Everyone wants a fireplace. For New Yorkers, fireplaces are like garages: a dream best left to those who migrate to the suburbs. Those of us who have them often wonder if they're a figment of our imagination; they rarely work. In short, as city denizens, we're quite jealous of all you suburban folks who are lucky enough to have working fireplaces in their homes. But what about those who have non-working fireplaces (or those who worry about using them, or would rather keep them clean and pristine than covered in soot)? We've got just the trick. There are many ways to style your fireplace (a cluster of pillar candles comes to mind, as does a disco ball, a series of antique books, or a chalkboard paint job), but our favorite is a look that's absolutely pitch perfect for the holidays: filling the space with logs.
How to do it? Measure the inside of your fireplace and cut logs that exact length. It's best if you vary the widths of the logs (don't use all tiny ones, don't use all huge ones), though equal patterns look good as well! Simply place the logs into the firebox, and voila, you've got a rustic, holiday-ready look that offers cozy sans clean up.