max, Author at Trinity

The Ugly Fireplace Makeover Winner

We are so excited to reveal the “after” photos from our recent Ugly Fireplace Makeover contest. After thousands of votes and some really deserving entries, the Roark family took home the gold!

HERE’S THE BEFORE IMAGE

We asked each entry to tell us about their ugly fireplace and why they deserve a makeover, here’s what Rozalin had to say, “Have you ever looked into a shattered mirror and were suddenly overcome with fear that you would be cursed with bad luck for seven years? Well, if not, I welcome you to look into the ugliest fireplace in DFW. A shattered mirror mosaic fireplace is what looks into my soul every day. I’ve scoured the internet, Pinterest, etc. for any ideas on how to fix this eye-sore and I have come up short each time. It mocks me, it shows me my pitiful, failure of a Joanna Gaines wanna-be reflection every morning as I drink my coffee in sadness. We inherited this mess of a fireplace 3 short weeks ago when we moved into our new home. Like all new homeowners, we were hopeful and excited to have a DIY project under our belts, but little did we know this is more than a DIY… it is the Mount Everest of DIY projects, the Mount Kilimanjaro of after-work jobs… basically, if 2020 were a fireplace, it’s the one. Enough grooves in the mantle to make even the tidiest, anti-dust mother-in-law panic and your hearts desire of shattered, sharp, and hideous mirrors… this fireplace could be located in a haunted house. Better yet, this fireplace could be found in a haunted house of mirrors. As two teachers, my husband and I pride ourselves on our problem-solving abilities. This fireplace has since made us question our career choice. The only solution for this fireplace (and our sanity) are the experts at Trinity Fireside. We would be more than grateful to have the true fireplace specialists tackle this intimidating task and give us a beautiful fireplace that will get plenty of use from our family. We so strongly desire to have the center of attention in our home be a show-stopper fireplace from Trinity Fireside. We appreciate your time and allowing us to submit our fireplace into this contest.”

Once the Roark family found out they had won, they didn’t want to waste another day getting started. We started with a planning meeting, talking about what they were looking for, their home aesthetic and about their fireplace needs. Once we had a design plan in place, we started demolition.

Once demolition was complete, the matel selection at Old World Lumber, and the new build began!

A neutral floor-to-ceiling, stacked-stone was added – opening up and modernizing the space.

The finished fireplace remodel was exactly what they were hoping for!

Intimate Fireside Valentine’s Dinner: Tips from a Dallas Fireplace Builder

Creating An Intimate Fireside Valentine’s Dinner: Tips from a Dallas Fireplace Builder

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and is the perfect reason to celebrate you and your partners love together. With more couples staying home this Valentine’s Day, it’s important to find ways to add ambiance and romance. Fireplaces help set the mood, provide a soft glow, and even act as the date’s focal point. As a Dallas fireplace builder, we know a few things about fireplaces! Whether you’ve been dating for a few months or married for years, we’ve put together our favorite tips for creating the perfect fireside Valentine’s Day.

If Your Fireplace Has A Mantel – Use It

The mantel on the fireplace is the perfect place to add Valentine’s Day decor. Showcase bouquet of roses in shades of red, pink, and white. You can even add rose petals across the floor in front of the fireplace. Place your favorite scented candles and light them to add your favorite scent and more romantic lighting. Make it personal and about your relationship by adding in photos from your favorite trips or moments.

Think Red

When decorating for your fireside Valentine’s Day date, think of adding decor in shades of red. If you are worried about going overboard with the color, don’t worry! You can add small amounts of red through different decor accents, like a red blanket or red candle, to incorporate the holiday’s well-known color.

Get Comfortable

For a comfortable way to enjoy the fireplace, rearrange your furniture! If moving furniture is not an option, try adding blankets or pillows to provide the perfect spot to spend the evening.

Fireside Dinner Date

Set up a table right next to your fireplace for an intimate dinner date. Lay down a tablecloth, add a candle, and pour two glasses of wine. You’ll feel like you’re at your favorite restaurant! If you can, choose a small table. It will help keep the two of you close and help create an intimate conversation. The fireplace’s ambiance will create a romantic feel, add warmth, and make the perfect fireside Valentine’s Day date.

Create a Specialty Cocktail

Learn to be a mixologist and create a new cocktail together. Opt for red or pink-colored cocktails to embrace the holiday and enjoy them in front of the fire. You’ll feel like a mixologist in no time! We’ve added a one of our favorite cocktail recipes below that will help you stay within the color palette and celebrate Valentine’s Day!

Floradora Cocktail

The Floradora cocktail is named after a 1900s Broadway musical comedy. While it offers a beautiful pink shade, it’s known for being refreshing and semi-sweet. If you like gin, this is a go-to cocktail and is quick and easy to make.

What You’ll Need

1 1/2 ounces of gin

1/2 ounce of lime juice

1/2 ounce of crème de framboise liqueur

4 ounces of ginger ale

Highball Glass

Ice

Fill your highball glass with ice.

Add in your gin, crème de framboise liqueur, and lime juice.

Pour in 4 ounces of ginger ale to top off the glass.

For a fun garnish, add a wedge of lime.

Enjoy!

Cook a Romantic Dinner

Enjoy your favorite at-home meal together. For a fun and meaningful surprise, cook your partner’s favorite meal. If you are looking for a more intimate experience, try cooking the meal together or trying something new to both of you. It lets you reconnect and have fun while creating a delicious meal to enjoy with each other. Not sure what to cook? We’ve added an easy but delicious pasta recipe for you to try!

Pasta With Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan

What You’ll Need

1 lb. short tube pasta

Kosher salt for taste

8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, divided

1 small regular lemon very thinly sliced into rounds

1 oz. Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving

Freshly ground black pepper

Add the pasta to a large pot of water. Be sure to salt the water generously. Keep an eye on the pasta and stir occasionally. Check the back of the pasta package for cooking instructions. You will want to take the pasta off about two minutes less than instructed. The pasta will finish cooking in the sauce you will create.

While the pasta is cooking, melt half (4 Tbsp) of the butter in a heavy pot. Once melted, add in the lemon slices. Stir the lemons often, for 5 to 7 minutes. The lemons will be soft, and the bottom of the pot will be browned. Once the lemons are soft, take about a third of the lemon slices out and place them on a plate; set aside.

Just before pasta is al dente, scoop out 2 cups of the pasta’s cooking liquid. Add the pasta’s cooking liquid to the butter sauce. (This may seem like a lot of liquid, but it will thicken once the rest of the ingredients are added.) Add the remaining amount of butter one piece at a time. Whisk the liquid until each piece of butter is incorporated before adding in more pieces of butter.

Take the pasta off the stove and drain. Add the pasta to the butter sauce. While stirring often, add 1 ounce of the parmesan cheese at a time. Once all of the cheese is added, continue to stir until all of the cheese is melted. The sauce should be creamy. If the sauce looks very thick, try adding more pasta cooking liquid (or water) 1–2 Tbsp. at a time to thin. Keep in mind; the sauce will thicken as it starts to cool. Remove the dish from the heat and sprinkle with 2 tsp of pepper. Toss the pasta.

Top with lemon slices and a sprinkle of parmesan.

Enjoy with your sweetie!

Not Interested In Cooking? Skip It!

If cooking isn’t your thing, don’t sweat it. Order in from your favorite restaurant and enjoy it fireside. It gives you both the night off from cooking (and the dreaded cleanup) to relax and unwind in front of the fireplace. It will be like you reserved a table for two from your favorite restaurant but from the comfort of your own home and by a crackling fireplace – it’s a win-win!

Plan an Indoor Picnic

If you want more of a picnic feel, add cozy elements to the floor like blankets and throw pillows for a cozy night together. Pack a picnic full of heartfelt, sweet treats, or create a cheeseboard full of your favorite cheeses and crackers to pair with your favorite wine.

Don’t Forget Dessert!

While the fireplace offers a romantic glow, it’s also an easy way to channel your inner child and cook up marshmallows to make Valentine’s Day s’mores. Get creative with your ingredients (like swapping out Hershey’s chocolate for a Reese’s) and get cozy by the fire while cooking up a fun dessert. If you want a more relaxed after-dinner moment, pour yourself a glass of champagne or seltzer water and cozy up to end your at-home Valentine’s Day dinner.

Are you looking to add a fireplace or remodel your existing fireplace in your home? Stop by and see our showroom, or contact us to discuss what you’re looking for. We’re here to help. Reach out to us today!

Sources:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/floradora-cocktail-recipe-760079

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pasta-with-brown-butter-whole-lemon-and-parmesan

Best Fireplace Mantels for Christmas

It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year. From hanging lights on your house to putting up the tree and decorating your mantel, Christmas inspires a feeling of love, happiness and nostalgia. Being fireplace designers, we can’t get enough of a well-dressed mantel, that allows your decor turn your fireplace into an eye-catching focal point for the holidays. From traditional to contemporary designs, take a look at a few of our favorites.

While this technically doesn’t constitute a mantel, we love the way this minimalistic space has a classic, subtle Christmas flair. The oversized wreath, stacked logs and buffalo-check plaid turn this bright-white space into a cozy dream.

Image Credit: The Faux Martha

Modern farmhouse is all the craze, and this Anderson + Grant post is the definition of elegance and no exception. Using neutral shades of white and grey stockings, classic draping garland, and gold candlesticks this mantel feels welcoming at first glance.

Image Credit: Anderson + Grant

If you’re one who prefers a classic Christmas palette of red, green, and gold – this design is for you. Originally posted on Pink Peonies, this design adds a burst of color to the white fireplace and stockings, drawing the eye into the space. What’s even better? The round gold mirror is a staple that could be used year-round while simply swapping out the mantel decor.

Image Credit: Pink Peonies

A contemporary design lover’s dream… the crisp, sharp lines around the fireplace, throughout the lighting elements, artwork, and candlesticks create a uniform consistent design that allows for a pop of contrast with the whimsical garland and playful stockings.

Image Credit West Elem

Having a full stone fireplace allows for a much different mantel design. Whether you’re looking for traditional elegance or a rustic Texas design, varying textures of all-white stockings can be the perfect contrast between the sone and the stockings. Luckily, Pottery Barn agrees and sells these beautifully curated white stockings for you to pick from.

Image Credit Pottery Barn

Last, but certainly not least, we stumbled upon this beautiful design from Better Homes and Gardens and couldn’t agree more. “Nothing looks more festive than a holiday mantel decorated in crimson red and crisp white. Add in the deep green of a flocked pine wreath and garland for a traditional farmhouse-style palette. Finish the look with mini tree decorations and small white ceramic houses.” – Better Homes and Garden

Fireplaces have evolved into works of art. While still creating the perfect mood and ambiance for any occasion and any style. From the timeless elegance of our more traditional styles to the stunning simplicity of our modern and contemporary fireplaces, there’s no denying the fact that the fireplace is often the focal point of your home, and holidays.

While decorations can transform the space, often times the “bones” of the fireplace may need updating in order to achieve the design aesthetic you have in mind. Does your fireplace need a bit more love than decorations can simply do on their own? Contact our team today to talk about a fireplace remodel. Having over 150 combined years of industry experience allows our team to design the fireplace of your dreams, and execute a seamless process, start to finish. Our wide selection, expertise, and professional service allow us to provide our customers unmatched value, as well as a high level of trust.

If you’re interested in seeing our fireplace gallery – stop by and take a look here.

Interested in seeing your own space with a new and improved fireplace design? Stop by our visualizer to see how much a new design would elevate your home.