As the main focal point of any home, not only does a fireplace create a beautiful feature, it also has the option of being a cost-effective way to heat your home whilst oozing ambience. Choosing a fireplace can be an exciting but also daunting task. With current design trends, there is a huge choice of styles, materials and sizes to choose from so this information is here to give you a brief insight into the options available to you with
fireplaces in the United Kingdom.
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| Cast Tec Victorian Corbel |
A traditional fireplace design consisted of a hearth base, back panel or inglenook chamber and a mantel. Common materials used were original a combination of stone, marble and cast-iron and they were a huge part of the Victorian and Edwardian era. The living areas of grand properties focused around the fireplace being the main feature and a place to gather around for warmth and entertainment.
Years later, fireplaces became smaller and more focus pointed towards the heating side with real, open fires continuing to be the most common way in heating homes. Custom made brick or tiled fireplaces surrounded a chair brick inside the chimney. The coal man was a familiar site and this was one of the issues that led to the Clean Air Act being introduced to many parts of the UK.
When gas fires became popular, this was a dramatic change and resulted in many home owners changing their fireplaces as well. The convenience of lighting the fire and the controllability that a gas fire offers resulted in most homes now featuring a gas fire. A gas appliance that incorporated radiant bars offered impressive heat output was the most common design, these were often stand alone designs fitted on a hearth or hung on the wall. Whilst they offered impressive heat output and efficiency, they didn't particularly look that appealing. Living flame fires were designed to simulate a real, open fire. With imitation coals and a open flame, they instantly became popular and the 1980's were a time when most homes were now installing a new living flame gas fire.
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| Be Modern Arden |
The fireplaces that were used to combine with inset gas fires were often wooden fire surrounds with a marble back panel and hearth. Common sizes were 54" wide (1370mm) and they worked well on a standard chimney breast. Another new design that became popular around this time were hole-in-the-wall fireplaces. These were normally made from marble and included brass detail and fitted well into interior trends of that era. Gas was relatively cheap and the main emphasis with manufacturing was to produce a fire that looks as much like a real coal fire as possible with little regard on running costs.
Current fireplace designs offer a wide selection of styles that will suit any interior. We are now seeing a strong increase in the popularity of high efficiency products and space saving fireplaces. Hole-in-the-wall designs are ideal for modern homes as subject to be fitted to manufacturers regulations, they do not require a hearth which will save valuable space in smaller rooms. Sleek designs featuring black glass and chrome and the best selling appliances have a glass-front which allow the gases produced by the fire to provide extra heat before going up the flue which therefore results in a higher heat output combined with lower running costs.
Hearth mounted fireplaces are now available in a host of materials such as:
- Timber - Popular woods now are Oak, Beech, Walnut & Pine
- Cast Iron - traditionally found in bedrooms, cast-iron fireplaces are now purchased for classically inspired living room and the polished option can work well in a contemporary setting
- Marble - With a large range of finishes, marble is a excellent material for a fireplace as it's easy to clean, luxurious and hard-wearing
- Stone - Stone types such as limestone fireplaces and sandstone will always prove a popular choice with ageless appeal
For help and advice on any question regarding fires & fireplaces, please contact the HotPrice team on 0845 0000 080 or visit our website where you will find a vast selection of quality fireplace products with delivery available throughout the UK.
