Cape Cod House Renovation

Stone Fireplace

An imaginative designer doubles the size of her Cape Cod home to accommodate boisterous boys and frequent festivities.

A fireplace provides a cozy focal point at the other end of the family room. Creating it was a labor of love, with Mimi choosing each stone at a local quarry and her sons contributing rocks they found. Built in a classic New England style, the fireplace soars 23 feet to the peak of the ceiling, lending strength and a sense of permanence to the room. Comfortable sofas and chairs are arranged around it for conversation, with more seating on a corner bench that doubles as a storage chest.

Mimi and her sons chose each stone for the fireplace, which rises 23 feet to the vaulted ceiling. The massive fireplace is scaled down by other, not-so-tall pieces, including a built-in bookcase and the antique etagere.