Whether planning a larger or more intimate gathering of family and friends over the holidays, many will find that the space with the fireplace makes the ideal spot for celebrating, whether it is blazing or just softly crackling. A fireplace in a well-crafted home is more than just a comforting source of heat, but also a key, attention-drawing design feature for any living area. Here are some fireplaces to help introduce the holiday spirit this season.
Timeless Country Estate, New Canaan,CT
Jablonski Associates developed this elegant Colonial-style home that was awarded Electronic House of the Year for its AMX system, integrating many of the home’s technological wonders including its chic gas fireplaces. Imagine cozying up to the fireplace with a fine vintage from the home’s 13th-century stone wine cellar, providing space for 4,000 wine bottles and including an ESommelier wine cataloging system.
310 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye, NY
Sublime views encompassing sailboat-filled waters, landscaped grounds and the Manhattan sky line set a stunning backdrop through windowed doors for this living room with fireplace, within a gorgeous custom Colonial-style home. Guests can mingle here enjoying the Long Island Sound coastal vistas, or take it outside to the covered seating area with its own outdoor fireplace if the weather isn’t too cold.
Tavern Island, Norwalk, CT
When thinking of the ultimate getaway of a private island, one might daydream of relaxing summer afternoons, beach side living, and the gentle sound of waves hitting the shore on every side. Many of these properties are built for year-round living, so those sounds can still be enjoyed in the middle of winter. Right off the southern Connecticut coast, Tavern Island offers water views all winter with the stone fireplace crackling in the background.
33 Misty Brook Lane, New Fairfield, CT
Living rooms are not the only venues within the home for entertaining, for guests often prefer to lounge in the kitchen, snacking on the host’s cooking as they relax. The kitchen in this award-winning classic lake house, which is full of many stunning details, features a counter-height fireplace that sets a warm and inviting mood while the chef makes preparations on the AGA stove.
Wexford Hall, New Canaan, CT
William B. Tubby, a renowned architect who designed a number of architectural masterpieces in the late 1800s and early 1900s, created this Tudor-style home with its beautiful and breathtaking interior. Its many outstanding design elements include ten sublime fireplaces, providing warmth and coziness to the home’s distinctive spaces, ideal for grand entertaining.