Newsletter Archives: June 2015 - Old World Stoneworks

COMPANY NEWS: WE BRING LUXURY REGARDLESS OF THE SEASON

You can still enjoy your fireplace during the hotter summer months. Although you may not light a fire, you can unwind after work with a nice glass of wine on a comfortable chair near a fireplace that simply exudes luxury. Homeowners have trusted Old World Stoneworks for years to deliver high-quality cast stone fireplaces that provide a relaxing area all while adding value to their home. If you’re looking to add a finishing touch to your favorite Old World Stoneworks mantel, try adding one of our equally beautiful overmantels. Due to high demand, we have extended our 10% off all overmantels promotion through the end of July!

We recently received photos back from a recent customer, the Nukho Project. They updated their tired all brick fireplace with our elegant Laurent surround. This fireplace mantel blends seamlessly into the home’s dark cherry wood cabinets marrying contemporary and old world style into a cohesive design.

Behind the Scenes of the Nukho Project

Before installation, a wall and a raised hearth were added. Then the Laurent fireplace design was installed. This one upgrade took the whole room from outdated to luxurious, and we’re happy to report that the customer was thrilled with the end result.

Think it’s time to upgrade your fireplace? Getting started is simple. Just contact Old World Stoneworks. Consider us your redesign partners as we help you determine the style best to add a touch of luxury to your already beautiful home.

EXPERT TIP: HOW TO PREPARE YOUR FIREPLACE FOR THE OFF-SEASON

Summer solstice came and went and with that came the onset of the warmer months. Your use of the fireplace for its functional purpose may become more infrequent. Regardless of how often or how little you use it, a fireplace still needs to be maintained, especially as we move into summer. Here are some tips on how to clean your fireplace box and hearth so you can repurpose your fireplace to be a decorative piece:

Clear Ashes and Debris

For a wood burning firebox, cleaning your fireplace of ash now will leave it more than ready for the winter weather; you can start a fire in fall in no time. Before you clean the ashes protect your lungs by wearing a mask and wear gloves to protect your skin. As you clean, you may notice some soot buildup on the walls and chimney. You can use a brush to wipe this area clean.

Clean Chimney Once a Year

Wood burning fireplaces are susceptible to soot build up in the chimney and excessive soot build up is a fire hazard. To avoid any fire risks, the chimney of a wood burning fireplace should be cleaned at least once per year. Ask around or look online for a good chimney sweep. To ensure you find an experienced chimney sweep who knows what they’re doing, try the local search feature on the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Clean Glass

If there is glass in front of your fireplace box, make sure the glass is cool and the gas valve is turned off. Remove the decorative front cover, and place the piece of glass on a sturdy, towel covered surface before you begin cleaning. Use a glass cleaner meant for fireplaces to wipe down both sides of the glass front.

Clean Inside of Fireplace

While the glass or your fireplace front is drying, use a soft bristled paint brush or vacuum to clean the inside of your fireplace of any leftover debris, dirt or dust.

Inspect

Wearing safety glasses, use a mirror and a flashlight to look up the flue to ensure that everything is clear of ash and debris. While doing this, check the inside of your gas fireplace for any damage. This includes rust, flaking and creosote (a flammable tarlike substance that results from burning wood in a wood burning firebox – creosote is not an issue with gas fireboxes).

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR FIREPLACE FOR SUMMER

Even if you just upgraded your fireplace, you can make the most of it during the summer months. Instead of using it for its functional purpose year-round, repurpose the fireplace in design to be a decorative statement in any room.

Take advantage of your fireplace and use it to display your art collection, books or souvenirs to give your fireplace a facelift for summer. You can use the fireplace box to display sculptural pieces, somewhat like a diorama of your favorite things. You can extend this design option to the mantel with like colors and designs or balance white with black or color all together.

Not much of an art connoisseur? Try using plants to introduce summer into the space like the Calais Cast Stone Mantel above. Now that the space won’t be used to warm up as often, add additional seating around the area with a chair, ottoman or bench. However you choose to repurpose your fireplace for the off-season, these ideas and more certainly make for a charming space. For more design inspiration, visit our inspiration gallery or contact us today to upgrade your fireplace to be enjoyed year-round!