Martha Stewart Blog

Featured in Martha Stewart (October 2025), Alana Spears Home was included in “13 Fireplace Remodel Ideas for a Perfectly Cozy Space.” This fireplace design uses Shou Sugi Ban to create a bold, textural focal point within a formal living room. The blackened wood surround introduces contrast against a palette of white oak, warm whites, and neutral furnishings, while grounding the scale of the space beneath 18-foot ceilings. Chosen for its durability and depth, the material brings a sense of richness and permanence to the room. A rift white oak mantel, sourced from Oregon trees, adds warmth and ties into the home’s natural material story. The overall design balances light and dark, texture and simplicity, creating a space that feels both elevated and deeply comfortable.