Fireplaces serve as inspirational focal point for decor
We are all inherently drawn to the welcoming warmth and ambience of a fireplace. It’s generally accepted that if there is a fireplace in a room, it will steal the show, especially when lit.
Take advantage of this natural focal point to enhance your decorating choices, to connect with the colors and character of the whole room. Look at the big picture. Treat the fireplace surround, the mantel and the space around and above the fireplace as a creative whole.
Award-winning decorator MaryLynne Meschino ( www.allegrointeriors.ca) is masterful at integrating the homeowners’ personalities and possessions to produce a harmonious, inviting setting.
The fireplace transformation in the bedroom was conceived as a natural extension of the overall room design. The homeowners had chosen taupe linens for the classic sleigh bed. Meschino selected plum tones, a rich choice for the complementary color, to be paired with taupe on the walls and throughout the fabrics and accessories.
The dark oak fireplace was painted white, highlighting the handsome molding details and lightens the view. The striking iron sculpture above the mantel is a brilliant find that is not only captivating on its own, but it also serves to link the branch detail in the chair fabric and the fine lines of the architectural prints. The sheen and taupe shading of the marble mosaic tiles that surround the firebox relate to the wall color and the draperies, while the warm plum shade of the feature wall behind the bed is picked up in the ceramic vases and pillar candle on the mantel. This fireplace vignette is now a
Take advantage of the replace as a natural focal point to enhance your decorating choices. Treat the replace surround, the mantel and the space around and above the replace as a creative whole.”
beautiful and restful focal point year-round, with or without the fire burning. It responds to any season.
For a young couple who had traveled extensively in South America, the budget was small, but they had big dreams of creating a joyful first home.
Their favorite possessions were two paintings they had brought home from their travels. These paintings inspired Meschino to create a simple living space with bold, colorful accents. The homeowners wanted a basic ivory background for the walls, a perfect foil for the orange and vibrant colors in the paintings.
For the fireplace surround, Meschino selected a grid of marble and glass mosaic tiles that featured a mix of orange, red, gold, white and gray. Using the 1-inch mosaic tiles — which come in 12-by-12-inch sheets and can be cut to fit the existing space — allows for a clean-looking surface, without mismatching grout lines. The ceramic vases on the mantel have a quirky nature that suits the painting; one has a twisted base, the other a native pattern.
Furnishings in the room include a red slipper chair and a window seat upholstered in a pattern of red, gold and orange on a white background.
Although repetition is what affords a room balance, random colors and patterns should be introduced to avoid a forced “matchy” look. Stepping away from the bright palette, a green chair and ceramic lamp, along with black and white geometrically patterned cushions, serve to reinforce the interest and character in the room, while ensuring that the overall feel is casual and livable.
When it’s time to redecorate a room with a fireplace, think about how you can build on your style by choosing materials, shapes, colors and themes around the fireplace that reinforce your overall design.
Debbie Travis’ House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.com/debbie_travis, or visit her website, www.debbietravis.com.