Winters in Palm Springs are mild compared to most other places in the US. The average daily temperature is somewhere between 65 and 70, but the evenings can drop as low as 45 to 50. These are perfect nights to light the fireplace and settle in with a good book, a glass of wine and a plate of cheese. Both Shimi and Owen like to curl up in front of the fire at my feet and enjoy the warmth as well. Like most homes in Southern California, my fireplaces are gas (not wood burning). While clean easy to light, they just don't have the same effect as a wood fire. I suppose it's the smell of the fireplace, and the crackling sound that I miss, but even a gas fireplace adds warmth and ambience. So today I am posting a few photos of charming fireplaces. Some are mine, others are ones I've enjoyed here. I hope these warm you up! Brrrrrr "...Baby it's cold outside..."
above: I love a massive stone hearth like this
above: this is a photo from last year, enjoying a glass of wine at The Viceroy hotel in Palm Springs
above: A homey touch...
above: relaxing outside by the fire
above: this is actually not a fireplace at all...it's a plasma flatscreen TV. How California huh?
above: Classic Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern style: the fireplace at The Parker Palm Springs lounge.
-Rick Rockhill
23 comments:
We have a very large fireplace, wood-burning. We've talked about converting it to gas and I just don't want to, I think I would miss the smell of real wood and the lovely crackling and popping noises. The fireplace is one of my favorite things about winter.
Only you would be unique enough to devote a post to fireplaces! HAHA! Well, good fer you martini man.
They are cozy nice additions to a home or hotel indeed.
So purty...
I love a fireplace, and have a beautiful one in front of me. Unfortunately, the house fills with smoke every time I light it and yes, the flue is open. So, while it is pretty, I wish it was gas powered.
i like the first one and the last one best. love the stone and the candle holders and fire irons on the first. the last is just sort of funky and i like that you could enjoy it from any angle.
The fireplace is one thing they seem to look for in the sale of a home. I have one but have used it rarely. But wouldn't mind getting the right person to con me into lighting it. It is not a gas fireplace, but would love to have a gas line put in strictly for lighting the fire and then letting the wood fan the fire's flames in various directions, flickering the light and emitting the warmth. And the crackling from the wood is great, too!
We have a big wood fireplace too - but NO WOOD! Time to head out and buy some of those Duralogs so we can warm up the place.
I love how such a simple thing as a fireplace can create wild and amazing adventures in our minds....the warmth,the flickering flames when started into forever, the popping and crackling -- the memories and such. Thanks for sharing.
"I want to go to Palm Springs!" is a popular wine--I mean, whine--during the Xmas season.
Gorgeous array of firesides. Really cheery and warming. I'm wishing for snow in Scotland tonight! It's to be minus 4 degrees which some say is too cold for snow!!WTF? I'll never work that one out!
Yup...I could use a fireplace right about now..only not in my apartment (it's horribly hot in here)-it would be best near the parking areas-to melt the snow!!!!
I miss the fireplace we used to have in Houston. In the weather they're currently having (hi 60s, lo 30s) we would have been roasting chestnuts.
Of your pics the retro one at the bottom is the coolest. I am sure I have seen it in a James Bond or Peter Sellers movie. The LA house in The Party was the epitome of cutting edge 60s technology and style.
awwww love the pics...wish we had a fire place...could surely use one now...wayyyyyyy too much snow..lol.
Haha! The t.v. one makes me laugh. :) But where is it cold? Not here.....
You know what all of these pictures are missing? A giant bag of marshmallows, a bag of weenies, and some roasting sticks.
And you can't really have a fireplace with a "homey touch" to it without a bunch of your homies surrounding it!
Lime/Olivia- I'm with you, I find the last (modern) one really interesting. It does have that James Bond-esque look to it. Maybe from "You Only Live Twice" or "Dr No"
Lena/Canadian Flake- sheesh you guys are both getting your share of snow aren't you? well, at least there is always a bit of Brandy to warm you up!
Chimineas are big around here, but even those have burn restrictions because of the air quality.
Sigh.
Nice post and photos. We currently have a wood-burning fireplace but our old house had gas logs and I liked that one since I didn't have to clean it out.
I pictured roasting chestnuts on each one of them! Thanks for sharing the great pics! ;-)
Sheila- good point, less clean up is a big reason why I like a gas fire!
Cool. I have a friend who built a home here (MN) and he lives part of the year in San Diego. Explains why his fireplaces (he has two in his house) are light and airy and gas! We also have two which we never use - well once in a great while (i put plants in them sometimes). They are wood burning and its too much trouble. Fireplaces add to a home. Nice post.
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