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A fireplace, lit or not, is a room’s focal point. We can create beautiful, custom fireplace surrounds from precast architectural concrete. There are many “standard” designs for fireplace surrounds, which encircle the actual firebox. However, a custom-made, precast concrete surround…

Concrete has roots in the ancient Roman empire and has become the world’s most widely used construction material. During the mid-twentieth century, modernist architect Arthur Erickson popularized precast concrete in Calgary and other Canadian cities. Today, it’s prevalent in various…

Many years ago, we used fireplaces in our homes to cook, heat water, and provide warmth in winter. However, fireplaces and their surrounds have adapted to many new functions. Although they still make most of us think of cozy nights,…

Fireplaces give families a warm, cozy place to gather during the cooler months. They become focal points in any room, and how you style them can dramatically affect the design aesthetic. The fireplace surround, including the mantel and mantel shelf,…

Mantelpieces have existed since humans began building fireplaces in walls instead of the ground. Originally simple inventions to catch smoke and absorb heat, they eventually became decorative objects with the dual function of displaying family crests, trinkets, and photographs. Despite…