This winter’s frigid temperatures have sent all of us scrambling for extra blankets and heat sources. These Arlington homeowners wanted their fireplaces to have style, too. See how local interior designer Andrea Houck of A. Houck Designs transformed their hearths into centerpieces that are as pretty as they are toasty.
Lighter Living
This home near Williamsburg Middle School was newly built, but its generic, builder-grade fireplace wasn’t all that exciting to look at—plus, it wasn’t functioning properly (the builder had never finished the set-up and ventilation), so the redesign was more than cosmetic. “We removed the old insert and replaced it with a metal flue to vent new gas logs,” Houck says, “and replaced the black surround with Crema Marfil marble. We also beefed up the flat-profile mantel, building it out from the wall for more depth, and we added architectural trim detail for interest.” A custom bronze, gilt-finish screen from Michael James Furniture in Centreville, Maryland, brings added warmth, as does a coordinating coffee table with the same finish (also by Michael James).
PROJECT CREDITS
Final Touch Productions
L&S Electric
R. Bratti Associates