One of my fondest childhood memories is of sitting around the fireplace on Christmas Eve, eating mom’s famous French-Canadian tourtière, while listening to the crackling sounds of the wood.
Since then, I have always had a fireplace in any home I’ve lived in. When I purchased my new farmhouse-inspired townhome in 2021, a fireplace wasn’t just on my wish list, it was a must.
The beginning
A fireplace becomes a focal point, a gathering place, the heart of the home and an entertainment piece all in one. Before I even moved in, I called my interior designer for advice and spent hours on Pinterest looking for inspiration — natural components such as wood and brick for an inviting modern country look.
With the living room dimensions in my hand, we worked on furniture arrangements. She told me the space could accommodate a floor-to-ceiling fireplace without sacrificing too much square footage.
Within days, I was sent a photo showcasing a whitewashed brick fireplace with custom cabinetry on each side. It was exactly what I wanted.
The middle
We then went looking for fireplace inserts. While I do love the smell and look of a real wood-burning fireplace, most B.C. cities ban the installation of them.
I was left with two choices, gas or electric. While the designer tried to sell me on a gas insert, which is more expensive than electric to purchase and to install, I opted for the electric insert.
There were a couple of other reasons for choosing electric. Because my gas line vented above my front porch, I would have had to get approval from my strata. With an electric fireplace, there are no venting requirements as there is nothing burning inside the unit. It was one less thing for me to consider.
Best of all, at the flick of a switch, my home can be heated. In addition, today’s electric inserts are much more lifelike than in the past. Another bonus is it features logs and flames that are realistic. I ended up buying one with a herringbone brick background.
I then went in search of a mantel. I wanted to use reclaimed timber, so I opted for one made from an 1880s Abbotsford barn. My mantel tells a story - one that celebrates the legacy of our pioneering spirit.
Finishing up
Finally, it was time to build the box for my fireplace. Once my contractor measured the wall, it was simply a matter of framing-in the fireplace, which consisted of 2X4 and drywall. It took two days to complete the work, including installing the brick.
Because red brick against white walls was too severe-looking, I opted for a thin brick that I would then have whitewashed. After my tradesperson taped and covered all of the surfaces surrounding the brick, the perfect shade of off-white grout was applied. He allowed for some of the red to bleed out for contrast by sponging off the excess grout. It now fit seamlessly with my decor.
To finish the look, I wrapped both sides of my fireplace with custom-built cabinets showcasing shiplap detailing for a more sophisticated look to my living room. Not only do the built-ins add visual balance to each side of my fireplace, but they also double as an opportunity for me to display my curios on the open shelving and as extra storage in the larger bottom cabinets.
Creating new memories
Now that the days are getting cooler and the darkness is arriving earlier, my fireplace has become the place where family and friends gather to cosy up under the warm glow of the flames.