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5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Fireplace

June 25, 2021

Adding a fireplace to your living room is a great way to create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Just imagine sitting in front of a nice fire with some hot cocoa while it’s raining or snowing outside; colder seasons couldn’t get much more romantic than that. However, turning this idea into a reality requires some practical thinking, as well. So, to help you choose the best fireplace for your home, here are five things to consider.

Set your budget

First things first, you need to set your budget before you even start looking at fireplaces. Plus, keep in mind that you budget should include the price of not just buying the fireplace, but also installing it and actually using it. Some types, like a wood-burning or a pellet fireplace, cost more initially but are less expensive to run. Gas fireplaces, on the other hand, cost less to build but more to use. Electric fireplaces are the most economical, both in terms of purchase and in terms of use, but you might not achieve the kind of vibe you’re looking for. All in all, consider the price of different types, and see what you can fit into your budget with the fewest sacrifices.

Think about how much heat you need

The best type of fireplace for you may also depend on the amount of heat you need. For example, if you want your fireplace to be the focal point of a large living room, pellet and gas fireplaces would be the most efficient choice. Moreover, if you have a bigger than average living room, you can also get double sided fireplaces that can do an even better job of keeping you warm. On the other hand, if you want your fireplace to be a part of a smaller, cosier room, you can also go with wood, bioethanol, or electric options, as they are easy to use, and they don’t produce too much heat.

Don’t forget the flue system

Needless to say, if you choose to install a wood-burning fireplace, you will also need a chimney. This is why this type costs a bit more initially, as there’s plenty of work to be done. Pellet fireplaces also require a flue, but a less invasive one. Moreover, gas fireplaces only need a PVC piping flue system – but they also need a gas connection. Finally, electric and bioethanol fireplaces are the least demanding – the electric ones only need a power outlet, while the bioethanol ones don’t need any of the listed things.

Choose the right material

No matter what kind of fireplace you choose to install, it’s bound to be one of the most prominent elements in the room. However, this is also why you want to make sure it actually matches the rest of your room – and this is where materials come into play. There are many different materials suitable for covering a fireplace, from steel to brick. So, for example, if you’re interested in a bit more rustic design, fieldstone would be a perfect choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a sleek, modern look, you need your fireplace to shine, and the best option for that is metal.

Create a cosier look

If you want to create a cosy and warm vibe in your living room, your fireplace can help you with that. For example, you can add a few extra lighting options, like string lights, lanterns, or scented candles. It’s a great way to create a soothing and romantic vibe. Or, you can also decorate your fireplace with family photos, art pieces, or your favourite collection of figurines. It would allow you to create a unique theme, and it would make your fireplace stand out even more.

A fireplace can be an amazing addition to any home, as it can help you bring the design of your home to the next level. So, if this is something you’ve always wanted to have, consider the listed things, find more décor ideas online, and your fireplace is bound to fit your home perfectly.

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Cozy Living Room Fireplaces That Will Keep You Warm All Winter

December 28, 2020

Lilly Miller

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It is difficult to even imagine winter without a fireplace warming up the living room and presenting a focal point and invitation for get-togethers. The typical cold outdoor setting is calling for a warm room enriched with a sizzling fire. Incorporating a fireplace into a living room shouldn’t be very difficult, but it does require some consideration when it comes to the design of the entire room, the very piece, and its surroundings. So, here’s everything you need to know about adding a cozy ambiance to your home by designing a beautiful living room fireplace for the warmest winter ever.

The focal point

When a fireplace is in the room, all eyes are looking at it. It is the area where you will place your seating arrangement, and where you will direct your décor efforts. However, a fireplace can share the spotlight with another feature, such as a big-screen television, an antique Argentine mirror, or an artwork. Also, a fireplace can serve to divide an open concept space into the living and the cooking/eating area. Various styles of fireplaces can fit into various interior design styles.

The modern room fireplace

We usually associate these decor pieces with nostalgia and vintage-looking rooms. However, there are plenty of styles that can be incorporated into a highly-modern room. For example, you can go for a fireplace surrounded by sleek heat-resistant tiles with a matte finish. As for the rest of the room, stick with the minimalist look. The mantel should remain clear of clutter, but you can hang a simple artwork above the fireplace.

Fireplace extravaganza

Another option that goes oddly well with modern and minimalist rooms is a statement-making fireplace. They can’t be designed without the help of professional designers. These fireplaces do not fit into the traditional rectangular or square shape norm and they use different materials and colors. Since they are a statement on their own, they don’t require additional decorative elements.

Chimney in the first plan

Chimney breasts are a nice thing to add if you are designing a room from scratch. However, you have to think about how the chimney breast will integrate with the fireplace and with the walls. It can be set in the corner or in the middle of the room, and the décor and color of the chimney should be a different tone from the rest of the room.

Rustic charm

If you are in for a traditional fireplace appearance, you can choose to build a stone or brick fireplace with a wooden mantle. Not only will a fireplace like this emit true warmth, but it will also bring visual warmth into space. Rustic, vintage, and organic design styles fit in well with such a fireplace. Wooden furniture and warm neutrals on the wall will blend in well with such an interior and provide an irresistibly cozy feel.

Plain, white, and beautiful

The most classic fireplaces are simple, minimalistic, and complemented with plain white corbels and matching lintels. They are simply calling for some charming Christmas décor and precious family time. The mantel can be traditionally decorated with family photographs, candles, and other details. For decorating the surroundings of the fireplace, search for beautiful pots online and plant houseplants that can stand the heat, such as aloe vera, areca palm, and Boston fern.

On the beach all year long

There is nothing warmer than the sun warming up the picturesque white stretch of sand while the waves are hitting it. Translate that ambiance into your cold winter home by designing a coastal-style room with a fireplace decorated with noticeable pieces of shells. Other design elements to include are sun-bleached woods, sisal, oceanic blues and sandy shades.

Winter is often cold and harsh, and all we want to do is cover ourselves with a soft blanket, have a cup of hot chocolate, read a good book and listen to the wood crackling in the fire. Choose the style of your fireplace and make your winter days a warm dream instead of a cold nightmare.

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Fireplace: Centerpiece of Your Home

November 13, 2018

Lucas Bergman

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There used to be a time when the ability to bring fire indoors was the height of luxury and comfortable living. Our expectations are much higher now, but some of that wonder and excitement can still be a part of your day-to-day life if you incorporate a fireplace into your living quarters.

In fact, if it’s chosen with care and incorporated into a home while maintaining a clear vision of style – a fireplace can become a centerpiece of the home and attract the attention of your guests and visitors.

An abundance of styles

Recently, there have been many great developments in the technology needed to install and maintain a fireplace. At the same time, the materials that make its surroundings have also improved greatly. All of this has given a sense of freedom when it comes to designing a fireplace and the room it’s in. The key thing is to set a budget for home renovations and try to stick to it. That will help you to renovate your home and add additions like this one.

For a long time, they have been considered to be something rustic and old-fashioned. That misconception has had its effect on the style that was available to fireplace owners. Now, there are no such limitations and a fireplace could be as slick and modern as the rest of your home.

A natural look

As we said, there’s something natural and even primal in staring into a fire in the comfort of your own home. Many designers feel the need to mimic this look in the design of the fireplace itself. This is best accomplished by using brick and concrete and keeping the fireplace simple and even bare in its design.

Manufactured brick and stone could also be used to this effect and for the most part, no one can tell the difference. Constructing a fireplace in this way is also less costly, since there’s less material to be used.

A floor fireplace

Thanks to the advancement in the exhaustion technology, a fireplace could be placed in a more daring and bold manner. A fireplace inside the floor allows for a more striking design for the whole room. It works well with traditional wood in natural and bright tones, while still working with a modern tone as well.

For instance, patches of all black furniture have the tendency to pop in this surrounding which means you can focus on leather and other more lavish design details without being afraid that it may look over the top.

Squared shapes all around

For a while, it was quite unusual to see a perfect square shape in a fireplace. It seemed kind of strange and all fireplace designers opted for something a bit more traditional and more natural looking. However, squared fireplaces are making a comeback and they are usually placed in modern and vibrant looking rooms.

For the most part, these rooms also embrace squares and other artificial shapes and designs in the furniture and doors and windows as well. Bright colors and vibrant artwork could also add to the central position a fireplace holds in such a room.

Outdoor fireplaces

In the end, a fireplace could also find its place on a well-designed patio. Patios are becoming more extravagant and complex in their design and fire pits are being replaced with something more elegant and more expensive.

One of the most common features of this design is a fireplace that fits in with the outdoor swimming pool, usually reflecting in it and adding to the overall atmosphere. It creates an intimate look even when it comes with lavish details.

A fireplace can be a centerpiece of the room it’s based in. The design of the room overall should take the fireplace into account and work around it.

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