A material decision
The type and design of your fireplace will set the scene for the style of your room. You can create elegance, domesticity, charm, grandeur… There are many different materials to choose from, too, depending on the atmosphere you wish to create.
Wooden fireplaces are relatively easy to install. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, or tend to go in for major interior revamps every few years, you can go for wood veneered MDF or pine. You may find very cheap chipboard fire surrounds but this material is more likely than MDF to warp or crack with heat.
For longevity and better looks, choose a solid wood that suits the room, from light maple to glowing mahogany. You don’t necessarily have to go for the genuine wood itself – cheaper wood can be attractively stained to the colour of a different wood, though obviously you won’t get an interesting grain this way.
Stone fireplaces cost more than wood and are more permanent – and there are many interesting products to choose from. As well as solid stone, you can now buy reconstituted or reformed stone fireplaces, where the natural stone has been ground down and then cast with cement in a mould. You can also get stone effects grafted onto plaster or resin-based materials, which provide great flexibility in terms of design options. Be aware, though, that these stone-effect fireplaces are not genuine stone, so take a look and make sure you like the finish before you buy.
The qualities of marble are unique. It is wonderfully smooth, with a fascinating visual texture and colour. For a classic, timeless look, it’s hard to beat. If you can’t afford the real thing, there are some clever new materials which come pretty close to emulating the veined appearance of genuine marble. Look out for “cultured marble” – it’s a material that can be cast in moulds which make it possible to achieve quite complex designs.
Brick fireplaces have made a comeback recently. You can create a practical yet homely look with brick, and the range of colours, sizes and textures available can give you a fireplace that’s decorative and eye-catching.
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