Sitting around the fireside on a cold wintry night is simply magical. The hypnotic fire helps take the nip out of the room while creating a special ambience. For centruries, fireplaces have supplied heat and,for years before that, a place to cook as well. They have never lost their celebrity and, in fact, have made significant advances in popularity. In my lifetime, fireplaces have been jogging southward where winters are short and summers are long 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 homes, fireplaces continue to be in style.

I suppose you"ll agree that with the advances in central heating and air, the reason for the fireplace has markedly changed. They are definitely not about simply heating your home. Nor is it about cooking. There has been no shortage of cook tops or ovens for years So why this ever increasing love for fireplaces? My spectulation is that fireplaces provide that special mood 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 one of the discrete architectural elements that adorn our homes much like embellished stairs, arched entry ways, or ornamental range hoods. These are good examples of a marriage between function and form.

"Wonderful marriage" has to be qualified because not all marriages of art and function are wonderful marriages. I recently had the opportunity to observe a home that was probably 80 percent finished and witnessed some pretty awful marriages. There was an island cabinet that had incredibly large and ornate corbels supporting the counter . The fireplace also had magnanimous stone columns supporting the mantel counter. The best thing that could be said is: "More is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are many fine cases of form and function-just not in that home.

For many years millworks companies have become adept at building fireplace mantels. Need is always jogging ahead of supply. And since the "media" of cabinetmakers is wood, most mantels are made of wood-which is OK with me since wood is my "media". Heavy wood planks, under laid with crown molding supported by ornate brackets and fluted legs are a widespread form for many millworks suppliers. Hand carved mantels fashioned in foreign lands are not as common but are still accessible. The beauty of these carved gems is unmatched by the latest 21st century technological genius. The small nuance and minor imperfections are a signature that says "hand carved" and adds a special charm and unique quality. Mass production methodology will, never attain to the techniques of the masters. These artisans can undercut and form sharp interior cuts that are presently not possible with high tech machinery.

Certainly fireplaces and the mantels that frame them are here for a long time. This is a marriage made in heaven. 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.