Hearth & Home: By the Fireplace
Coming to you from the depths of winter, this week on the Journal we discover how the fireplace acts as a focal point in the home, while — perhaps unknowingly — painting a rich picture of the owner. Whether or not still functional, its mantlepiece often becomes a natural gathering place for personal keepsakes & mementoes. American architect Frank Lloyd Wright believed the hearth is the heart of the home, an idea which has sparked a round up of these living spaces, each with a marker of centrality; a fireplace that serves as a hub for comfort, warmth & connection.
Interior designer Georgina Jeffries’ Lorne weatherboard cottage benefits from a fireplace at its centre. It is in this room that the designer and her young family retreat from the crisp surf coast air and gather for meals, playtime, and a place to curl up with a cuppa. A thoughtful renovation brought a sense of light & openness to the space — sunlight streams in, as do views of the surrounding wilderness.
Our cosy Alpaca Throw in Eggshell is draped over Emily's favourite chair
In neighbouring Victorian town, Jan Juc, The Simple Collective founder Emily Evans has created her own seaside sanctuary. In the family room, flanked by original pine walls is a rustic brick hearth. Strategically placed nearby is Emily’s favourite chair, upholstered in cosy sustainable shearling. Dating back to the 1980s, the interior designer has made subtle changes throughout the home, including the addition of a gorgeous one bedroom guest house.
In the family room, flanked by original pine walls is a rustic brick hearth.
Next up in the wildly beautiful landscape of Northern Tasmania, herbalist & author, Erin Lovell Verinder invites us into her century old cedar shingled home, a space she and her husband, Noah, have lovingly transformed into a warm farmhouse haven. The church cottage’s original, arched windows remain, framing bucolic views of the mountainside. Under the amber glow of their wood heater, Erin escapes the Tassie chill and cooks meals from scratch, debrief’s at day's end, and keeps a careful eye on neighbours — cows, wombats & kookaburras, to name a few!
A recent visit to her new property, High Noon, recalled furniture designer Tilly Barber’s former abode: an open plan studio in Eltham. Under the watchful eye of an Anna Fiedler weaving is an enormous open fireplace — once responsible for heating this former workplace of prolific architect, Alistair Knox. With ‘zones’ for work, meals and sleeping, Tilly and her son Mars make the space work for them in a manner that feels at peace with their abundant natural surroundings.
Under the watchful eye of an Anna Fiedler weaving is an enormous open fireplace — likely once responsible for heating this former workplace of prolific architect, Alistair Knox.
A modern interpretation can be found at Robbie Walker’s Mansfield House, an off-grid haven designed and inhabited by the talented designer and his young family. A folded steel chair takes pride of place in the living room and is the perfect spot to soak in the ever-changing landscape (and the roaring fire).
Parisian apartments are known for their history. That means vintage fixtures, French doors, ornate balustrades, and: original fireplaces. Writer Oliver Mol’s place is no different, with not one but two marble fireplaces. The picturesque installations, while boarded up and no longer in use, act as a catch-all for Oliver (and his partner, Holly’s) curios; artwork, plants, a typewriter, even a basketball have found a home on the striking mantle.
In Victoria’s Castlemaine, self-published author & multi-disciplinary maker Clementine Day has tended to her four walls slowly, and with great patience & skill. In the living space, a retired fireplace has been graced with an intricate lace curtain — the perfect addition to this homey space. To the side, sits just part of her extensive book collection, as well as a careful assortment of treasures.
Featured Products
100% Organic Textured Cotton Square Cushion Cover
Off White with Umber
100% Organic Textured Cotton Square Cushion Cover
Off White with Umber