That is really terrible that you got the run around. Did you get the name of the first building official who told you that you could leave the chimney bare? Gosh, I can see how much it matters if you talk to the wrong person... or someone who is having a bad day.

I'm sure you guys are really unhappy that you'll have to compromise. The way you've described it sounds gross! Also, having a fireplace next to a piano is the best. Also, you could have used that wall for shelving for sheet music or books.

Maybe you can find a compromise with the input of your architect? How were the other aspects of your design accepted?

Sara

Oops, I meant "having a piano next to a fireplace is not the best"

Yeah... that would be the worst thing for a beautiful piano... Anyway, I like Greg's idea, but it would be nice to see a render just to make sure it doesn't end up looking like some sort of smokestack next to a factory. Also, I'd choose the boldest stucco color you could find. Send a big bird to the Man!

Mark, what about a hunter greenish type tile w/ white or grey stucco?

We first talked to the head of the planning department who gave us the OK for stucco. When we came it to get approval four months later, we talked to a member of his staff who's job includes checking plans for compliance. This guy is great, has been very helpful and said he would ask his boss if we could skip any exterior finish. He seems to be as disappointed as we are and has even worked on a way for us to add the brick with it to be supported by the roof. Aesthetically, I just cannot see doing that.

maybe you could but a brick pizza oven in the kitchen?

Hmmm - have you thought about using "thin brick"? This a veneer system that goes on basically like tile. I think you could use these in a way that was so outside of the way you normally experience brick that it would not register as a heavy masonry chimney. However you were going to put stucco on this could go on the same way - leave off the finish coat of stucco and set the thin brick. This is what I think you should do:

1. Keep the fireplace where you want it. 2. Use a thin brick veneer. 3. Orient the brick vertical and have them march around the metal chimney in concentric rings - avoid the normal alternating brick coursing pattern. 4. Keep the dimension as trim as possible so it does not look like heavy thick masonry. 5. Pick a color that is not the expected brick red. Pick an oatmeal color or something buff, or better yet near black.

I think this would be entirely within the realm of the modern aesthetic and letting things be honest about what they are. After all they just said you have to use masonry, not that it had to feel like masonry.

Wow, I think Greg's solution would probably look better than the original stucco idea. I think that sounds like a really nice compromise.

I think what you guys are up against, in terms of aesthetic restrictions, is really inspirational for many people who are planning to build in less progressive neighborhoods. I loved seeing how you and Mark worked around the original regulations.

I had wondered about that, but dismissed it since they won't allow cultured stone or stone tiles for the exterior of the house. Then again, it is certainly worth a shot. It will come down to thier interpretation of masonry. Here is a question, can we specify it without using "thin" as a modifier?

yeah - don't give them the detail - just draw some horizontal and vertical lines on the chimney and lable it masonry faced chimney.

What the hell is wrong with these people. You're not using brick on the building due to cost, and stucco is assumed to be masonry by the regulations, and the regulations call for a "masonry" fireplace and chimney, but stucco on the chimney is a no go. Somebodies head need to be removed from their posterior. Tell them the stupid brick fireplace will be a budget buster and see what they ahve to say (I'm sure they won't care but who knows, we've gone back and forth on the brick issue for some time now, only to have it be too expensive, and now they are forcing you to have a mason on site to do the fireplace. If the fireplace is going to have to be brick I'd think we'de want to make the entire house brick (again) and do the fireplace and chimney in the dark brick.

That'll be $.02 please!

Mark

I think the guy in charge doesn't like our house because 1) the mayor and city council will get mad at him for allowing it. 2) he knows he is going to get a bunch of angry calls and he is going to want to be able to say he made sure we complied as strictly as possible.

I have been told by lawyers and a consultant who gets paid to get things through city planning departments that these zoning ordinances are illegal. However, they can continue to enforce them until there is a lawsuit. We do not have $10,000 and a year to wait, so legal action is out of the question.

We could say that this will bust our budget and we'll have to sell the property, but they would welcome that solution.

I think the glazed face brick is a great solution, especially if we can use the same material for the dark part of the house. Moving the fireplace to the chimney was a bad choice as the chimney would have necessitated moving a window that was pretty hard to move.

I am still wondering if we can have the fireplace on the back porch. I have relatives in Prague who have a wood burning fireplace/grill in the back yard and it makes the best chicken!

I think the guy in charge doesn't like our house because 1) the mayor and city council will get mad at him for allowing it. 2) he knows he is going to get a bunch of angry calls and he is going to want to be able to say he made sure we complied as strictly as possible.

I have been told by lawyers and a consultant who gets paid to get things through city planning departments that these zoning ordinances are illegal. However, they can continue to enforce them until there is a lawsuit. We do not have $10,000 and a year to wait, so legal action is out of the question.

We could say that this will bust our budget and we'll have to sell the property, but they would welcome that solution.

I think the glazed face brick is a great solution, especially if we can use the same material for the dark part of the house. Moving the fireplace to the chimney was a bad choice as the chimney would have necessitated moving a window that was pretty hard to move.

I am still wondering if we can have the fireplace on the back porch. I have relatives in Prague who have a wood burning fireplace/grill in the back yard and it makes the best chicken!