The Fun Times Guide > Home Building/Remodeling > fireplaces

Fireplace Surrounds and Mantels That Provide Character

This post will be a little more fun than most for me because it is about fireplace surrounds. All of the fireplace surrounds in this post are located inside of one enormous house. There are a total of six, count 'em, six fireplace surrounds in this one Victorian style house. Each one is different from the rest and each one was carefully constructed using only the highest quality materials.The materials with which they were constructed isn't the only thing that is special about these … [Read more...]

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An Outdoor Fireplace: A Focal Point For Entertaining

It's that time of year again. Time to gather 'round the outdoor fireplace with friends and family for a cozy, conversation-filled evening. When I think of an outdoor fire, I think about s'mores, toasted marshmallows and sharing a nice bottle of wine.  This post is about showing one of the best examples of an outdoor fireplace that I've seen to date. The "core" of the fireplace consists of Isokern fireplace components for a quality unit. The fireplace is the focal point of the … [Read more...]

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The Lobby of The Willcox Sets The Mood

I was invited by a friend for a private tour of The Willcox hotel while visiting my family in Aiken, SC for the holidays. Upon my arrival, with camera in hand, I entered this historic old hostelry not really knowing what to expect inside. I've driven by the regal, white-columned building hundreds of times (it was my old hometown) sometimes pondering the interior architectural detail, et cetera. One of the very first things I noticed when I stepped into the well-appointed lobby was the … [Read more...]

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The Willcox Roosevelt Suite – The Lap of Luxury

My hometown of Aiken, South Carolina is a beautiful place to visit, a great place to live and, apparently, a great place to retire, as well. There is so much history to absorb in Aiken, yet I was totally oblivious to it all when I lived there as a kid. Although, there is one historic building in particular that I've been in awe of even when I was a teen. It wasn't until I was thirty-something before I realized what a gem-of-a-town Aiken truly is. There are so many activities going on throughout … [Read more...]

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This Stone Sunburst Fireplace “Shines”

I've literally seen hundreds of fireplace surrounds in my neverending tour of new homes. The stacked stone design of the fireplace seen in the photo below ranks very high on my list of one of the most unusual and beautiful designs I've ever seen.   Its' spectacular design must have been extremely difficult to produce. The stone mason that put all of these slivers of natural stone together on a vertical surface, in what I like to call a "stone sunburst" design, deserves high … [Read more...]

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Chimney Pots Cap Off Your Home In Grand Style

I posted an article and gallery recently of a newly constructed Victorian home featuring the chimneys and chimney pots.  I promised more chimney pot photos and information so here goes. I've been in contact with Ola over at The Chimney Pot Shoppe and she was kind enough to get permission from all of the homeowners featuring these unusual chimney pots that follow.   You may be surprised to learn how many styles, shapes and sizes that chimney pots come in these days. They are … [Read more...]

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Victorian Style Chimney and Chimney Pots

If you're looking for a gallery of images showing a Victorian style chimney and chimney pots, I think this post might fit the bill. I've also included quite a few pictures of chimney pots of various styles that are very interesting.The chimney and chimney pot photos that you'll see in the gallery were taken in a couple of separate visits I made recently at the construction site of the immense Victorian home that I am featuring over the next few weeks-to-months. I was not present for the … [Read more...]

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Conclusion Of Our Walking Tour Of The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour

This is part 2 of our experience attending the Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour from 2007. Here is the first part of our visit to the Marietta Pilgrimage: A Christmas Home Tour if you want to begin there first and then come back here afterwards. … [Read more...]

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Take A Walk Back In Time On The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Tour Of Homes

The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour is an annual event showcasing historical private homes and buildings decorated for the Christmas holiday season...inside and out. The homes and buildings vary from year-to-year (this is the 21st year of the tour) so the Pilgrimage is one of the highlights of the season for many. This year the six private homes on the tour were concentrated in the Northwest Marietta Historic District and ten historical buildings were featured, as well. As you may have … [Read more...]

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Cast Limestone Mantels and Terra Cotta Roof Tiles = Quality

The high quality building materials for the mantels, fireplaces and chimneys in this English cottage-style home are all smart choices due to their durability, natural beauty and functionality. The same goes for the reclaimed antique terra cotta roofing tiles, copper gutter system, hand-hewn solid white oak exposed beams in the breakfast room and the stone wall that surrounds the intricate courtyard. Welcome to part 2 of my "Best Of" photo series of this custom built English cottage-style home. … [Read more...]

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