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The 2019 FHB House is a modern take on a traditional neighborhood home in a New Urbanist planned community outside of Louisville, Kentucky. The aesthetic is a nod to house styles found through historic southern cites but the choice of building materials and amenities is distinctly modern.

Kentucky 2019

A Custom Fireplace Becomes a Focal Point

Modern accents surround this traditional hearth and make it a commanding centerpiece in the FHB House great room.

By Jason Black
Article Image

There is something about a hearth that speaks to us on an instinctual level, and naturally draws our attention when we enter a room. Gretchen and I wanted to take this concept to the next level by designing a visual treatment that would make the fireplace a powerful focal point and the centerpiece of the room. While the great room has a traditional feel, we saw the custom fireplace surround as an opportunity to play with modern flourishes. Shiplap accent walls are popular these days, and we dressed up this cladding by installing it in a chevron pattern for a more modern interpretation of the traditional mantel. And although we didn’t envision this room with a TV over the fireplace, the arrangement is common enough that we wired the chimney for power and cable/internet and added blocking for a possible future television installation.

We chose to clad the chimney with shiplap boards in a chevron pattern that wraps around the chimney.
The mantel is mitered to create a narrow leading edge, but is deep enough that the surround feels substantial.
The mantel is painted the same pale gray as the kitchen cabinets—”Agreeable Gray” by Sherwin Williams.
The surround is tiled with a geometric pattern in a neutral gray that closely matches the paint but adds texture to the surround.

 

Find out more about the 2019 Fine Homebuilding House:

What is a New Urbanism Development? – Walkable neighborhoods and more interconnected communities are why homeowners, developers, and municipalities all find this this unique design philosophy attractive.

A Courtyard Room Creates Privacy on a Narrow Lot – A well-designed courtyard connects the outdoors to the first floor, a big plus in a home with neighbors so close by.

Air-Sealing and Insulating – Planning ahead and focusing on the details are the keys to creating a tight envelope with Zip System sheathing and spray foam.

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Kentucky 2019 Videos Visit the Resource Guide Behind the Build: Rhode Island 2016 Behind the Build: Vermont 2017 Behind the Build: Califormia 2018 Behind the Build: Connecticut 2020

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