Archive for the ‘Modern Fireplaces’ Category

Fireplace Design Ideas

January 22nd, 2010

Relaxing-FireplaceWhat better way to relax than in the warm glow from a real fire, listening to the gentle popping of the embers as they burn?  Flame effect fires are a good substitute but there’s nothing like the real thing.  The problem is that, when it comes to choosing a fireplace, many of us are unsure of what will look best  and, in view of the fact that a fireplace will become the focal point of any room, it is vital that the fireplace we eventually choose is the right one.

When it comes to fireplace design, there are several aspects that influence the final look, for instance: the hearth, the grate and the style of the opening.

The hearth is the bit that you see – that is, the outside of the fireplace; the grate is the place where the fuel is burned, and the opening is the shape the hearth makes.  As there are hundreds of variations on each of these aspects, it’s no wonder we get confused!

The Hearth

Let’s consider the hearth for a moment: it can be placed on the floor, sunk beneath the floor and, very popular nowadays, suspended above the floor.

Perhaps your first consideration should be the construction material of your hearth.  If your décor is rustic or natural, then you could consider using glass, stone, or terracotta, whereas for something might modern you might be drawn to heavily glazed or brightly coloured tiles.  Of course, you should take your existing décor colours into account when selecting the tile colours.

Fireplace Tile Design Ideas

Your fireplace should be designed to blend seamlessly with the rest of the room so that it not only creates a natural gathering place for the family but also creates a resting place for the eye.  One way of doing this is by using large tiles so that there aren’t too many grout lines, which would look too ‘busy.’   Marble and slate tiles tend to come in at 12”, which means that you can cut them down to fit the exact width you need.  If you then use the same tiles uncut to tile the hearth, you will create a harmonious effect.   You can achieve a similarly seamless effect by sticking to just one colour; especially effective if you are using tiles of different sizes or patterns.

If you want to add a decorative element, consider placing a slim, patterned, border around the opening of the grate, tiling the rest of the fireplace with solid coloured tiles, picking up one of the colours from the patterned border.   A matching patterned border around the edge of the fireplace will ‘ground’ the look.

How to Tile Over a Brick Fireplace

Choosing the Best Grate for Your Fireplace

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How to Make the Most of Your Fireplace

January 14th, 2010

Victorian fireplaces were the centre of the home and, consequently, they knew a thing or two about dressing a fire.  Here are some updated interior design ideas for dressing your own fireplace.

fireplace-designIf you’re lucky to have a chimney breast, turn it into a focal point.  There are a variety of ways to do this, you could, for instance:

1. Paint it a different colour

2. Use a bold and dramatic wallpaper on the opposite wall to the chimney breast, and on the chimney breast itself

3. Hang a large and beautiful mirror

4. Get a piece of glass cut the same size height and width as the chimney breast so that it becomes one large mirror

5. Place a collection of small, unusual mirrors on the mantelpiece

Speaking of fireplace mantels, don’t forget it makes the perfect place to display all sorts of collections; what about: photographs, shells, dried flowers, fresh flowers, pretty antique teacups and saucers, teapots, antique jugs and art pottery

We all dream of sitting cosily around a glowing hearth, but how can you arrange the space for best effect? Symmetry always looks good, although it’s not always possible.  Use ‘pairs’ of things, such as:

1. The same chairs either side of the fireplace

2. Matching lamps

3. Matching picture frames

4. Bring the eye into the centre of the arrangement with one large picture on the chimney breast, or an impressive vase of flowers

When the fireplace is unlit, place vases of differing heights in front of the grate, perhaps mixed with pebbles, shells and pretty pillar candles.

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Contemporary Fireplace Design

October 16th, 2009

The very fact that you’re reading this suggests you are already well aware of the warmth, comfort and sheer cosiness that a real fire can bring to a home, but have you explored the world of the contemporary fireplace? Really explored it?

contemporary-fireplaceWhen the majority of folk think about installing a fireplace into their home, they think in terms of traditional, usually Victorian, hearths and mantels. Yet, by doing so, they eliminate a whole world of stylish comfort from their plans.

Of course, the traditional fireplace styles so admired now were, once upon a time, contemporary; in the Victorian age, cast iron was de rigeur!  Likewise, the modern fireplaces of today will one day be viewed with nostalgia.  If there is a downside to going for the contemporary look it is that fashions change quickly, so you would be well advised to ensure that your up-to-the-minute fireplace is based upon classical lines – classic good looks never go out of fashion.

The most traditional of the contemporary fireplace designs, if that’s not a contradiction in terms, look very much like standard fireplaces – aside from the fact that, rather than standing on the floor, they are set into the wall. They are usually elevated and flush with the wall, creating a sleek line; sometimes, in relatively low-set models, a mantel is added above.  Another idea along similar lines is to flush-set the fireplace higher up the wall so that it looks like a picture – this is where the gas burning, faux wood models come into their own, creating low-maintenance good looks.

The Superior Argon Fire pictured here is a fine example of the classic contemporary look that will never go out of fashion.

Your major consideration, after deciding on fireplace style, is what fuel you want to burn. Wood-burning fires and stoves are probably the most popular choice but there is a lot of ‘cleaning out’ involved, as well as the smell of woodsmoke, which is fine in its place.  That place is probably not your newly decorated interior!  To avoid these pitfalls, you might prefer to cheat a little and go for a gas burning fireplace with faux wood; nowadays they actually look very good indeed.  If wood doesn’t ‘light your fire’ you could choose fire rocks instead, which are not only on trend but can be changed on a whim.

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Fireplace Savvy

September 25th, 2009

There’s more to fireplaces than, well fireplaces! Whilst this seemingly humble piece of architecture can be the hearth and soul of every room in the house, it takes a bit of savvy to make the best of it. For a start, there are so many architectural styles. Whether you are looking for French country flair or American south west down home comfort, its the details you put with your fireplace installation that will dictate the final effect.

Modern Cosiness

Modern Cosiness

A cosy corner that owes just as much to the use of paint and pattern as it does to the style of hearth and mantel.  If this is the sort of look you’re after, the secret is to stick to a single colour.

If your taste is for something altogether more modern and streamlined, this limestone fireplace pictured above offers just as much cosiness without the fussiness of the model shown below. These two distinctly different styles just go to show that, as with everything else in life, when  it comes to heating your home its very much a case of horses for course. More than that though, these images also illustrate the fact that the fireside isn’t just for winter evenings but can serve as a decorative  feature in your home whatever the season.

Make the Most of your Hearth – Whatever the Season

Seasonal - Every season has its own ‘feel,’ from the sweet pastel colours of spring through to the russet tones of autumn.  When there is no fire burning in the grate, use it as a ‘picture-frame’ and display glass bowls or vases filled with fruits and flowers of the season.  Pick up these colours in a throw draped over the sofa.

Fireplace O-la-la

Fireplace O-la-la

Celebrations – Make birthdays feel traditional with displays of birthday cards on the mantelpiece. Do the same at Christmas, with the addition on some festive stockings just waiting to be filled with all sorts of goodies. And nothing says Christmas more traditionally than a garland bedecked mantel, complete with twinkling lights!

Whatever the season and whatever the occasion, you should hang something special on the wall above the mantel. A stylish mirror is the traditional choice, but a stunning piece of artwork also works. In recent years it has also become fashionable to hang a large family portrait on this wall. The main rule is to keep the decor here simple – one large piece above the mantelpiece and one or two classic pieces on the mantelshelf itself.

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