Captivating concept

The completion of this feature fireplace wall project was particularly satisfying because it stretched out over six months, in three separate and distinct phases.

As specific tasks were achieved, the design began to take shape, transforming a rather mundane room into the focal point of the house. And thanks to the homeowners’ vision for the space, I was able to quickly adapt the necessary features of the project to suit several functions, albeit conveniently concealed behind the beautifully finished esthetic.

Along the back wall of the entertainment room (which had been an addition to the house earlier on), three windows made for a sunroom-like feel in the space.

With every exterior wall of the addition windowed-up, the only opaque wall was that which adjoined the existing house. As such, the TV was facing into the room such that, upon entry, one had to turn around to watch it. It was less than desirable, and an unfortunate waste of premium space.

To remedy this faux pas, the homeowners proposed removing the three windows along the back wall to provide a clean and uninterrupted surface upon which an entertainment wall could be introduced.

With a clear design in mind, the layout incorporates a fireplace stack encasing an inset electric fireplace below a mantle, with a flat-screen TV mounted above it. Symmetrical cabinet arrays would then be added on either side, topped with quartz counters.

With vertical cabinets atop the quartz at each end, floating shelves would then fill the gap between the fireplace stack and the vertical cabinets. It was a bold design that required several tweaks along the way. However, once the design was refined things began to fall into place.

The windows were removed in late summer, while the weather was still co-operative — this was Phase 1. The process entailed framing in the three voids, sheathing the exterior with OSB while the interior cavities received insulation and vapour barrier, before drywall was finished and painted to match the existing wall.

Once this step was concluded, it was much easier to envision the impending design along the wall. To help the homeowners “see” it readily, the fireplace structure was marked on the wall from floor to ceiling using various tape colours.

After the thumbs-up was received, Phase 2 began by framing the main fireplace stack structure in a tiered fashion, with the lowest area along the hearth having the greatest projection from the back wall, the mid-section that encases the fireplace place receded back slightly, and the upper portion to the ceiling being most slender above the mantle.

Included within the framework are the isolated circuit for the electric fireplace and the multi-outlet circuit for entertainment elements such as the TV, cable box and such.

While planning the framework, the area behind the flatscreen TV mount was beefed up to ensure a rigid installation. Moreover, a conduit was included from behind the TV towards the left side of the structure and below the impending quartz top elevation to allow cables to run to other entertainment units that may be stored within the cabinetry. Keeping cable concealed is very important to maintain the look of the design.

Once the electric fireplace cavity size was established, a custom mounting system was implemented for easy removal should the unit require maintenance or replacement. This was achieved by creating secured braces that can be dislodged by removing the mantle, which was also installed so that the mantle can simply slide off the inner framing. The flatscreen TV bracket was then installed, and the TV was mounted.

After the structure, including all modifications for premium functionality and accessibility, was completed, the decorative elements that had been pre-ordered could then be introduced and Phase 3 could get underway — the “fun” albeit most-complex phase.

The cupboards supplied by my good buddy Richard Rochon at Cabinet Corner were then positioned on either side of the structure. Before securing them to the wall, holes were augured using a hole saw along the upper back frame to allow cables to run behind the drawers, if need be. And once fastened to the wall, spacers were placed along the gaps adjacent the structure, required to allow for the girth of impending decorative stone.

The mantle then slid into place, allowing the stonework to begin above it. The stone facing could not be started below the mantle until the quartz was installed, within a few days of the cupboard installation.

The decorative stone, supplied by Bruce Rayburn and the good folks at I-XL Building Products, had been delivered to the job site the day before. Once by one, the stone fascia was installed using high-bond adhesive, and cut when required using a tile saw.

The quartz installation was quite simple — pre-measured quartz tops on either side were placed atop the lower cabinets, and a smaller quartz was fitted at the hearth to keep horizontal surfaces consistent. True to form, the Solid Stone crew always supplies a beautiful quartz product, cut to fit precisely.

With the quartz in place, the stone below the mantle was then completed, including careful cuts providing a slight gap around the face of the electric fireplace. Things were really beginning to shape up nicely.

The final day proved most rewarding. The vertical cabinets showcasing glass doors were set atop the end of each quartz top. The darker colour blends nicely, and ties in the dark hue of both the fireplace and flatscreen. And to tie everything together nicely, three floating shelves set at equidistant elevations were mounted between the vertical cabs, and each side of the fireplace structure now decorated with stone.

The beautiful dark-bronze and oversized handles were then installed at every drawer front and cabinet door, bringing this project to a close after nearly six months of anticipation.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to properly plan a design for a project of this nature. Although the esthetic of the design layout concerns the homeowners most, it’s the other little features that will be most appreciated if introduced — and lamented if overlooked.

Moreover, strategic measurements ensure the success of any complicated project. Taking into account ahead of time where the edges of the main structure would rest once framed, drywalled and sheathed with decorative stone dictates the available width for cabinets.

Imagine how unfortunate it would be if something didn’t fit simply because measurements were rushed and something was missed. Luckily, we were all on the same page — the multiple discussions and time dedicated to numerous design modifications during this six-month journey proved invaluable, and the results speak for themselves.

RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com