Brick was much favored, especially clinker bricks, those that had become vitrified and misshapen by sitting too close to the fire in the brick kiln. (Photo: Linda Svendsen)Ĭhimneys were of masonry construction (brick, stone, concrete block), but the fireplace itself could be faced with a wide array of materials, including brick, stone, ceramic tile, cast stone, concrete, stucco, metal, or plaster-anything that wouldn’t burn. The firebox is home to a set of 1930s vintage gas logs. Bricks and MoreĪn arched limestone fireplace in another Memphis bungalow features a hearth of Rookwood tiles. With or without an inglenook, the fireplace usually was surrounded by some sort of built-ins-often glass-door bookcases with high windows above, but a drop-front desk on one side was fairly common as well. Frequently the fireplace was surrounded by built-in benches or settles to form an inglenook, which often had a lowered ceiling that provided a feeling of coziness and set it off from the rest of the room. Gustav Stickley was a big proponent, writing in The Craftsman, “The big hospitable fireplace is almost a necessity, for the hearthstone is always the center of true home life.”Īlmost always a feature of the living room, fireplaces also were found in dining rooms, bedrooms, dens, and basements. In Arts & Crafts homes, the fireplace took on almost religious significance, and even bungalows in warm climates were built with one. Even today, when fires are no longer needed for heating or cooking, fireplaces are routinely installed in houses. (Photo: Linda Svendsen)įire fulfills a deep and primal role in the human psyche. It’s hard to believe a previous owner had painted the entire thing red. Stunning green tile accented by riveted iron straps makes the fireplace the centerpiece of the room in this Memphis bungalow.
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