Looking for contemporary fireplace ideas? The shelf fireplaces from the UK's Platonic Fireplace Company are truly inspiring. They completely do away with the traditional notion of a hearth, opening up the firebox and mounting the gas logs and flames on a shelf.
The company is owned and operated by an architect, and you can have a fireplace custom-designed for your home. If you don't know quite what you want yet, but lean toward a contemporary style, I definitely recommend browsing the picture gallery on their website:
http://www.platonicfireplaces.co.uk/
I just wish I could afford one of these beauties for my place.
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