Sitting around the fireside on a cold frosty night is simply wonderful. The hypnotic blaze helps take the chill out of the air while creating a special atmosphere. For many years, fireplaces have served to provide warmth and,for years before that, a place to cook as well. They have never lost their attraction 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. Though home heating technologies have (evolved over the years, fireplaces are still in vogue|Although the latest advances have been made in climate control for our living spaces, fireplaces continue to be in fashion.

With improvements in home heating the reason for fireplaces has clearly diverged. They are definitely not about simply warming your home. They are no longer used for preparing meals Stoves have been around for many decades. So why this ever growing liking for fireplaces? My guess is that fireplaces offer mood when they're ablaze. And when they are not, they continue to add interest, focus and character to a room. Should I add "charm" as well? Fireplaces and the mantels that surround them, have been one of the distinct architectural elements that add to the flavor of our homes much like embellished stairs, arched doorways, or decorative range hoods. These are good examples of a marriage between function and form.

"Wonderful marriage" has to be qualified because not all marriages of art and function are wonderful marriages. I lately had the opportunity to observe a home that was probably 80 percent done and witnessed some pretty awful marriages. There was an island cabinet that had incredibly oversize and ornate corbels supporting the counter . The fireplace also had magnanimous stone columns supporting the mantel shelf. The most gracious thing that could be said is: "More is not necessarily better". Thankfully, there are lots of fine cases of form and function-just not in that home.

Over the years millworks companies have specialized in fireplace mantels. Need is always jogging ahead of supply. And since the "media" of cabinetmakers is wood, most mantels are crafted from wood-which is OK by me since wood is my "media". Heavy wood planks, under laid with crown mold supported by ornate corbels and fluted legs are a familiar form for many millworks suppliers. Hand carved mantels fashioned in foreign lands are not as common but are still to be had. The quality of these carved masterpieces is unparalleled by the latest twenty firstcentury technological genius. The slight nuance and minor defects are a signature that says "hand carved" and adds a special charm and unique quality. Mass production techniques will in my humble opinion, never attain to the methods of the masters. These artisans can undercut and form sharp interior cuts that are not possible with high tech tooling.

It is obvious that fireplaces and the mantels that frame them are here to stay. Like a marriage made in heaven, mantels and fireplaces have passed the test of time 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.