Many fires are enhanced through the use of a fireplace surround. A fireplace surround, or mantel, fits around the fire, and there is a wealth of choice available today – whether you want an antique mantel from a specific period or a reproduction surround, these can be easily located. Also, there are many modern surrounds on offer today, in all types of materials such as wood, stone, slate, marble, brick and granite. MDF fireplaces are mass-produced and sell very cheaply, yet look extremely effective.
Wood fireplace surround
Traditionally, fireplace surrounds were very plain, but from the Georgian era onwards, these became more decorative, in accordance with the in-vogue decorative styles of the successive eras. The Victorian age produced fireplace surrounds in all the decorative styles seen up to that point – Gothic, Rococo, Georgian, Chinoisie – and thus was referred to as ‘the battle of the styles’. By the late Victorian period, fireplace surrounds were very ornately decorated.
If you are looking for a period fireplace, it may help to know about the types of fireplace surround prevalent in the various eras. The Victorian era was indeed the era of the cast iron fireplace, and the Edwardian age saw the introduction of the slabbing technique, whereby the whole fireplace was tiled (before this, decorative tiles were merely placed in sliders at each side of the fireplace). You can find antique fire surrounds at reasonable prices in salvage or reclamation yards, or on online auction sites such as ebay.
If you are looking for something a bit more contemporary, there are thousands of fireplace retailers to choose from nationwide. Whether you are looking for an MDF or solid wood fire surround, a marble surround, a slate fireplace surround, or a stone version, they are all out there. As mentioned, there are many styles available, from the traditionally plain to ones incorporating mirrors, shelves, and even cabinets, to suit all budgets.
It can be confusing choosing a fireplace surround, due to the vast amount of styles available, but if you consider a few things beforehand, your decision should become much easier. Things like budget, types of fireplace material you are interested in, and your room décor will all influence your final decision, and considering the above factors before buying your surround will make purchasing a whole lot easier.
7 Responses to “Introduction to Fireplace Surrounds”
[...] the Victorian era, the immensely ornate fireplace surrounds and over-mantels were constructed from stone, slate, marble or wood. However, the high costs of [...]
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