The charm of resting around a hot fire in the fireplace on a chilly evening in winter is delightful. The roaring fire helps take the nip out of the room while creating atmosphere. For many decades, fireplaces have furnished heat and a place to cook as well. They have never lost their celebrity and, in fact, have made significant advances in popularity. In my short life, fireplaces have been jogging southward where winters are punctuation marks and summers are overextended sentences. Though home heating technologies have (evolved over the years, fireplaces are still in vogue|Although the latest enhancements have been made in HVAC systems for our living spaces, fireplaces persist in being stylish.

With improvements in home heating the purpose for fireplaces has clearly diverged. Fireplaces are no longer simply for furnishing heat. They are no longer used for preparing meals There has been no shortage of cook tops or ovens for years So why do we have this ever increasing liking for fireplaces? My guess is that fireplaces impart ambience when they're ablaze. And when they are not, they promote interest, a focal point and character to a room. Should I add "charm" as well? It would seem that fireplaces, and the mantels that surround them, have been, for some time, one of the definitive architectural details that adorn our homes much like embellished stairs, arched doorways, or decorative range hoods. These are good examples of a marriage between utility and form.

"Wonderful marriage" has to be qualified because not all marriages of art and function are wonderful marriages. I recently had the occasion to stroll through a home that was about eighty percent finished and saw some really awful marriages. There was an island cabinet that had incredibly oversize and ornate brackets supporting the counter . The fireplace also had gargantuan stone columns supporting the mantel board. The best thing that could be said is: "Bigger is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are lots of beautiful examples of form and function-just not in that home.

For many years millworks suppliers have become adept at building mantel shelves and surrounds. Need is always jogging ahead of supply. Because most cabinet makers craft with wood, most mantels are crafted from wood. Thick wooden slabs, undergirded with crown mold supported by ornate corbels and fluted pilasters are a familiar form for many cabinet makers. Hand carved mantels fashioned in foreign lands are not as common but are still to be had. The quality of these carved showpieces is unmatched by the latest 21st century technological marvels. The slight nuance and minor imperfections are a signature that says "hand carved" and adds a special charm and unique character. Mass production methodology will in my humble opinion, never attain to the methods of the masters. Carvers can undercut and form sharp interior cuts that are not possible with high tech tooling.

It is obvious that fireplaces and the mantels them are here to stay. Like a marriage made in heaven, mantels and fireplaces have passed the test of time As long as there are homeowners and designers that can appreciate the charm and homey pleasure afforded by them, we should not expect their demise. More likely they will continue to grace the homes in the cold North as well as the hot and humid South.