Planning To Design A Fireplace?

If you're planning to design a fireplace and looking for creative ideas to inspire you, then you've come to the right place! Welcome to the first all inclusive online resource for unique fireplace ideas and designs.   We are committed to bringing you the most comprehensive, up-to-date information about innovative trends and quality products to help you design a fireplace that is uniquely special.

Whether you rent or own your home or apartment, you are bound to dis-
cover a design or product that is just right for you. If you don't find ex-
actly what you're looking for on your first visit, please check back often, as we are continually adding carefully researched products, suppliers, and services.   Also feel free to contact us with any questions or specific re-
quests.

We search the globe, both literally and via the internet, to find the most unique and/or innovative fireplace ideas and products to help you design
a fireplace that is truly your own!

From the past . . .

to the present.

From traditional fireplace mantel designs . . .

to contemporary fireplace designs.

From "wild" contemporary fireplaces . . .

to whimsical surrounds.

From wall hung . . .

to ceiling hung fireplaces.

From portable fireplaces . . .

to built-in designs.

From indoor stone fireplace designs . . .


to outdoor fireplace designs

and fire pit designs.

We also provide design services to help you create your dream fire space. Please contact us if you'd like us to design a fireplace for you, or if you have questions about any of the unique designs or products featured on our site.

A personal message from Dennis Brose, founder of www.standout-fireplace-designs.com:

Thank you for taking the time to visit our
web site. I hope it is as enlightening for you to discover the diverse range of unique and innovative fireplace options currently avail-
able as it is for me each day I continue to discover something new and add it to our
site. Whether it is a magnificent, exquisitely sculpted antique surround, a monumental Adirondack Style rustic stone hearth, or the most advanced cutting edge contemporary design that current technology allows, we
are committed to bringing you the latest and greatest in fireplace ideas and products from around the world to help you design a fireplace that reflects your unique personality and style.

For as long as I can remember, I've had a deep-rooted passion for archi-
tecture and design. Thankfully, I've had the good fortune to indulge that passion - and hone my knowledge base and design skills in the process - by traveling extensively to research and document some very notable buildings in a wide range of architectural styles.

Using that knowledge, I've dedicated much of my time over the past 30 years to designing and renovating historic buildings for adaptive reuse. In addition, I've designed a collection of new homes which draw upon the craftsmanship and architectural integrity of the past . . . something I've come to very much appreciate in today's fast paced, "throw away" soci-
ety. Some of my built projects have been recognized and profiled by local media, while national publications such as Country Living have featured a selection of my new home plans in period styles.

Though my interest in fireplaces is a natural extension of my passion for architectural design, my "focus on fireplaces" and subsequent fireplace ideas came about entirely by accident. At the end of a business meeting about an unrelated topic a few years ago, the subject of alternative de-
signs for gas fireplace logs came up.

Being somewhat of a "wood burning purist" at the time, I knew virtually nothing about gas fireplace logs.   Quite frankly, I had never given any thought to the subject prior to that.  However, as I began to think about
it, I became more and more curious.

When I returned to my home office that afternoon, I immediately logged onto the internet to research gas fireplace logs.   Within a few hours I'd pored over dozens of web sites and found some very realistic, high quality gas log products. However, except for a smattering of fire stones and glass chips, it occurred to me that almost everyone was simply trying to repli-
cate the look of a real wood burning fire.

How about if we design a fireplace that incorporates new fireplace ideas?

What if we broke the rules and redefined "the fireplace" as we pre-
viously knew it?

What if we declared that a fireplace was no longer relegated solely to burning wood . . . or appearing to burn wood?

What if we design a fireplace that becomes a "stage set" for telling a story with fire?

The more I thought about it, the more intrigued I became with the seem-
ingly infinite range of potential design possibilities. So I began to make a list and within about 30 minutes I had between 25 and 30 new ideas to de-
sign a fireplace. By the end of the day, I knew I was hooked!

Early the next morning I made a few rough sketches of my fireplace ideas. I then realized I would need to "frame" the stage set with an appropriate mantel or surround to tie it all together. . . historically and thematically. That's when I began to research and subsequently discover the diverse range of fireplace mantels in the marketplace. If I couldn't find an existing mantel that was just right to frame my "fire scene," I simply designed one that I believed was a good fit. And of course every stage needs a curtain, so I designed some fire screens and doors to complement the scene, as well.

Within about 3 weeks' time - along with the help of a talented illustrator friend - I had a series of 13 individual designs "down on paper."   Upon showing them to several individuals whose opinions I respected and ad-
mired, I received a lot of positive feedback and was encouraged to pur-
sue my fireplace ideas as a potential business venture.

At that point, however, virtually all of my time was devoted to prior com-
mitments, so I was forced to "shelve" the concept for awhile. But I contin-
ued to have this burning desire (sorry for the pun!) to do something with it. And in my spare time I sketched out other fireplace ideas for creating a unique fire space.

The image at right, shown without a mantel or surround, is one of several designs for gas fire-
place "logs" I have created to date.

My time has finally arrived!    With the launch of this web site, I am now devoting a full time effort to creating and maintaining a one stop shop to bring you the most up-to-date information available, in one place, from across the globe. The latest examples of unique and innovative fireplace ideas and products to help you design a fireplace that is truly your own. In the coming months I also look forward to sharing with you some of my own designs for mantels and surrounds, "fire scenes," and fire screens.

I welcome your comments and suggestions about how we can improve this site to better serve you.   Please do not hesitate to contact me with any feedback or questions you may have.

Warmest Regards,

Dennis Brose
standout-fireplace-designs.com

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