Expert Eye: Hot Fireplaces for Every Style of Home
No matter your style of home, make your fireplace the hero of the room with these ideas selected by an interior designer
Noni Edmunds
19 August 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Interior Designer for Style Precinct in Melbourne. Im passionate about creating the living spaces you will truly love and enjoy everyday.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Interior Designer for Style Precinct in Melbourne.... More
More than a source of warmth in winter, more than a place to gravitate to, the fireplace can be the knockout magic ingredient in your interior, whether you have a traditional townhouse, rustic cottage, mid-century modern marvel or contemporary-style home. Every style has a fireplace to suit, and making the right selection will add value as well as comfort to your home.
In a traditional house
Enhance a period style with dark walls to frame a well-proportioned mantel, and draw attention to the ornate ceiling details often found in older homes. Mantels are available in a variety of materials including marble, limestone, travertine and timber. Victorian, Federation, California bunglow and Art Deco are a few of the styles that can easily be recreated with reproduction mantels and surrounds.
Enhance a period style with dark walls to frame a well-proportioned mantel, and draw attention to the ornate ceiling details often found in older homes. Mantels are available in a variety of materials including marble, limestone, travertine and timber. Victorian, Federation, California bunglow and Art Deco are a few of the styles that can easily be recreated with reproduction mantels and surrounds.
Period homes often have existing fireplaces that can be updated with a gas insert. A balanced flue gas appliance is designed to fit inside an existing fireplace. Black fascia surrounds echo the original cast-iron fireplace inserts. Choose a mantel to complement the architectural style.
Tip: Add moulding details to surrounding joinery to enhance the character detail.
Tip: Add moulding details to surrounding joinery to enhance the character detail.
Decorative tiles are often a feature of period wood- or coal-burning fireplaces. Use a variety of patterned tiles to recreate or update the era.
Browse more traditional-style homes on Houzz
Browse more traditional-style homes on Houzz
In a Hamptons-style house
Summer and winter, this fireplace is the focal point for a charmingly light and airy interior. Adding a fireplace to a new build or renovation has never been easier, with gas, wood, ethanol and electric fires offering a variety of installation options.
Tip: Choose a horizontal flue option for multi-storey or apartment installations.
Summer and winter, this fireplace is the focal point for a charmingly light and airy interior. Adding a fireplace to a new build or renovation has never been easier, with gas, wood, ethanol and electric fires offering a variety of installation options.
Tip: Choose a horizontal flue option for multi-storey or apartment installations.
In an Art Deco-inspired house
Take inspiration from the designs of another era and add them to a more modern setting. The repeated stepped design is a classic Art Deco style adapted to this mantel.
Take inspiration from the designs of another era and add them to a more modern setting. The repeated stepped design is a classic Art Deco style adapted to this mantel.
In a modern-rustic house
A sculptural hood combined with modern pebbles on a gas fireplace gives this Mediterranean interior an updated and cosy feel.
A sculptural hood combined with modern pebbles on a gas fireplace gives this Mediterranean interior an updated and cosy feel.
Tip: Blend natural materials and accessories and combine with a whitewashed fireplace for an eclectic scheme with a natural vibe.
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
A freestanding fireplace in cast iron also achieves a rustic look. Choose how much flue to expose or build in. Black marble cladding on the rear of the alcove makes a small fireplace appear larger. For a wood fireplace you also need a hearth to protect the floor. Stone, marble and tiles are good choices.
In a transitional house
A style that blends traditional and updated modern influences works well in a variety of spaces. The straight lines of the built-in chimney and deep hearth plinth combine with the furniture and lighting selections. Magnify the firelight glow by adding reflective metallic accessories – a brass side table, metallic fabric cushion and smokey glass chandelier are all good options.
Tip: Use warm white globes for an inviting atmosphere.
A style that blends traditional and updated modern influences works well in a variety of spaces. The straight lines of the built-in chimney and deep hearth plinth combine with the furniture and lighting selections. Magnify the firelight glow by adding reflective metallic accessories – a brass side table, metallic fabric cushion and smokey glass chandelier are all good options.
Tip: Use warm white globes for an inviting atmosphere.
An all-white interior is a standout style and this suspended white fireplace is as unexpected as a campfire in the snow.
Tip: Consider the position of a suspended fireplace to avoid cutting across the view or sight lines.
Tip: Consider the position of a suspended fireplace to avoid cutting across the view or sight lines.
Go the extra mile with an elongated design. Black fascia detailing accentuates the wide format.
Tip: Explore the options for customising the fascia to achieve a bespoke look.
Tip: Explore the options for customising the fascia to achieve a bespoke look.
The interior of this firebox has reflective metal walls that complement the bronze mirrored niche, and make it look attractive even when not in use. A suspended stone plinth integrates the joinery wall.
Tip: Make your fireplace a feature year-round by adding artwork.
The Dos and Don’ts of Hanging Art Above a Fireplace
Tip: Make your fireplace a feature year-round by adding artwork.
The Dos and Don’ts of Hanging Art Above a Fireplace
Explore different materials for facade surfaces. A custom glass box surrounds this gas fireplace, creating a unique design which allows the area to remain light and spacious.
In a contemporary house
Clean, sharp lines and modern materials often feature in modern fireplaces. Use a double-sided fireplace as a room divider to zone off different areas, while still enjoying a feature fire in each zone.
Clean, sharp lines and modern materials often feature in modern fireplaces. Use a double-sided fireplace as a room divider to zone off different areas, while still enjoying a feature fire in each zone.
Less is more with modern fireplaces. Consider the size of the space and surrounding doors and windows to create the right proportions for the fireplace. This long, low-profile fireplace blends beautifully with the architectural shape of the room.
Think outside the square with a modern design. An asymmetric arrangement provides an architectural look, with a glass corner and long plinth as a hearth.
Tip: Arrange artwork asymmetrically to balance the space.
Tip: Arrange artwork asymmetrically to balance the space.
Outdoors
A double-sided fireplace is the feature of this design, serving both an indoor and an outdoor area.
A double-sided fireplace is the feature of this design, serving both an indoor and an outdoor area.
Adding a fireplace to an indoor swimming pool space gives the room day-spa appeal.
Flip the idea of a chimney on its head with the fireplace facing the outdoor area in this charming cottage-style home.
Tip: Built-in wood storage keeps the wood neat and ready to use, as well as being a design feature.
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Tip: Built-in wood storage keeps the wood neat and ready to use, as well as being a design feature.
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If the fireplace area is near or in the kitchen, it should be an attractive wood stove (ceramic?) that you can cook on for when the power goes out or to save on gas/electricity. Let's get practical as well as beautiful.