In textile artist Karen Reese Tunnell’s mountain home, the fireplace’s colorful mosaic surround and hearth resulted from a unique do-it-yourself project with her mom, a ceramic artist.
Tunnell and her husband, Bill, an architect and founding partner of Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, rebuilt the family’s North Carolina vacation home when it burned down in 2003. The blaze destroyed much of the family art on display in the home, including pieces by Karen’s mother, Jean Reese.
“The first thing we did after the fire was sift through the wreckage of the original home to find shards of pottery and dishes from my mother’s work,” said Karen. “Mom and I used them to create mosaics throughout the home. It was a way to bridge the old and the new and to honor my mother’s work.”
They took a mosaic class and used broken pottery and dishes for the fireplace surround and hearth, also using some new tile (other saved pieces were used for interior countertops and backsplashes). The home was rebuilt from 2004-2007, on Lake Santeetlah in western North Carolina.
Fireplaces can be focal points for outdoor spaces, whether because of a DIY project or products, such as these, which range from contemporary to quirky.
Tree of Life screen: A metal fireplace screen can match the architecture of a home or add a whimsical touch, like this screen designed by Lisa Regan, owner of Garden Deva Sculpture Co., based in Tulsa, Okla. The screen is about 42 inches wide by 31 inches tall. The detachable feet also allow it to be used as wall art. $295, gardendeva.com
Anywhere Fireplace: The company's contemporary-looking fireplaces, which can be mounted to a wall or on a tabletop, use bio-ethanol liquid that's made for fireplaces and produces flames. The ventless stainless steel fireplaces don't require an electric or gas connection, according to the New York-based company. Two products, the Chelsea model ($380) for walls and the tabletop Lexington model ($170) have curved details. Anywherefireplace.com
Home Flame ethanol fireplaces: The sleek free-standing fireplaces, made in Germany by Radius Design, can be used on patios, pool decks and even condo balconies, said Wade Caughman, president of FOS Design, which sells the products. The steel fireplaces also use bio-ethanol liquid, which is non-toxic, he said. Other products include a firewood trolley ($499) that comes in black, white and stainless versions. Fireplaces range from $900-$2,500; radius-design-usa.com
Fire Fishing Pole: There's no requirement to be on the water when using this fishing pole to roast marshmallows and hotdogs; it comes with a wood handle, stainless steel hook and rod with a powder coat finish. $24.99 (available in orange, green, blue and red), at firebuggz.com, Plow and Hearth and Bass Pro Shops.
