Gather around the fire to admire the soothing mix of rustic and contemporary design styles of modern farmhouse fireplaces. From refacing the finish to decorating the mantel, these modern farmhouse ...

This living room fireplace serves as a striking modern centerpiece. The dark grey lacquered wall and mantel merge effortlessly, creating a sleek, minimalist appearance.

A media cabinet to the left of the fireplace balances out the long wall and provides storage. From left, Deringer and Cox, with Ivy Lane Living ( ivylaneliving.com , 703-746-9702), are based in ...

Epitomize sleek, modern design by featuring a refined white plaster surround that echoes elegance. “The choice of a neutral white plaster enhances the clean lines of the fireplace and creates an ...

Exotic hardwoods and rough stone amplify the natural warmth of this inviting fireplace. A sleek, open brick fireplace represents a contemporary take on the classic hearth. Related: ...

Building an interior feature wall is one of the most popular applications for ashlar cut, ledge or stacked natural stone. This can take the shape of a fireplace surround, a floor-to-ceiling accent ...

The earthy charisma of authentic stacked stone transforms any fireplace into a textural showstopper. This gallery of stacked-stone fireplace ideas will inspire you to create your own dramatic ...

Now, though, fireplaces are getting transitional and contemporary style updates and are becoming major feature walls — whether you use them as a place to hang your TV or not.

Or it won’t be, once you follow this advice. By Tim McKeough “The fireplace must be the focus of every rational scheme of arrangement,” Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr. wrote in their 1897 ...