Photo: Mike Van Tassell
These illuminating fireplace ideas will have your family drawn to the living room like moths to a flame
A stylish fireplace design can anchor a room, all the while offering the practical benefits that come with adding coziness to a living space. But fireplace ideas shouldn’t be something you ponder only when the temperatures drop.
Whether sleek and modern or traditional and ornate, a well-designed fireplace reflects the personality of the space and its occupants, adding texture, showcasing materials, and ensuring the room feels cohesive and inviting.
While marble and stone fireplaces will always remain classic, there’s no one right way to do a fireplace. Below, browse truly stunning rooms—plus, find advice from top design pros for an extra dose of inspiration.
1. Sculptural plaster
A sculptural surround can be the perfect complement to a traditional design. Photo: Elliot Fuerniss
Don’t be scared to step outside of the traditional fireplace design box. Jessica Davis, founder of interior design studio Atelier Davis, employed this sculptural plaster surround by Brent Warr in the formal living room of a French Colonial home. “I love an interestingly shaped fireplace,” she says. “This is the perfect juxtaposition to an otherwise traditional interior, especially when flanked by the beautiful chartreuse Venetian glass sconces.”
2. Sleek plaster
A plaster fireplace works well for homeowners who prefer sleek line, clean lines. Photo: Darlene Halaby
Epitomize sleek, modern design by featuring a refined white plaster surround that echoes elegance. “The choice of a neutral white plaster enhances the clean lines of the fireplace and creates an airy ambiance by reflecting natural light, making the room feel more expansive,” Vyanca Soto, owner and principal designer at Market Studio Interiors in Fullerton, California explains. “The wall-mounted TV complements the minimalist aesthetic, and the greenery framing the fireplace serve as a focal point that helps add balance to the overall inviting atmosphere.”
3. Make room for intricate molding
Molding adds intrigue and elegance to the stark white of this elegant living area. Photo: Kat Stevenson
The intricate molding enveloping this classic mantelpiece is like a crisp white shirt beneath a perfectly tailored suit. “The consistent use of white millwork on both the fireplace wall and the ceiling unifies the elements and creates a sense of architectural harmony,” says Detroit interior designer Paige Loperfido of Decor & More Design Studio of the stately fireplace with a marble surround.
4. Consider clear
Glass fireplaces work well in modern homes. Photo: Venjhamin Reyes
A custom glass fireplace may be just what you need for a modern living room design in a coastal abode. This way, no views are obstructed and the glass reflection can even make the room appear larger. “It is especially beautiful in the moonlight,” says Philadelphia-based interior designer Megan Gorelick.
5. Sleek slab
The hearth of the fireplace is dressed in a leathered-black Marquina quartzite slab by Terrazzo + Marble Supply, selected by PROjECT. and Marmol Radziner. Photo: Aimée Mazzenga
For this modern lake house in Middleton, Wisconsin, PROjECT. and Marmol Radziner were enlisted to create a California-cool vibe with a neutral color palette and high-contrast decor. To ensure the focus stayed on the lake views, they dressed the hearth of the living room fireplace in a leathered black marquina quartzite slab by Terrazzo + Marble Supply to contrast with the softer tones of the surrounding sand-blasted limestone and Rodolfo Dordoni sectional. “This home is surrounded by green and trees on all sides,” says PROjECT. owner and visionary Aimee Wertepny. “And then you enter into this glass, stone and wood box with insane lake views. Our aim was to not distract from the setting, but to accentuate it at every turn.”
6. Raised marble hearth
Elevate the fireplace design with a raised hearth, as seen in this Benjamin Johnston setup. Photo: Julie Soefer
What makes a fireplace stand out? Dimension by way of a multilevel approach. This beige marble beauty becomes the ultimate perch thanks to a raised hearth, a perfect spot for accessories, or maybe even a mug of hot cocoa.
7. Marble with custom inlay
Designer Hilary Matt used marble to mimic the millwork. Photo: Rikki Snyder
A clean and sleek fireplace will never go out of style. New York designer Hilary Matt opted for a chunky and simple surround in this Hamptons home. “We added a custom inlay element into the marble to mimic the millwork detail that is above the fireplace, this kept the marble from reading too modern and ties it in with the aesthetic of the rest of the family room.”
8. Sleek steel and travertine
Black steel is an undependable draw, as seen in this Sarah Stacey Design project. Photo: Molly Culver
Designer Sarah Stacey enhanced this steel, minimal fireplace by adding two vein-cut travertine slabs. This further drove the black-and-white color palette to work with the other natural elements: beige tones in the form of limestone, travertine, and warm woods. “The steel-and-stone fireplace demands its presence and creates a focal point,” says the Austin designer.
9. Traditional fireplace tile
Charming traditional tile illustrations work with the rest of the home decor, put together by Gray Walker. Photo: Dustin Peck
Both the velvet couch and the upholstered armchair work with this tiled fireplace surround that is echoed by the ceramic side tables. Both the velvet couch and the upholstered armchair work with this tiled fireplace surround that is echoed by the ceramic side tables. “The tiles of the surround are hand-painted Delft and original to the home,” says Charlotte, North Carolina-based designer Gray Walker. “I wanted to pay homage to the blue-and-white of the tile and decided to infuse the emerald green to modernize the color scheme. The painting above the mantel was part of the homeowner’s existing art collection. I placed it there to further pull the color scheme together. My design philosophy is rooted in honoring special architectural details when I have the opportunity in old homes.”
10. Fluid function
The black marble fireplace, part of this Gillian Segal Design project, looks like it has always been there. Photo: Ema Peter
Sometimes a fireplace doesn’t actually have to be the focal point of a room; instead, let it fit seamlessly with the rest of the design. In this Gillian Segal–designed family room that doubles as a formal living space, the fireplace is merely part of decorative panels above that conceal a TV.
“High-contrast materiality also helped complement the client’s art collection without competing,” adds the Vancouver-based designer.
11. Tap into an organic aesthetic
Gas fireplace built in stonewall with two hearths. Photo: alaincouillaud
For a back patio space, a tall gas fireplace may be just the right addition for entertaining. Adding in pebbles gives it an organic aesthetic.
12. Airy steel rods
A PROjECT. and dSPACE Studio peek-a-boo fireplace that is anything but childish. Poto: Tony Soluri
In the center of this Chicago home designed by frequent collaborators PROjECT. and dSPACE Studio, the gas fireplace is visible from the family room, dining room and even the kitchen. Open on all sides and wrapped by steel rods with blackened-oak panels above, this stunning feature centers the open-concept space in a bold way. “Maximum design that appears minimal, like the fireplace, is a common theme throughout the home,” Wertepny says.
13. Modern marvel
A modern marble fireplace in the living room of a luxe home. Photo: phototropic
For a contemporary twist, install a modern marble fireplace in a sleek silhouette. Look for a design-forward firefront pedestal in lieu of predictable artificial logs.
14. Stacked stone
Upstage a primary bath with a serious stacked-stone fireplace surround. Photo: Michael Robinson
Natural stone is, well, a natural choice for a fireplace in a primary bath. A floor-to-ceiling façade adds to the prestige.
15. Take it outside
Sometimes the best rooms are outside, as this Hatch+Ulland Owen Architects project attests. Photo: Molly Culver
Outdoor fireplaces don’t have to be all rustic. A chic black fireplace surround works well with the rest of the design elements in this backyard space. This home designed by Hatch + Ulland Owen Architects and Meredith Owen Interiors feature an exterior living and dining area that showcases a simplistic approach to fireplace design. A simple stucco surround and brick hearth let the fire be the main attraction in this relaxing outdoor haven.
Architectural Digest October 30 2025 – By Yelena Moroz Alpert and Madeleine Luckel