From a small brick fireplace to a Chateau worthy hearth!

Fireplaces are the focal point in a room for most people. My client wanted me to re-design her, fairly standard,  brick fireplace to be more in keeping with her Tuscan themed house.

The original fireplace. We had to beef up the hearth, tile over the brick and build out he mantle to accommodate the columns

So, we decided to beef up the mantle and use columns either side. Finding the columns was no easy task. We were looking for tapered belly columns and no-one has these as standard. Luckily, I was able to find a talented carpenter/cabinet maker, Ryan Baird who would manufacture these for us. Next we needed capitals and decided on Corinthian. I was able to find these at The Decorators Supply Corp.  They do lots of different sizes and types and although they are made of plaster, it's no problem as I will be Faux Finishing the whole thing.  We were spoiled for choice but finally picked a style and we love them!

My client picked out fabulous granite tiles for the hearth, that look almost like leather panels.

Do you ever get an idea and then can't find what you want? It takes work, but with a bit of imagination
and determination, anything is possible.

Tiled, with all the wood trim added, awaiting the columns

The finished fireplace. Faux mahogany, with plaster capitals, gilded and antiqued.