The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-23

1t is not very many years since the
renaissance of the fireplace made Of it
common feature of our homes once
more, says September Suburban Life.
Even now it is regarded as something Of
decorative superfuity if the architect
suggests more than one Of two in
house IT as many as half dozen or
upward are actually built in modern
house, even the architect and the brick
and-t1le man are themselves likely to
raise their eyebrows.
The practical benefits conferred by
freplaces are too well-known to require
enumeration. They assure good vehtila-
ton, and thus correct the chief evil
of steam or hot water heating systems.
They are a great social and esthetic
element, and they tempt to comfort and
health when the chills of spring and
fall-and of summer, too-descend
upon us. 1t is easy to touch a match
to the pyre always ready in the fire.
worth while. The humanizing influence
Of an open fire cannot be computed. It
loosens tongues and opens hearts; it
mellows and fuses; it soothess perturbed
spirits, and it fades troubling memoir
les Of too strenuous business days.
The possibilities of the fireplace as a
decorative element of primary Import
ciated, especially should the fireplace
appeal to the HORSEPOWER as an op
)ortunity to give distinction to the
looms.
The fireplace must be considered as
N element in picture-the picture Of
he harmonious and artistic room.
There should be harmony in design and
oolorings, and the physical proportions
should not only compensate and balance
each other, considering the fireplace by
itself, but they should form an integral
portion of the scheme of composition of
the room. In this the house owner has
to consider not only the finish of the
room, but the furnishings and the dec.
orative scheme also. The fireplace, if
it was not designed by the architect as
a portion of the original house has to
serve as a connecting link between the
permanent architecture and the more OF
less ephemeral decorations and furnish
ings; and it may be made to soften the
sometimes forced association of motives
not strictly harmonious.
The fireplace is not, therefore, as a
rule, a thing to be purchased ready
made, nor thing to iAtrust implicitly
to the architect. It may very well be
considered as an object of useful art
| worthy Of serious and enlightened
thought and study. It should not be
| decided entlrely as an Item III the puilo
ing of "a house, but rather as a furnish
ing proposition. p
But the house builder himself (o1
herself) may well consider the fire
place, and endeavor to product design!
that are original and individual. It il
easy to do so. There is a great oppor
tunity here, and it is the greater thai
one is not confined to bricks, or tt
tiles, or to cabinet work, but charming
combinations of all three can be made
the bricks for the chief portion Of
the superstructure, the fre-back and the
underline; tiles for the hearth; and E
solid oak shelf, or an oak plank let into
the brickwork with a motto carved
upon it. IT,
+ When one considers the building Of
freplaces from this point Of view, thu
possibilities are seen to be limited only
by the versatility of the designer The
finest brick fireplace might get just thu
touch that would transform it into {
real object Of art by the addition Of {
J. few art tiles.
:, The cost of freplaces built up in thi
:, way need not be more than moderate
Those Of brick, ready to be erected
with all the necessary material and de