The fireplace is the main diamond in the frame of the architectural ensemble of a private house. With it, a long story can be told about the status of the owner, his position, values, passions and character. The fireplace has a unique property to attract attention and charm guests. As soon as a guest who has crossed the threshold of the house notices a fireplace, he immediately has a special desire to see this particular attraction in all its details. In addition, it is no secret to anyone that the fireplace at all times personifies the hearth, it illuminates and warms the home, creates the mood of the whole house and gathers loved ones.
The nature of the fireplace.
The appearance and personality of the fireplace is of great importance.
Fireplaces can be different – simple and strict, elegant and bulky, salon, refined, dignified and presentable, or not conspicuous and quite modest. Fireplaces can even have their own character. They can evoke respect and admiration, love and friendship. To a greater extent, the nature of the fireplace is influenced by its shape, volume and material.
In addition, its location is very important: whether it is recessed into the wall or brought to the fore, unobtrusively decorates the room or dominates it.
Presentable. Such fireplaces can be the focal point of a composition in large houses and residences. It can be placed in the main place in the living room, which will be visible from afar and personify the central decorative element in the house, defining and emphasizing the character of not only this room, but the whole building.
Impressive. Such fireplaces are erected in the form of a powerful block with a protruding cornice, which completely dominate the interior and determine the character and functional purpose of the room. Such a fireplace is the best fit for the living room, in which the inhabitants of the house often gather.
Home. The decorative shape and small size give this fireplace the function of decorating the interior. It brings variety and exquisite “zest” to the interior. Such a fireplace is not the main element and can be located in the office, library and even in the bedroom. First of all, it is designed to give warmth.
Exquisite. A neat profile, good proportions, without a protruding smoke hood, having a large firebox in a simple but decorative framing frame. Such fireplaces have carefully selected elements made of exquisite materials: wood, noble stone, decorated with stucco. It can become a real decoration of an elegant living room. Rustic. As a rule, such fireplaces are laid out from natural bricks. Its shape looks like a Russian oven with shelves. Such a fireplace creates the mood of a country or rural home. In its firebox you can place, for example, a pot.
Delicate. The fireplace may not stand out against the background of the walls either in volume or color. It can be made as part of the wall, have a non-obtrusive appearance and shape. Such a fireplace does not focus on itself, but simply provides comfort without distracting the household from everyday affairs.
Modest. Such a fireplace does not have a rich frame, in most cases it is built into the wall, successfully combined with interior elements, surrounded by various shelves. It can give coziness and comfort to a small house, while not taking up much space. As you can see, there is no clear standard for a fireplace. Increasingly depends on the size of the room, your desires, financial capabilities and needs.
Types of fireplaces
Depending on the style of the interior of the premises, as well as based on a huge variety of consumer preferences regarding the design and construction of fireplaces, three main types of fireplaces have now been formed. Traditional fireplace (fireplace in the wall). Traditional, but currently not the most common group of fireplaces. This group includes closed fireplaces that are built into the main walls during the construction of the house or as a result of a major redevelopment of the building. The main advantage of this type of fireplaces is that they practically do not occupy the usable area of the room. It is perfect for those who appreciate the classic beginning in their interior. Based on the size of the room, this type of fireplace can have both a small and a roomy firebox. Another argument in favor of this type of fireplace is that, in general, the cost of building a closed fireplace is an order of magnitude lower than that of other types.
Wall fireplace (fireplace near the wall). This type of fireplace is built without major intervention in the structure of the house, it is simply attached to the existing wall. The wall fireplace protrudes strongly into the room, but, despite this, it can become a wonderful “highlight” of the interior, not only complementing it, but also acting as a powerful organizing force. A wall-mounted fireplace, which has a semi-open design, can be installed not only within the straight plane of the wall, but also located in the corners.
Free-standing fireplace (fireplace in the center of the room). This type of fireplace is one of the most modern options. It is an open fireplace that can be placed anywhere in your home, including in the center of the room. Free-standing fireplaces are divided into stationary and non-stationary fireplaces. Non-stationary fireplaces perform an exclusively heating function, they remotely resemble large heaters, in which the function of the heating element is performed by fuel – natural gas or wood. There are models of open fireplaces that do not require a chimney, as they completely burn the smoke particles in the fuel receiver. Fireplace styles. Due to the fact that the fireplace has undergone a long evolution over the centuries of its existence, it currently has a wide variety of styles. In Europe, the fireplace was formed back in Ancient Rome, successfully survived the dark Middle Ages and was revived in the twentieth century as an entourage in the design of elite housing. In Russia, everything was completely different, since our ancestors took the path less aesthetic, but at the same time more practical – they developed a device called the “Russian stove”.
The fireplace came to the Russian Empire exclusively as an item of “unprecedented” luxury in the era of Tsar Peter I, at the peak of fashion for everything European. At that time, the two opposing classes of the then nobles and boyars began to compete among themselves in the luxury of their estates and estates. One of the main objects of “expensive” decoration was the fireplace. Since then, in Russia, they began to judge the wealth and wealth of the owner of the house by the beauty and decoration of his fireplace.
Classic fireplace. Fireplaces, made in a classic style, are a real work of art. They are mainly made from such elite materials as natural stone and marble. Various sculptural elements, figurines and bas-reliefs are used to decorate these fireplaces. The classic fireplace is a “P” – shaped portal with a closed or open firebox.
English style. This style of fireplace originated around the 11th century in Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria. The main idea of this style is to combine the uncombinable: materials, objects, colors. Fireplaces of the English style are distinguished by a “P” -shaped portal made of cast iron or wood, which has a unique ornament, equipped with an open firebox. As a decoration, a baguette fireplace tile is used.
Style Modern. Fireplaces of this style, as well as in architecture, tried to combine the main elements of the classical style, but only taking them as a basis. The rich imagination of master designers makes fireplaces of this style modern, ideally fitting into the interior of a modern office or city apartment. Installation of fireplaces of this style requires careful planning not only of the fireplace itself, but also modeling of the entire surrounding fireplace space. Modern style fireplaces can have a semicircular or rectangular shape, elongated vertically. They usually occupy the entire vertical space from floor to ceiling.
Rustic style (country style). This style reflects a person’s love for a quiet rural life and for the land. Fireplaces of this style are made from inexpensive porous material: natural shell rock and sandstone, or artificial stone (non-polished marble tiles). A country style fireplace can be a wonderful addition to a guest room in a country house. A distinctive feature of these fireplaces is the presence of a portal of medium and small sizes “D” – shaped. Basically, they are made in a corner or wall design. In most cases, the portal has a separate niche for storing dry firewood.
HiTech style. Fireplaces of this style include those made of various modern refractory materials (high-quality steel, glass, and so on). They have an unprecedented bold design, a huge variety of shapes, sizes and constructive solutions. HiTech style fireplaces demonstrate the most advanced achievements of science and construction with their appearance. They may have curved portals made of polished steel, fireboxes hanging above the floor, etc.
What kind of fireplace, in what style and what type to choose, depends solely on your taste. We hope that the fireplace in your house will become not only a “highlight” of the interior, but also a favorite pastime for all the inhabitants of your house.