She hadn't expected to come back. Her foray into the unknown was to be a lifelong pursuit. Never had she felt more alive than those first few days beyond the bounds of her parents rule, yet here she was staring at the door that led to the faces she both adored and never wished to see again. Her fear gave way to common sense as she knocked on the heavy oak door.

Dear old Clarence opened the door and was accosted by the breeze of her passing. She entered the parlor and inhaled the pipe smoke she knew she would find. Her father sat reading one of the classics, his glasses perched precariously at the end of his long nose. Mum sat twisting an odd bit of fabric until she noticed Fiona standing within the glow; firelight dancing in her eyes. Their daughter was home at last - and the joy was profound in that moment.

The years passed and Fiona's children gather at the place of her fireside reunion, she later returns for a final conversation with Mum and Dad. In time, the house is abandoned and the memories of the glory of the fireside chats perish with Fiona and her children.

The history of Victorian fireplaces are each distinct and yet often unknown. A new generation is discovering the awe and wonder of a reclaimed and restored inglenook from the Victorian Era. Broad, bold art defines the sense of style and marvel one feels as they observe each masterful line.

For a touch of old world style and charm, Victorian fireplaces are becoming a perfect accent to modern home design. Some will see the addition of a reclaimed bit of history as a means of increasing the value of their home while others bask in the glow of a fireplace that has a sense of presence to it that allows them to imagine those that once gazed at the dancing fires.

The joy one feels in giving a vintage Victorian fireplace a new life is hard to describe, but one that can not be denied. Away from the noise of the television and traffic, a hot cuppa sitting nearby and a good book all contribute to an enhanced sense of well being.

The beauty simply is unmatched in modern architecture design and a Victorian fireplace stands as a testament to your own sense of style and taste. Despite the compliments you may receive, the fireplace simply causes you to understand you are finally home.

No matter where you go or what you do there is joy in coming home and there is joy in sharing the fire with the memory of those who once enjoyed its warmth.

The market for restored Victorian fireplaces is a growing one. The work of reclaiming and restoring becomes a labor of love for those who realize the importance of preserving a piece of history that can also have new life in a new home where memories will be forged in a new fire. The centerpiece of a home becomes the focal point of history as a Victorian fireplace provokes conversations about the past and a passion for the present.

The past may be unknown, but the future belongs to the memories of the present. A Victorian fireplace can be a catalyst for setting the stage for homebound memories for this generation and those yet to come.