Fireplace of my DREAMS

Since moving into my forever home here in Chicago, I have been on the hunt for a fireplace. Now When I bought my condo in June of 2019, I knew that no real actual fireplace could ever exist. I’m pretty sure fire and high rise buildings don’t mix very well. I started my search at places like Home Depot and Wayfair. No offense to massive corporations like them, but all they had was cookie cutter, plain, boring and simple fireplace inserts with tacky electric fireplace hearths. I debated heavily for weeks If i should consider buying one of these plain-Jane fireplace’s but then I got to thinking, this just wasn’t for me.

For a little while I had the idea to build my own faux fireplace out of some beautiful brick with a great big wood mantle. After consulting with three contractors I soon learned that since I was sixteen flights in the air, that the weight from a real brick fireplace would warp the floor. There essentially wouldn’t be enough support or reinforcement under my hardwood floors. It would be very expensive and a not so great idea.

I was very discouraged after brainstorming for nearly 3 months. Christmas was right around the corner and it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the stockings hanging from the fireplace mantel. Where would I put the tree?I just couldn't drop it the idea of having a fireplace. One time my friend mentioned this place called Ginger Blossom. It was an antique furniture, textile and decor place way up in Richmond, Illinois. I took a chance and called one day just to see if they had any fireplace inserts or facades available. A nice woman named Jean picked up the phone and said she might have something for me, and oh boy did she ever.

Jean sent me photos of a hand carved wood fireplace. The photos didn’t do it justice. I immediately hoped in my car and drove nearly 2 hours to go see it in person. When I arrived, I meet the owner named Ginger. She told me some pretty cool facts about this fireplace surround. It was originally constructed in Mexico. It was actually hand carved by an El Salvadorian man. He only created two fireplace surrounds, a pair of sisters. Ginger happened to own the original sister fireplace surround. She painted her white and added a stone mantle to enhance the unique piece. After gazing at this 2 of a kind fireplace surround I knew I had to have it. It fit in perfectly with the character of my condo which was built in 1917. I have quite a bit of trim throughout my condo and the ornate details in this fireplace surround complimented it so perfectly.

I made a quick phone call to my dad asking him if he could build out the base of the surround and create a faux hearth on the interior the fireplace . My dad is a carpenter and this idea really excited him. He loves to get his hands dirty and build really cool furniture pieces. I made a quick run to the bank, grabbed a few thousand dollars that the fireplace was mine!

Since I purchased this beauty, my dad really went to town. He found some scrap wood from work and built out the entire thing from top to bottom. He fixed some of the large cracks and buffed out the damaged corners. He used some wood shavings and glue to restore some of the damaged hand carved areas. It nearly killed him to paint this beautifully stained fireplace but I pleated and begged him. He painted the entire thing from top to bottom a beautiful bright white. The end result of this project could not have turned out any better. I am wholeheartedly obsessed with my fireplace. My living room has been transformed. Every time I walk in my living room, I can’t help but stare at the beautiful, ornate, special and amazing details this fireplace has. What an absolute dream!