Sitting around the fireside on a cold frosty night is purely wonderful. The roaring fire helps take the nip out of the room while begetting atmosphere. For many decades, fireplaces have furnished warmth and a place to cook as well. Fireplaces have never lost their attraction and, in fact, have made substantial gains. During my 50 plus years, their popularity has steadily traveled south though winters are stunted and summers are gargantuan. 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.

With enhancements in home heating the reason for fireplaces has clearly diverged. Fireplaces are no longer simply for providing warmth. They are no longer used for preparing meals There has been no shortage of cook tops or ovens for years So why do we have this ever growing affection for fireplaces? My guess is that fireplaces impart mood when they're aglow. And when they are not, they promote interest, a focal point and character to a room as well as charm. Fireplaces and the mantels that frame them, have been one of the distinctive architectural forms that enhance the flavor of our homes much like embellished stairways, arched doorways, or ornamental range hoods. These are good examples of a marriage between utility and form.

"Wonderful marriage" is a conditional statement because not all marriages of art and function are wonderful marriages. I recently had the occasion to observe a home that was probably 80 percent done and witnessed some pretty ugly marriages. There was a kitchen island that had incredibly oversize and ornate corbels supporting the counter top. The fireplace also had magnanimous stone pillars undergirding the mantel counter. The best thing that could be said is: "Bigger is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are lots of beautiful cases of form and function-just not in that home.

Over the years millworks suppliers have specialized in mantel shelves and surrounds. Necessity is the mother of invention. And since the "media" of cabinetmakers is wood, most mantels are fashioned from wood-which is OK by me since wood is my "media". Heavy wood shelves, undergirded with crown moulding supported by ornate brackets and fluted legs are a widespread form for many mantel builders. Not so common are the hand fashioned assortment still made available by artisan carvers in foreign lands. The beauty of these carved gems is unparalleled by the latest twenty firstcentury technological marvels. The slight variations and minor imperfections are a distinction that says "hand carved" and adds a special charm and unique character. Mass production techniques will, never match the skill of the masters. Carvers 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 good. This is a marriage that has passed the test of time. 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.