Source: Pinterest

It won’t be long now before cold winter winds start blowing in from the west, turning the Mississippi River into a slushy mix of ice and water.

When this day inevitably arrives and the mercury plummets below freezing, your thoughts will likely turn to the comforting warmth of your fireplace. For four or five months, you’ll gather around it with family and friends, enjoying good company, cheer and radiating heat.

So why not make it the focal point of your home? While there is nothing inherently wrong with a classic brick fireplace surround, they can, over time, become worn, faded and even a bit dull. But fear not, fire lovers, there are a lot of ways to breathe new life into your fireplace surround.

Here are four ideas to spark your imagination:

Go for a bold look. If you’re truly trying to make your fireplace the centerpiece of your home, why not play up the drama? A black, polished slate fireplace surround can transform an ordinary living room into a space that seems much larger than it actually is.

Go rustic. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace surround constructed of stacked, natural stone is the perfect complement to a large picture window with a view. It’s natural, rustic and it’s the perfect place to cozy up under a warm quilt with a good book.

Make your mark with steel and concrete. Sure, natural stone and brick are far more common, but using steel or concrete allows you to create a true one-of-a-kind surround designed specifically to match your needs and the personality of your home.

Make your mark with something timeless. Granite and marble can give your fireplace a classic look that will stand the test of time. Unlike brick surrounds, both materials can maintain its color and sheen indefinitely.

One of the best things about using marble and granite to make a unique surround is that no two slabs will ever be exactly the same. For help designing a new fireplace, contact the experts at Arch City Granite & Marble, Inc to begin your consolation today.