Modern Fireplace Restoration
Fireplaces have long been the treasured center of historic homes, from Arts and Crafts to Victorian, to modern styles. Restoration of our San Francisco fireplaces is a fine art of both form and function. Melding the cosmetic redesign of a historic fireplace while integrating modern sustainability and understanding environmental concerns, including the mandate to remove environmental pollutants, including gas from the home, is a delicate balance.
Dynamics of Modern Fireplace Restoration in San Francisco
Centoni Restoration & Development understands these challenges, consistently researching and sourcing the latest alternatives to wood-burning fireplaces, while preserving and enhancing the original design integrity of a historic fireplace. One recent fireplace design/restoration project focused on installing environmentally sensitive gas inserts while accommodating both form and function.
No matter the architectural style, Centoni ensures building code compliance and adherence to environmental regulations, both state and local, regarding fireplaces, including seismic updates and heating sources. The primary concern when repairing and restoring San Francisco's fireplaces, regardless of pedigree, remains safety first.
Functionality and Form
An additional dynamic of fireplaces is that they can appear as relics of the past. "While homeowners view historic San Francisco fireplaces with a romantic notion, the original functionality was the source of home heating,” explains Gina Centoni. Centoni considers both the aesthetic and historical significance of the fireplace as decisions are made to modernize. A popular option, pictured below, is a modern gas insert, preserving the charm and charisma of the fireplace as well as the warmth and ambience of real flames.
Fireplace Restoration for an 1880 Victorian
A year-long project for Centoni in the upper Haight included a historical restoration of the original mahogany fireplace surrounds. When beginning the restoration, the challenge was carefully removing all the layers of paint applied over 135 years. Centoni then designed and handcrafted the many elements necessary to recreate the fireplace to match the original, when one surround was missing. The finished results are mesmerizing. Note: the historically crafted tiles perfectly meld form with function. Gina Centoni explains the strict process: “Today, when we are collaborating with the carpenters, measuring and designing components, we often feel someone is looking over our shoulders. We talk about the carpenter who made the original as we stop and contemplate why certain decisions were made centuries ago.” Centoni takes the time to understand and honor the integrity of those decisions today.
Replicating an Original From 1883
The challenge for Centoni on this San Francisco custom fireplace restoration was creating a replica of the original which was removed around the turn of the century. The home’s two elegant grand parlors open onto one another. “We felt the two fireplace surrounds needed to speak to each other,” explains Gina Centoni. When undertaking an intricate project like fireplace restoration and repair, Centoni’s time-honored custom process begins with hand drawings, illustrations, and mock-ups. These visuals continue to set Centoni apart while defining its work ethic to historically preserve San Francisco’s homes.
Click the image below for a before and after comparison slider.
