Fireplaces include a firebox and a masonry face with or without a mantle or a hearth. It requires years of experience and technical expertise to construct a fireplace that will draw air and prevent smoking. It is necessary to adjust the size of the opening to the size and angle of the flue and the height and clearance of the chimney. In appearance, fireplaces constitute a huge variety of styles and choices for masonry materials, bond patterns and joints. All of the examples in this gallery were built or set by W&SM. There are examples of brick and stone fireplaces. There are real carved stone fireplace imported from Europe and cast architectural molded stone fireplaces created in a variety of architectural styles. There are indoor fireplaces, including a a wood burning stove. There are outdoor fireplaces for patios or for full outdoor kitchens with BBQs and counters. All fireplaces are have a non-combustible firebox. Sometimes the firebox is built with firebrick. Sometimes a “tincan” or zero-clearance stainless steel firebox is used. The surround and all the fireplace elements are placed or built around one of these fireboxes. Sometimes a Heatilator fireplace (Metal Heating Unit) is built into a fireplace for heating purposes. Sometimes a firebox is built to accommodate a wood burning stove.
Brick Overmantle: Dennis invented the brick weave design for the arched inset. Later he discovered this pattern already existed and is called the Della Robia Weave.
Overmantle Inset: The interior decorator did not like the Della Robia design so Dennis had to brick over it with a herringbone design.
Corner Fireplace: The under mantel is faced with a soldier bond that sits on a filler panel in a rowlock bond. The 4″ raised hearth is set with a rowlock border and Basket Weave infill. There is a 2″ raised border next to the glass doors.
Angled Corner Fireplace: W&SM designed this curved fireplace with raised hearth to fit the unusual area. The mantelshelf and arch projection is built with cut bullnose brick with an inset pattern of irregular stone.
Tuscan Stone Fireplace: Using Fieldstone, this Undermantel Header, Surround and raised Hearth is set in a rustic Tuscany style around a “tincan” (zero clearance firebox).
Hearth with Heat Vents: The Undermantel Header, Pillars and Trim Filler Panels are built with Carmel ledger interspersed with random Carmel stones. The firebox has a heatalater and the raised hearth features heat vents.
Carmel Stone Fireplace Face: A massive country fireplace with raised hearth and surround has a mantelshelf topped with an immense over mantel with projecting arch.
Carmel Stone Face: The Carmel stone fireplace has a projecting stone collar over the firebox that is matched by the projecting stone cove below the stone mantelshelf.
Carmel Stone Fireplace: This graceful fireplace built with Carmel dimensional stone has carved corbeled hearth, jambs and mantelshelf, which is topped with a fireplace hood.
Limestone Fireplace: Imported from Mexico, this carved dimensional limestone has a projecting header with decorative capital and plinth. An over mantel with an arched inset has a corbeled cornice at the ceiling.
Carved Limestone Fireplace: With carved fluting on projecting jambs and an elaborate carved header, this beautiful fireplace is topped with a carved fireplace vent.
Carved Limestone Fireplace: With fluid corbeled jambs set on a raised hearth, this elegant fireplace has carved cornice and crown molding under the mantelpiece, and is placed under a projecting fireplace hood.
Cast Architectural Fireplace: This simple and classic fireplace of molded stone has a marble finish.
Cast Architectural Fireplace: Finished in marble and sitting in front of an internal surround are columns set on plinth bases that support capitals and a lintel with a decorated frieze below the dimensional mantelshelf.
Precast Fireplace:
Precast Wood Burning Stove:
Antique Lime Stone With Brick
Stone Veneer Fireplace: A fireplace with a raised curved hearth and projecting stone mantel shelf has an overmantel stone veneer against a two-story wall. (The view is cut off by the ceiling of the loft.)
Fireplace & Shelves: The over mantle of random bluestone veneer has a projecting cornice at the ceiling with fireplace legs projecting onto bluestone paving. Mantel and display shelves set with cut dimensional bluestone.
Outdoor Fireplace & Paving: McNear Green Hill brick fireplace with bluestone seat caps. Patio paving with 4-piece bluestone set in a full range ashlar pattern.
Brick Outdoor Fireplace: McNear Rustic brick outdoor fireplace face and hearth and chimney stack.
Outdoor Fireplace: This “old” outdoor fireplace was built with Gilroy Fieldstone.
Outdoor Brick Fireplace: An outdoor brick fireplace at the Winter Lodge in Palo Alto is a cheerful focal point for ice skaters.
Stone Veneer Fireplace Face
Outside Fireplace With Herringbone Firebox
Herringbone Firebox: Whitacre Greer firebrick used for firebox veneer set in a herringbone pattern.
Ashlar Pattern Firebox: Firebox laid with firebrick in an Ashlar Bond.
Antique Terra Cotta Firebrick – Herringbone Pattern
Antique Terra Cotta Firebrick – Herringbone Pattern
Antique Terra Cotta Firebrick – Fence Weave
Antique Terra Cotta Firebrick – Herringbone Pattern
