treated to have a mottled patina. The upper section is a 9 1/2-inch-deep hollow shell clad in cherry veneer. By painting the existing bricks a warm taupe, the designer visually separated them from the walls.

* Design: Charlotte S. Jensen, ASID, San Diego (619/693-9294)

CONTEMPORARY PLASTER

Before: Made of brick and stone, this fireplace added a heavy, busy look to the basement family room.

After: An angular outline and rich terra-cotta-colored plaster finish add a contemporary flair to the remodeled room. The focal point is the black concrete mantel supported by a long, wedge-shaped base. An arched niche near the ceiling emphasizes the sculptural form and the depth of the new fireplace front.

* Design: Karen Adelson, Karen Adelson Interiors, Oakland, CA (510/465-6913)

MODERN MINIMALISM

Before: "It was a disaster," says the homeowner, whose painted-brick fireplace, with a shallow display shelf, projected from a wall clad with temporary-looking paneling.

After: Precast concrete panels act as hearth, fascia, and mantel and cover the original fireplace. The 74-inch-wide box has a 3-inch-thick mantel that projects 15 inches from the back wall. A panel of gunmetal-finished cold-rolled steel above the firebox makes a place for damper controls and adds a contrasting texture. Long display shelves made of stained high-density fiberboard flank the fireplace.

* Design: Erich Remash, architect, Seattle (206/467-1882)

THE DECORATIVE TOUCH

Before: The Port Orford cedar mantel of this nonworking, decorative corner fireplace lay hidden beneath coats of paint, which had to be stripped by hand. At the center was a panel of bright green tiles the owner wanted to mask.

After: Paint was left in the deepest cracks to add whitewashed accenting to the 99-year-old mantel. Panels made of concrete backer board with handpainted faux marble now cover the original tile. The faux-marble accents repeat on the hearth, and the repainted concrete floors add warm tones that blend with the wood and parchment-colored walls.

* Design: Patrice Begovich, interior designer, Pasadena (626/584-9797)

* Stripping and painting: Chris Winslow, Los Angeles (213/225-3832)

SLEEK SIMPLICITY

Before: The smoke-darkened brick fireplace and two undersize windows dated this room.

After: A rough-textured coat of gray plaster seamlessly melds the fireplace into the wall. Both exterior windows are gone: the plaster covers one, and the other has been removed to create an opening to an entry hall added at the front of the house. The original brick chimney is partially exposed. The distinctive hearth is made from two unevenly cut sheets of 3/8-inch steel plates that stack like layers of sandstone.

* Design: Peter Soldat, architect, Castro Valley, CA (510/886-4241)

Fireplace safety

Now that fireplace season is here, it's a good idea to make sure that your chimney performs properly Here's a list of safety tips from the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

* Burn only well-seasoned hardwoods to reduce creosote buildup and smoke (particulate) emission.

* Install a chimney cap to keep out debris, rain, and animals. In windy areas, select a cap with a rotating top to allow the flue to continue to draw.

* Install a carbon monoxide detector.

* Have the chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep. (Creosote buildup can restrict airflow and lead to chimney-flue fires.)

* Consider having the chimney flashed and waterproofed.

NOTE

New wood-burning fireplaces must have glass doors and outside air sources; in some areas they must be approved units with low-emission performance or use natural gas. For maximum efficiency, consider installing an "insert" into the firebox.