The Mountains are Calling

Atelier AM

While I am cold weary in the Northeast, the mountains of the west feel oh so right.  Funny, I need to go to the Rockies to get "warmed up."  The crisp, fresh air, the smell of burning balsam wood, thinking about the majestic beauty of the snow peaked mountains meeting the blue sky makes me weak in the knees.  When I look at photos of ski chalets I have a visceral reaction.  I have been avoiding it because I wasn't ready to get "too excited," but the time has come.

I'm ready... get set...go

McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier

Nicky Dobree

I love hunkering down amongst all the mountain majesty!  You want to make a design statement while also taking advantage of the surrounding beauty, all the while cocooning yourself in coziness.

Pearson Design Group

John Maniscalco

 What feels right, right now, is the melange of materials that express a western and modern aesthetic. Mountain Homes are not all deer antlers and hand hewn wood (not that there's anything wrong with that), but in my book mountain homes DO most definitely involve roaring fires and fur.

JH Todd Interiors

Knudson Interiors

Pearson Design Group

Pearson Design Group

Centre Sky Architecture

Be still my heart ~~ GONE SKIING

When Is a Log Not a Log?

CLI

Fireplaces look unfinished to me without something in them.  Not everyone uses their fireplace to burn wood.  If that's the case, I am into "log alternatives."  Faux wood if you will, but obvious faux wood; interesting faux wood, glamorous faux wood.

Like Porcelain ~
Klein Reid

 ph:Hulya Kolabas

Glass ~

Jeff Benroth Studio

Selenite Crystal ~  these have an added bonus~they rid your room of its negative energy

ph: Tinkerbox studio

Great alternatives to a real wood burning fire; they up the WOW factor and provide that dash of drama!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Michael S. Smith

Dan Marty

Now that the weather has turned cold and the sky has taken on that grey, pre snow color ~ my thoughts turn to cozying up by a fire.  While I will always love a traditional fireplace, my heart beats a little faster when I see the contemporary, more sculptural options.

 These fireplaces are sleek and flawless in design.  Without much else to distract you, you really can get lost in your thoughts while peering into the flames.

Kelly Hoppen

Jennifer Post

unknown

The wooden surround and furniture make this the perfect transitional look

Kelly Wearstler for Snowmass Viceroy

 Not to worry if you live in an apartment or home without a built in fireplace.  Now there are so many other options.  The portable fireplaces run on bio-fuel.  The oil is fume and smoke free and is also a renewable product.  That makes it a great, green choice.

Roll your fire from one room to another~

Roll Fire by Conmoto

Fill an empty wall with WOW!

Metal Fire

A table top fire bowl more your style?

Laguna Waterworks

If these are all still to much of a commitment because you're either super lazy or it's against building code, just hang one on a wall. It produces the same effect, ALMOST!

This electric fireplace has realistic looking flames that operate with or without heat.

Modern Flames