“So, I have this crazy idea,” is how renovations typically begin at architect Christine Nickerson’s home. After working as a residential architect for nearly 10 years, Nickerson has turned her attention to her own builder-grade house, eager and curious to tackle projects firsthand to give her space a more lived-in feel. “I’m going for classic and timeless,” says the architect, who teamed up with Heat & Glo to reimagine a traditional trend and put a fireplace in a now-unexpected room.
The dining room drowns in natural light, beckoning Nickerson to gather around a family meal as much as hunker down to work. “When I thought about where we’d enjoy a [second] fireplace, the dining room made the most sense because it’s so multi-functional,” she says. Many of her projects happen as elusive “free time” allows, making the Inception electric fireplace an easy addition due to its non-structural installation and no need for a gas line.
Photography provided by Hearth & Home Technologies
The Wescott mantel made it extra simple to give the fireplace a built-in look without any framing or construction. Plus, its traditional, bright white appeal is the perfect complement to the classic coffered ceilings and detailed millwork. Nickerson added a faux stone trim around the electric firebox to enhance the realism. It all frames the Inception’s game-changing display of real wood burns and hand-painted ceramic logs, accentuated by natural sound effects like crackling fire.
The completed project offers a permanent-looking fixture that’s more in tune with the old-growth trees and winding walking paths of her upstate New York neighborhood. “The different [fire] backgrounds and sounds have been fun to cycle through,” she adds, noting that the classic brick interior, mature fire and summer night sounds are current family favorites. The heatless element of the Inception fireplace is highly utilized, too. In summer months or during hosted dinner parties, a benefit of the electric fire is all the ambiance without the heat. Year-round use and the flexibility to match the Inception to the mood of the moment takes the traditional dining room fireplace trend to new heights.
Nickerson’s personal style is a neutral foundation that’s peppered with pattern and texture. For her, fireplaces act as both a foundation and focal point. Multiple fireplaces in different rooms are evocative of an established home, while they also add to the livability of a space — one that’s designed to be truly enjoyed, no matter which room you’re in.
