Relaxing around the fireside on a cold frosty evening is purely wonderful. The hypnotic fire helps take the bite out of the air while begetting ambience. For centruries, fireplaces have supplied heat and,for years before that, a place to cook as well. Fireplaces have never lost their celebrity and, in fact, have made considerable advances in popularity. During my 50 plus years, their popularity has steadily traveled south though winters are stunted and summers are gargantuan. improved over the years, fireplaces are still in vogue|Although the latest advances have been made in climate control for our living spaces, fireplaces persist in being fashionable.

With enhancements in home heating the reason for fireplaces has clearly changed. Fireplaces are no longer simply for providing heat. They are no longer used for preparing meals Stoves have been around for some time. So why this ever growing liking for fireplaces? My spectulation is that fireplaces impart ambience when they're lit. And when they are not, they promote interest, a focal point and character to a room as well as charm. It would seem that fireplaces, and the mantels that surround them, have been, for some time, one of the distinctive architectural details that enhance the style of our homes much like embellished stairs, arched entry ways, or ornamental range hoods. These are good examples of a marriage between utility and art.

"Wonderful marriage" is a conditional statement 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 done and saw some pretty awful marriages. There was a kitchen island that had incredibly large and ornate corbels supporting the counter . The fireplace also had oversized stone pillars undergirding the mantel board. The best thing that could be said is: "Bigger is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are lots of decent cases of form and function-just not in that home.

Over the years millworks suppliers 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 fine with me since wood is my "media". Thick wooden slabs, under laid with crown molding supported by carved brackets and fluted pilasters are a widespread style for many mantel builders. Not so common are the hand carved variety still made available by master carvers in other countries. The distinction of these carved gems is unequaled by the latest twenty firstcentury technological genius. The small nuance and minor imperfections are a peculiarity that says "hand carved" and ehances the charm and unique quality. Mass production techniques will in my humble opinion, never equal the methods of the masters. These artisans can undercut and form sharp interior cuts that are not possible with modern machinery.

Certainly fireplaces and the mantels 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.