You can’t start a fire without a spark, or something to put it in. These fireplaces work harder than most, adding architectural interest, colour and texture to living rooms, whether they’re lit or not.
Kindling spirit
Soaring towards the ceiling of this New York triplex like the trunk of a giant redwood, a walnut-clad chimney makes a striking statement while unifying the three separate floors into a single family home. The rich tones of the fluted timber warm the space visually, adding character to Studio Razavi’s sleek scheme, studiorazavi.com
Geometry of warmth
Studio Wok made the most of the main living area in this mountainside home by crafting a crisp fireplace that seems to tessellate with the polished concrete staircase, freeing up floor space for the young family who live there. Its clean geometry has a purity that speaks to the original post-war stone building, while the lime-plaster finish softly reflects the light. The only note of colour comes from the dark green of the fireplace’s stone insert, studiowok.com
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Vibe check
It’s not just a centre point in the living room; a fireplace can set the theme for a home. In this Fifth Avenue apartment in Manhattan, created by Crystal Sinclair Designs, a graphic chequerboard effect introduces this interior’s love affair with monochrome, which has also been picked up by the black and white stripes seen in the nearby alcoves, crystalsinclairdesigns.com
The gold standard
Can cosy ever be cool? In the hands of Ester Bruzkus Architekten, absolutely. The architecture and interior-design studio reimagined this top-floor apartment for a couple in Berlin, contrasting exposed concrete walls with luxe elements like this gleaming brass cube of a fireplace – unexpected and more than a little bit sexy, esterbruzkus.com
Totally tubular
Why choose one hero material when you can have two? A burnished metal column is hugged by a marble alcove in this airy, elegant Sydney apartment, designed by Nina Maya Interiors. The fireplace ‘flute’ is the result of a collaboration between Maya and Axolotl, an Australian company that fabricated the cylinder with its aged-bronze patina, ninamayainteriors.com
Updated classic
B.E Architecture removed the coal-burning fireplace in the corner of this Edwardian terrace’s main bedroom and replaced it with a modern firebox. A new wall is clad with glossy green handmade Japanese tiles, emphasising the room’s lofty proportions for a wonderfully exaggerated, contemporary take on traditional tile surrounds, bearchitecture.com
Mid-century heat
In the family home of fashion designer Ilana Moses, a lozenge-shaped inset fireplace in emerald marble is the understated yet luxurious centrepiece of the living room. Inarc Architects were behind the sensitive renovation of the house – a mid-century modern gem designed by Ernest Fooks in a Melbourne suburb, inarc.com.au.
Sculpted to surprise
Visitors to Laura Gonzalez’s vast gallery in Manhattan’s Tribeca will naturally expect to find the French designer’s furniture and lighting on display, but it’s the intriguing ceramic chimney breast by Laurent Dufour that will have them doing a double take. At first glance, the sculptural forms appear to be abstract, but look a little closer and friendly canine faces emerge, lauragonzalez.fr
