A fireplace is not just a practical warming space: it can be a design fixture in the home, as well as an area to gather in the colder months. While many fireplaces are striking due to their ornate nature, minimalist ones can be just as impactful, as Ina Garten proves.
The Barefoot Contessa recently shared a clip of her modern, mantel-less fireplace in action on her Instagram page, and it made us reconsider how to decorate around a fireplace.
Tools for stoking the fire sit neatly next to the doored fireplace, while a large piece of art hangs above the cream, stone lower third of the wall. It's a sleek and contemporary adaptation of a traditional wood fireplace, and it just so happens to be right on trend this year.
Shop the Minimalist Fireplace Edit
Give your home some grandeur with this ornate bronze wall light, designed to glow all season long. Whether you're positioning it above a bookcase or on either side of your fireplace, it's hard to deny the character of this charming little accessory.
Featuring a luxurious velvet seat and a wrought iron base, this velvet bench is a modern take on traditional styles, and would look fantastic near a fireplace.
Infused with pepper and mahogany, this wintry scent invites the outside in, making your fireplace feel even more cozy and inviting.
This ivory rug will work well in a neutral living room. The design is understated, but never boring: the stonewash effect of the slightly raised threads creates tonal highs and lows.
This durable and timeless wall sconce would fit perfectly into an antique home, but is just as perfect in a contemporary setting.
While I love this compact, $10 version, the dark honey-scented candle is also available in two larger sizes and three different scents. I'll be purchasing a few to mix and match throughout my home.
If you're already working with a minimalist home, then design insiders say a fireplace can and should follow suit, particularly because they are such communal areas. Megan Slack, our head of Celebrity Style, agrees.
'What makes Ina Garten’s fireplace so compelling is its sense of restraint,' she says.
'By removing the mantel, the fireplace becomes an architectural feature rather than a decorative one, which speaks to the direction minimalist interiors are moving in. The emphasis shifts to proportion, materiality, and how the fireplace relates to the rest of the room, rather than what is placed on top of it. In this context, negative space becomes just as important as the fire itself. The result is a design that feels intentional and quietly confident, proving that minimalism does not mean the absence of character, but rather a more considered approach to how a space is experienced.'
To recreate this elegant ambiance, place a plush rug, like this one from CB2, on the floor, and a scented candle, like this 2-wick one from Target, on a nearby coffee table.
Whether you are redesigning a living room or simply rethinking how your home feels in the colder months, Ina Garten’s mantel-less fireplace is a reminder that less can be more.
By prioritizing clean lines, thoughtful materials, and the way a space is actually used, a fireplace can become both a serene sanctuary and a warm, welcoming gathering point. It proves that timeless design is not about excess but about creating an environment that invites comfort, conversation, and quiet luxury every day.
