Fireplace Mantels News, Articles and Information

A roaring fire burns away the bitter cold, eases the mind and soothes the soul.

A good meal and a warming cocktail don’t hurt, either.

Blending all three forms a fine respite as winter’s gray skies gather, biting winds howl and swirling snows descend. It’s days like these that send the weather-weary to the comforting confines of a hearth and the inviting pleasures it promises.

There may be no place like home, but there are also many fireplaces in public places to soak up the warmth and welcome.

A touch of class

The lobby of the Pfister Hotel radiates opulence, elegance and class, so it’s only natural that one of Milwaukee’s grandest hotels also offers one of its most impressive fireplaces.

Tucked into a corner by the bar, the massive, ornate fireplace is perfectly positioned for sipping drinks and listening to the live piano music, which drowns out most of the banter at the bar when it’s crowded.

“One of the great things about the Pfister is the lobby – it’s the grand salon of the hotel,” said Pfister concierge Peter Mortensen. “We have a lot of people from the city who make it a point to come in and watch the world go by. You have a lot of mingling of Milwaukee with the world.”

Two plush, velvety loveseats are angled around the hearth, with a facade that is emblazoned with an intricate pattern of spiraling leaves and cherubs.

The scene is perfect for a couple of couples – a cozy nook for an intimate conversation.

“People automatically respond to a hearth,” Mortensen said. “It is a magnet. It relaxes people. I think it breaks down defenses and makes whatever place it’s in feel a little bit like home. By offering these to people, it’s a little extra something people don’t know they miss until they see it.”

The fire is fueled by gas, so there is no romantic crackling or smoldering of burning wood. But the heat is gentle and relaxing, in sync with the mellow lighting.

The firelight illuminates the visage of a Roman on a chariot sculpted in the back of the fireplace, a symbol of commerce, Mortensen said.

The fireplace is accented with a decorative, low-lying wrought-iron screen crafted in a fleur-de-lis design.

A stately grandfather clock oversees the scene, and a towering armoire opens to reveal a television usually tuned in to Packers games.

Those not lucky enough to grab a hot spot on one of the fireside loveseats can choose from several tables within bar service and earshot of the piano.

The Pfister also has two other venues with fireplaces: Blu, the hotel’s 23rd-floor cocktail lounge, and the recently opened Mason Street Grill, an airy, modern restaurant on the ground floor that is polished enough for professionals but still casual.

“We are carrying the tradition of the warm hearth of the Pfister into the 21st century,” Mortensen said. “Anyone who comes here can be bookended by fireplaces.”

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