Sleek, eco-smart fireplaces light up a room

Hot trends come and go in interior design, but the increasing array of bold, colorful and unusual fireplaces is reigniting interest as a focal point instead of a practical heating fixture.

Interior designer Eugene Anthony is among those who believe a fireplace is the "nucleus of a home" and should more "an object of art than a functional necessity." For a recent project, a 26-acre estate in Calistoga overlooking the Sonoma mountain range, he designed a 6-foot-long by 18-inch-high fireplace in the main room, constructed with a highly polished black granite cantilevered hearth with the face fashioned in a lacquer-finish pecan wood paneling.

"It's an art piece," he says. "It's stunning."

Historically, fireplaces were always the most grand, eye-drawing feature in a room where people gathered. Just ask Louis XIV. Back in the 18th century, ornate mantels were designed to create a sense of grandeur and to establish presence in a room. The royal palaces featured intricately crafted mantelpieces that were considered modern for the time.

With the advent of modern heating systems, fireplaces no longer served as the primary source of heat. Fireplaces struggled throughout the 20th century, especially in eco-conscious Northern California, where wood-burning fireplaces are becoming obsolete.

Modern fireplaces were en vogue in the 1950s, mod in the 1970s and contemporary in the 1980s, falling by the wayside for most of the 1990s onward, Anthony says. But now, with the emissions-friendly green technology and current designs, they have had a resurgence.

Manufacturers like Spark Modern Fire and EcoSmart Fire have taken eco fireplaces to the next level in modern expression. "The sky's the limit in terms of possibilities," says Berkeley architect Patricia Motzkin.

Motzkin recently used Spark Modern Fire for a home renovation in Pacific Heights. Her client, she said, had an excellent eye and sleek tastes. She was able to tailor the zero-clearance electric-start gas-powered fireplace (gas is now required in many California counties) to accommodate the high-design interior.

"They lend themselves to simplicity and elegance," Motzkin says. Designers can also achieve a recessed look, which the architect said gives depth to an opening. The technology also allows you to control flame height and spread to create a clean, symmetrical fire.

With the EcoSmart brand, no pipes, vents or even walls are required for the cutting-edge freestanding designs. Some models, like the Trio and the Fire + Ice table, double as functional furniture pieces. All the freestanding styles provide the luxury of a fireplace without the hassle of installation or a renovation - just set it up and plug it in.

When it is time to redecorate, it's easy to move the fireplace to a different location, another room or even another home entirely.

Aside from the increase in design possibilities, the amount of heat that can be achieved varies. Motzkin learned this lesson the hard way with one of her clients.

"The room got so hot and it took us a while to figure out how to cool it down," she said, explaining that they reset the British thermal units (BTUs) to a lower setting. After all, the objective is toasty, she said, not toasted.

This article appeared on page S - 12 of the San Francisco Chronicle