Growing up, I never lived in a house with a fireplace. My house had a wood furnace in the basement, but it wasn’t the same. I visited my grandparents every month and they had a stone fireplace in the middle of the living room. I can still remember the intricate pattern on the glass that sat in front of the flames. I loved laying on the rug in front of the fireplace. I loved the smell of the wood burning. It was a great memory for me. When my grandparents died and the house was sold, I missed having the fireplace during winter months. When I was finally old enough to purchase a house of my own, I knew it had to have a fireplace. My wife and I had to look for months, before we finally found the perfect home of our dreams with a fireplace. The mantle and stones needed a little bit of work, but I found an amazing contractor that specializes in brick and masonry work. He completely revitalized the fireplace, mantle, and the stone work around the edges. When he was done, it looked brand new. The guy even cleaned the chimney and got rid of the old soot and dust. My wife and I were impressed with his work and we even recommended him for another job with one of our friends. My wife and I enjoy using the fireplace during the months when it is cold. One day, we will have grandchildren of our own and I hope they have the same fond memories of our home.