At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design » Updating Another Fireplace – At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design

Updating Another Fireplace

Jackie Braitman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:59:02 +0000

Modern, Updated Fireplace

I’m always surprised at how easy and yet dramatic it is to update a fireplace. Life, for this firebox, started out in the 1950′s as a country-look brick fireplace – see below. We removed the wood mantle, chipped away the brick shelf-brackets, and removed the brick hearth. A slightly narrower hearth was allowed by code since we were putting in a gas insert. A new mud base was laid to bring the hearth back up to floor level. Large format porcelain tile was laid directly on the brick. The same tile was used for the mantle as for the fireplace. The tile is 26″ x 13″ laid horizontally. Brushed metal edging was used in place of bullsnose tile. The fireplace was plumbed for natural gas. The country-look plank cabinet was replaced with a European-style full overlay cabinet in natural alder. Finally, the gas insert and new glass doors were installed.

The monolithic look — without mantle or other embellishment — is a very sleek, modern look. The horizontal picture emphasizes the vertical monolithic form of the fireplace.

Fireplace "Before" Changes

All images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build

Now You See It …. Now You Don’t

Jackie Braitman — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:06:51 +0000

Entertainment Built-ins Beside Fireplace

Another nice design idea from the house I visited in California recently — entertainment components that disappear when not in use. While this is new construction, the concept would be easy to incorporate into remodeling depending upon the house construction. The cabinets to the left of the fireplace hide the TV and all the additional paraphernalia that goes along with it. The wall was bumped out for both the fireplace and the entertainment cabinets — the bump-out creates a pleasing alcove outside by the front door that creates a sense of arrival.

Doors slide into cabinet -- like you'll find in hotels

The doors slide back into the cabinets — like you’ll find in hotels — to open all the components to the living room. Remote controls and other line-of-sight devices can work easily. When you’re done watching TV, close the doors and everything is out of sight.

Fireplace Upgrades – Dramatic Changes with Small Investments

Jackie Braitman — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:58:52 +0000

A new fireplace surround creates a dramatic focal point

Upgrading your fireplace surround can be an inexpensive way to make a big impact. This article shows before and after shots of 6 fireplaces and explains what we did.

Fireplace Before

Twenty years ago, a previous homeowner had added this fireplace in the master bedroom. They used a firebox that uses a fan to circulate warm air in the room. They used a simple row of tiles to trim-out the box, and a slab of slate directly on the floor. For the remodel, above, we kept the firebox (and thoroughly cleaned it). We removed the tile and slate hearth. We purchased an unfinished oak surround from Home Depot. We stained the wood an ebony (same as the floor) and used a hand-rubbed boiled linseed oil finish. We sized the inside of the wood fireplace surround so that there would be a more generous tile reveal — especially on the top to better fill the wall space. After we worked with the homeowner to make the selections, she did the tile work staining, oil finish & tile work herself to save money.

In addition to the changes to the fireplace itself, we made several other changes in the room that increase the “presence” of the fireplace. We used a light color on the wall to create a contrast with the dark floor and fireplace surround. We removed the sheers that covered the crisp architecture of the windows. Added a 3-part crown molding and replaced the sconces.

Fireplace w/ New Glass Tiles & Concrete Hearth

Fireplace Before Changes

For the fireplace, above, we covered the brick with glass subway tile that matches tile used in the kitchen, The glass tile with the same proportions as the brick was used in the same pattern as the brick. We also replaced the fireplace glass doors and the hearth — again using material used elsewhere in the house. In this case, we painted the wall a deeper color to contrast with the white painted wooden fireplace surround. Usually, if you want to create a focal point, you want that focal point to contrast with the surrounding colors.

Modernized Fireplace

Traditional Fireplace Before Changes

While the previous remodeled fireplaces have been fairly traditional, in this one we moved from traditional to modern to coordinate with stainless steel railing and european style cabinets. We removed the wood surround and the marble hearth. We built a new “box” from plywood and durock and covered all surfaces including the hearth with large-format porcelain tile. Brushed metal edging was used in lieu of bullnose tile for a more modern look. The 3 inch deep mantle is just deep enough to use as a picture ledge. We installed a new gas insert in the old firebox.

Fireplace w/ built-in bookcases

Fireplace Before Changes

The original fireplace had a very modest trim. In this case, red brick surrounded by a simple mitered wood trim. We left the trim in place and painted the brick. Then we built 2 small bookcases under the windows on either side of the fireplace. The cap of the bookcases forms a continuous mantle across the entire wall. While normally, bookcases surrounding a fireplace are in line with or behind the front of the fireplace, the treatment, above, creates a simple
formality that works well in this house. To keep costs down, the bookcases were purchased unfinished and then simply trimmed out by a finish carpenter.

Fireplace w/ New Mantle

Fireplace Before Changes

The homeowners felt that this fireplace in a 1950′s split-level lacked character. A fireplace and wood alcove were both inserted into a painted brick wall. We removed the brass glass doors putting more emphasis on the stone trim surrounding the firebox. We replaced the doors with a simple black metal screen. We installed a mantle above the fireplace that wrapped around the corner and we furred-out the brick so we could install drywall. A custom glass mural creates a dramatic focal point above the new mantle.

Stone Fireplace with Salvaged Old-Growth Redwood Mantle

Fireplace Before

This stunning stone fireplace required little change except to replace the simple wood mantle with a rough-hewn salvaged old-growth redwood mantle. The finish is a simple oil finish. We used a wall color that better accents the stone. The owner’s artwork also sets off the re-vitalized fireplace to advantage.

While in many cases, the changes to the fireplace were part of larger remodeling efforts, you can see from the photographs that the simple changes we made to these fireplaces create a dramatic change in the tone of the space. All of these changes were relatively inexpensive and many could be largely handled by a homeowner to save money.
All images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build

Color Concepts – Another Palette

Jackie Braitman — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:56:06 +0000

Dark Transitions Make Rooms Brighter

Yesterday’s article (link) covered the major elements that make color palettes work in architecture using a home with a bold, bright color palette. This home uses the same conceptual elements with a more somber palette of grayed-greens, deep wine, and a touch of creamy yellow. This home also features two elements that weren’t as apparent in the other home: The effectivness of Darker Transitions and moving from Dark to Light as daylight increases.

In the image, above, notice how the dark wine colored transition beyond the kitchen makes the kitchen all the more brighter — highlighting the architecture and separating the kitchen from what’s beyond. Similarly, the dark transition from the family room to foyer (right hand side of the image) has the same effect. The sunny yellow/green of the kitchen is a near compliment of the wine transition — stengthing the impact of both. Similarly, the grayed-green of the family room is also a near-complement of the wine transition. We also move from darker to lighter shades as we move from the enclosed transition to the family room to the kitchen with light streaming through skylights and windows on 2 sides. This accentuates the effect of the light.

Color Elements At Work

Notice the view from the Living room through to the Family Room and to the Side Family Entrance. The main foyer (where the dog is lying) is a similar grayed-green of the family room except many shades darker. [Notice how it accentuates the artwork above the mantle.] Notice also the darker transition before you get to the family room and we’re pulled through the transition to the lighter room beyond. The transition is both lower and darker — the ceiling is also the dark wine color. Notice the same wine color on the angled wall coming into the living room from the Family Side Entrance. It leads one from the entrance through to the living room. The living room’s color is similar in intensity to the family room but with more yellow to better match the southern exposure. And finally, notice (below) how when moving from the Family’s Side Entrance through to the kitchen how another dark transition area again pulls you through to the kitchen. For reference, also see the floor plan.

Floor Plan

: Dark Transition Moving Toward Light

Click here for more information about the remodeling of this home.

Images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build.

Modernizing a Split-Level – Part 2

Jackie Braitman — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:30:55 +0000

Modern Fireplace - Refaced with Porcelain Tile

This 1950′s split-level in Washington, DC was well built and generously
proportioned. We had recently modernized the kitchen, dining room, and master suite and hall bath. With just a few cosmetic changes, we modernized the living room to fit in. Re-facing the fireplace was the biggest change. We used large-format (26″ x 13″ porcelain tile on the hearth as well as the surround. We brought the face up to the ceiling. We pulled the crown molding off the face of the fireplace giving it a more monolithic feel. Crisp brushed metal edging continues continues the modern touches. The new gas insert is matte black with no embellishments. However, we retained the crown molding and used wider casings around the doors and windows to blend the more traditional aspects of the home with the new modern theme.

Before

Notice that we also refaced the brick in the adjoining room with the same porcelain tile. We also used that tile on the stairway wall in the adjoining entryway (see
Modernizing a Split Level – Part 111). Consistency in use of materials helps unite all parts of the home.

Notice that using a better proportioned area rug also helps make the space look less cluttered. The horizontal line of identical picture frames, juxtaposed with the vertical volume of the fireplace, also helps visually enlarge and unite the space.

All images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build