Fire has the power to not only provide warmth, but also to unite. After all, many of our ancestors gathered around a fire, telling stories, singing or dancing—so naturally, we want this same gathering place in our homes. The hearth, especially during the holiday season, is one of our most elemental pleasures. We hang wintery garlands on our mantels. We sip cognac near the flames after a long winter’s feast. And according to the Nat King Cole Trio, we even roast chestnuts on an open fire. It is our center, our core, our heart. These extraordinary hearths from Coldwell Banker Previews International® not only serve as glowing centerpieces in the room, but also shining symbols of what we love most about the holidays: being together.
1621 Lower River Road
Snowmass, CO. 81654
This rustic stone fireplace in Snowmass Canyon proves that mountain style and grandeur are not mutually exclusive. Framing the spacious living room and resting within a 12,000-square-foot main residence on 56 acres (the original site of the Pitkin County Fairgrounds), the opening of the monumental slab mantel is so wide that a person can actually stand upright in it!
Gloria Crest
Englewood, NJ 07631
It’s impossible to gaze upon this ornate marble fireplace and not immediately think of royalty. Set inside an eight-bedroom mansion built by European royalty, the mantel’s regal qualities set the stage for the estate’s illustrious past. Gloria Crest was rumored to have been occupied by screen legend Gloria Swanson, through the generosity of Ambassador Joseph Kennedy, and was featured in a 1978 episode of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”
1658 Crespi Lane
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
The voluptuous contours of this Pebble Beach mantel (by AD100designer Juan Pablo Molyneux) vacillate between rococo and Art Nouveau, while an antique French silver-gilt mirror above magically mimics the mysterious shimmer of the Monterey coast’s sea and fog. The holidays in this “baroque fantasia” of a living room will be nothing short of opulent.
Chestnut Hall
Atlanta, GA 30327
Some fireplaces serve as works of art in a home—and this rare antique chimneypiece in Atlanta is no exception. Featuring an 18th-century George II statuary mounted with white fleur Sienna marble and yellow scrolls made from ancient Roman ruins, it is one of many “jewels” gracing the 17,000-square-foot European-inspired mansion.
2311 S. Caliente Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264
The monolithic fireplace of this Palm Springs modern abode by architect Stan Sackley provides a natural focal point for the minimal living room’s soaring ceilings, clerestory windows and full-height sliding glass walls that capture fairway and mountain views. It is the perfect holiday escape for snowbirds who love to effortlessly entertain.
405 North Mayflower Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
A hearth often tells the story of home. The story of this beautiful mantel—one of 11 breathtaking fireplaces found inside the restored Schweppe Estate—is writ in hand-carved marble and limestone, each edge, each curve, each groove symbolizing the turn of a new chapter. Gracing the study of the 10-bedroom mansion, its ancient crests are also testaments to the owners’ thoughtful stewardship—not to mention the 70 craftsman, artisans and stonecrafters whose hands helped transform the estate into one of Illinois’ most architecturally significant homes on Lake Michigan.
