Light Up Your Life! - Finding the Perfect Fireplace for Your New Home

Here, folks gather on chilly winter nights to read stories aloud, watch movies or just to talk. Guests inevitably gravitate to this soothing, flickering backdrop for conversation and mingling.

The enjoyment of a fireplace isn't limited to those who live in cold regions, though. In any climate, a beautiful fireplace provides an eye-catching focal point, one that if properly designed, serves as a worthy substitute for any work of art.

Whether your preferred style is rustic, contemporary or traditional, a fireplace will complement your room's look and feel; the materials and styling you choose totally define that look.

Natural stone stretching from the hearth of the fireplace to the peak of a vaulted ceiling mimics the rustic flavor of a cabin. Traditional brick, on the other hand, evokes images of a dignified Colonial, and beautifully stark marble makes a dramatic contemporary statement.

Depending on the pattern, ceramic tile appeals to cozy country tastes or to bold modern ones. As an accent, natural wood provides a handsome addition in the form of a mantel and/or trim. Those who love the look of natural wood might favor a wood backdrop that reaches from the mantel to the ceiling. (Note: Flammable materials such as wood can't be adjacent to the fireplace unit.)

Recent technologies in both fireplaces and the materials used in the surrounds have significantly increased the number of styling choices now available.

Because today's direct-vent, gas fireplaces require no chimney and vent out the back or the top of the unit, they offer maximum flexibility for placement and styling. For example, if the fireplace vents through the back, it can be framed in beautiful windows.