The Country Stone Corner Fireplace... Cozy, Casual & COLOSSAL!
The country stone corner fireplace is a design element of curious contradic- tions . . . . . . .
On the one hand, its stature is frequently imposing and of monumental size. On the other hand, by vir- tue
of its neatly "tucked-in-a-corner" positioning -- giving the illusion of diminished size -- it provides a cozy
and casual spot in the home for solace and comfort.
The rustic fireplace pictured at right is a fine example of this. Though a massive design that extends from floor to ceiling, note how the large sawn-off log exten- sions on either side "embrace" the stones and appear to hold them neatly in place. The overall effect is one of a less than imposing, cozy and comforting corner hearth!
Undoubtedly, the cozy corner stone hearth has been around since the fire- place first appeared in history. Though very early designs and subsequent pho- tographs of them are rare, photos of late 19th century corner fireplace de- signs, as well as actual existing fire- places from that period, provide a unique glimpse into the look and feel of country stone corner hearths of an ear- lier era.
For example, the late 19th century corner fireplace designs pictured below are from the Adirondack Mountain region in upstate New York. Classic exam- ples of the
Adirondack "Great Camp" Style,
they fuse local stone with local timber or wood to cre- ate a rustic and cozy, comfortable look . . . . com- plete
with taxidermy specimens of native North American wildlife.
More recent incarnations of Adirondack-inspired country stone corner fire- place designs are pictured below.
On the left, the birch bark mantel shelf, legs and overmantel extensions enhance the rustic look and feel of
the de- sign. On the right, the rugged stone surround is accented with the natural form of a gnarled wood mantel
shelf resting on naturally formed wooden "brackets."
Similarly, the large stone corner fireplace pictured below, left, is flanked by a pair of soaring, floor-to-ceiling wooden poles and has an oversize log mantel shelf attached with metal strapwork. The cut
granite stone
fireplace pictured below, left, is also framed by large wooden logs. However, in this example, the small mantel
shelf is crafted from a simple piece of granite with a hand-chiseled edge resting on stone corbels, or
brackets.
The massive river rock, or river stone corner fireplaces that follow simply ooze nostalgic charm. Note how
each one is built along one wall, only, and simply extends to the corner . . . . . rather than being positioned
at an angle across the corner. Though it lacks a typical mantel shelf, the large protruding log "brackets" in
the example below, left, can still be used for displaying cer- tain objects. The full width wooden mantel shelf
on the fireplace below, right, has a large display area to showcase memorabilia, favorite photos or works of
art.
The incredible split face
fieldstone
fireplace pictured below has all the charm of a cozy corner stone hearth found on an old Western movie set . . .
. . yet it is a relatively recent installation. Crafted by Garcia Masonry of California's Monterey Bay area, it
takes us to another time and place and -- albeit tem- porarily -- brings the Old West back to life!
Not confined solely to the indoors, a country stone corner fireplace is equally at home in the great out-of-doors . . . . or in an area, such as a covered porch, that transitions between inside and out. In the images
at right and below, note the variety of stone sizes, shapes, col- ors and textures, as well as the differ- ences in
stone arrangement from one design to another. Large, multi-colored river stones are used in the example at
right, while granite is arranged in a ran- dom mosaic pattern above the framed arch firebox in the example below,
left. Below right, the roughly square, roughly rectangular stones step back from the hearth as they ascend the
sides of the firebox opening.
And finally, the large stone slabs used in the surround pictured below are a perfect complement to the mas- sive stone hearth rising from the floor. Tucked into the corner of a three season porch, it provides a great place for entertaining family and friends nearly year-round!
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