DGI's Best: Fireplace Designs
Welcome to a brand new series of roundups that we’re introducing to the blog, called “DGI’s Best”! For our very first roundup, we’re highlighting DGI’s favorite fireplace designs to date.
Here in Chicago, the fireplace is almost an essential to help people get through long, cold winters. With that, we see the fireplace as an opportunity to create an inviting focal point in a room. The design of a fireplace can vary greatly depending on size, stone type, and built-in style. Over the years, DGI has designed a variety of fireplaces that we love, but there’s a few that will always stand out to us. With that, let’s jump right into the roundup of DGI’s best fireplace designs!
devon & Mike’s Lincoln Park living room
Devon and Mike instantly knew they needed to create something special out of the fireplace wall in their own home. It was actually the very first thing they designed, and it became the sounding board for the rest of their home. The fireplace features a dramatic, book-matched porcelain behind the TV, a sleek black porcelain framing the fireplace, and two-tone fluted wood built-ins for added storage. These elements come together seamlessly to create a modern and dramatic focal point in their home.
Northbrook new build family room
We’re still so glad that our clients were on board for a dramatic fireplace stone in this family room! It was a bold move, but it pulls the entire room together. The graphic, swirling stone draws your eyes to the center of the room, and it’s natural texture adds to the modern, earthy aesthetic that our clients were looking for. On either side, we designed custom cabinetry and open shelves to elevate the fireplace even more! This view will truly never get old to us.
Lake forest family room
This family room fireplace is proof that minimal does NOT equal boring. DGI completely transformed it when we discarded the French-style limestone and tile surround for a super minimal porcelain slab. The sleek profile instantly elevated the space with a more modern look. DGI also opted to paint the surrounding trim and built-in shelves a deep, charcoal grey to add depth and dimension. A minimal design is not always easy to pull off because every detail stands out, but DGI managed to achieve the simple and serene aesthetic that we were going for here. Because of that, this fireplace design will always be special to us!
north center new build family room
We love a stone fireplace surround, but we had to show some appreciation for this all white oak beauty. This fireplace adds an incredible amount of warmth and ambiance to the family room. We opted for a minimal profile on the wood surround and built-ins in order to maintain a really modern appearance. It can be easy for a wood fireplace to lean more traditional, but the warm, medium tone stain and minimal detailing ensure that this fireplace will remain modern and timeless for years to come.
Logan square library and cocktail lounge
If you couldn’t tell from the rest of this roundup, DGI usually leans toward a crisp, neutral palette in our designs. However, when we choose to incorporate color, we always go for a big look! This fireplace design will always stand out to us because of the unique, monochromatic look. DGI designed custom built-ins and moulding to frame the existing brick fireplace in this library/cocktail lounge, and we opted to cover all of the millwork in a moody, navy blue paint. It was another bold design move that was a bit out of our comfort zone, but we absolutely love the result!
We hope you enjoyed this roundup of our top five fireplace designs! It’s always fun to reflect back on our projects with all you. Be sure to stay tuned for the rest of the series, and sign up for our newsletter so that you never miss a new post! Until next week…
-dgw
