FOCAL POINT STYLING: Style Notes

As bitter cold as this winter has been, many people are once again turning to their fireplace to create winter warmth. A fireplace is not only a decorative fixture to create seasonal displays on, but it is also a functional form. Many design their room layout around the fireplace, mostly to enjoy the warm glow and atmosphere, plus it is the natural focal point of a room. A more traditional style home may have a fireplace centered in a wall, built with and surrounded by brick or covered in stone, and perhaps flanked with built-in bookcases (or half cases if there are windows). However, in some modern architectural designs, a fireplace can actually act as a room divider and circulate heat plus ambiance between two spaces - for example between a living room and dining area. Even a mid-century modern home or loft space may have a floating metal fireplace. Whichever style you currently live with, you may be interested in redesigning its look - especially if you've recently purchased a fix-up home. Keep in mind: although the fireplace may be the focal point of the room, the TV need not be. Here are twenty inspirational fireplace design ideas - from modern to transitional style - to help you create winter warmth with style...

Modern Fireplace Design Ideas

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Transitional Fireplace Design Ideas

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Along with a fireplace form and function, maintenance and safety are most important, particularly the chimney, from the flue to the damper to the firebox to the hearth (see Anatomy of a Chimney). For information on Fireplace Safety, see these articles:

7 Safety Tips for Fireplaces

Tips for Wood Burning Fireplaces

Fireplace Maintenance and Safety

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When I began writing this post, I had intended to end it with a feature and link to Sweet Something Designs, an excellent source of seasonal mantel styling... But when I went to visit my fellow blogger friend, I learned she had lost her battle - with cancer... So I'd like to dedicate this post (although not necessarily her style) to Michelle Edwards, who could create one heck of a tastefully done, seasonally styled mantelscape... I will pull together a few of my favorites, and share in a future post... Right now I just need to embrace the moment of the loss of a wonderful person and talent, who once again is gone too soon...
Prayers for healing to The Edwards Family...

I hope you found inspiration for your fireplaces design ideas and stay warm during this years bitter winter cold...

Thank you for stopping by...

This week, I popped into my local Pier One Imports store to scout & source some finds for an upcoming restyle project. The home is a former model home for a local Arizona home builder, with very strong Tuscan style elements. Although the homeowner would love to eventually restyle the entry living room with a Restoration Hardware look, she's looking for a quick refresh for an upcoming event being held in her home. Since we only have a short time to shop & install, local shopping for finds is a must (zero lead time). She is however looking to let go of some of her existing decor pieces en-lieu of a fresh approach to expected Arizona style Tuscan decor, but still maintaining existing red & gold custom window panels she's already invested in. Since the panels are a Cabernet-red shade, I thought Pier One may have a few finds for a quick refresh - especially since the store was just set for Fall. A find in particular I showed to the homeowner during the consultation she's already taking a liking to: A pair of quatrefoil - lattice print wing-back chairs in taupe & gold - which can also easily be shifted to the home office later. Some other faves are gold beaded pillows, tortoise glass lamp for the living room, and a great pair brass nail-head lamps for the family room. The tufted ottoman/foot stools were a fun find - especially for a family game room update she's wanting in the future. Here are some pieces that can affordably work with the distinctive Tuscan, or even in Miami Spanish home architecture / style. The Pier One store itself looked great with refreshing jewel tones for Fall and easy to shop isles & allies plus attentive and helpful customer service...

Fun tufted footstools!

Great looking piece to add to a Euro-Traditional style home... Gorgeous with sand, stones, and candles... or for holiday with Christmas Balls.... or something fun in Summer: water and goldfish!

Here's a sneak peek at some of the High Low mixing for this upcoming ReStyle...

Existing Custom Window draperies (from By The Yard - Tempe AZ), paired with fab finds at Pier 1 - to make an easy and affordable living room update - for an event plus the upcoming holidays. The studded lamps and colors of the quatrefoil patterned chair at Pier 1 pair beautifully with the homeowners existing stunning tile inlays at the entry and transitioning into the dining area...

Have you been to Pier 1 lately?

I had also sourced a great chair I spotted at Pier 1 earlier this year for the Counselor Office Makeover I did - which the client also LOVED her chair too. And now Pier 1 also offers other color or pattern options to customize your chair.

For the office makeover, I had purchased the Liliana Chair in teal - Now I'd love to get the black for another restyle (or myself!!) If you haven't been in in a while, make of note of it to visit you nearest Pier 1 Imports -- They've come a LONG WAY since merchandising baskets on lundia shelves and stacking foam-camel-back-sofas and papsans!