At this time of year, there’s nothing we love more than settling down in front of the fire with good company and a glass of red come the evening. The fact that videos of fireplaces are live-streamed and rack up hundreds of millions of views on YouTube each year shows we’re clearly not alone in this ritual.
It’s no surprise, then, that we’re often asked by our clients to make the most of their existing fireplaces. And when it’s not raised organically, we often ensure the fireplace receives some Wells & Maguire TLC regardless. Sometimes this means enhancing our clients’ existing fireplaces; other times, we replace them with something more suitable for the style of the home.
For us, a well-designed fireplace is always a worthwhile investment. Fireplaces consistently rank as highly desirable features among homebuyers, and – from a design perspective – they’re a natural focal point that draws people together and adds that all-important ambience to any home.
USING THE FIREPLACE AS A FOCAL POINT
We’ve already alluded to it, but a beautiful fireplace can transform the aesthetics and enhance the atmosphere of a room with ease. Which is why it’s so important to ensure it takes pride of place.
As you’ll see from the before and after photos in our London Family Home project below, it’s easy for a fireplace to become overlooked. We maximised the beauty of this original fireplace by simplifying its surroundings – adding a simple mirror and bold artwork on either side. The result? A striking focal point that now anchors our cliens’ dining room.
Similarly, in our Norfolk Manor House project (below), we introduced a pale blush wallpaper that created contrast with the fireplace, complemented with a stunning mirror from Overmantels and bespoke fireplace fenders crafted from blush leather. Not only did this bring a sense of cohesion to the music room, but it ensured the fireplace was no longer camouflaged.
ALIGNING YOUR FIREPLACE WITH THE STYLE OF YOUR HOME
When it comes to interior design, few things are more jarring than a statement feature that unintentionally clashes with the wider aesthetic of a home. This is why it’s important first to respect the existing features when considering any upgrade, and secondly to choose accessories around your fireplace that complement your intended style.
For example, in the drawing room of our South Wales Renovation project (below), the original Victorian open fire needed updating to an enclosed alternative for our clients’ busy family, but we were keen to retain the period feel of the space. With that in mind, we kept a similar surround style but swapped the open fire for an efficient log burner, ensuring the practical upgrade didn’t come at the expense of charm. By surrounding the fireplace with elegant double-block parquet flooring and a brushed brass trim – and adding further Victorian touches such as panelling and mouldings – we were able to make it a true centrepiece.
The simplest of tweaks can make a huge difference, too. For instance, in our Surrey Country Cottage project (below), our goal was to enhance the ‘cottage chic’ vibes. With that in mind, we kept the existing opening and mantel beam but plastered the wall to smarten the original painted brickwork, refreshed the paint colour and replaced the hearth tiles with these beautiful patterned tiles.
WHEN TO CHOOSE A NEW STYLE OF FIREPLACE
Most people would agree that a palatial fireplace in a little thatched cottage would look rather odd – and likewise, a cosy log burner in a grand ballroom might feel a tad out of place. Outside these extremes though, there are countless examples of fireplaces that don’t quite sit comfortably within a room, leaving homeowners wondering why the overall feel isn’t working.
Our advice for spotting them?
They just don’t look right.
It really is as simple as that!
For instance, in our Haslemere Family Home project (below), the original fireplace was dominated by a large granite hearth and the fireplace opening was too small for the burner. As a result, the proportions were off balance. By reducing the depth of the hearth so it no longer infringed on the space; adding a striking marble surround from Chesneys; replacing the old log burner with the ‘Sanctuary’ log burner in sage green (also from Chesneys); rebuilding the chimney wall and scaling the fireplace opening to match the new log burner; and incorporating a built-in TV unit from Searle and Taylor; every element of the living room felt more considered and balanced in the room – and the fireplace finally looked at home.
Similarly, in the project below, we embraced the countryside aesthetic by retaining the cosy log burner but removing the chunky surround that distracted from its charm. We added beautiful Ca’ Pietra tiles to the inner hearth, a timber mantel, and built-in joinery on either side of the fireplace (crafted by Winter Furniture Makers), along with a round mirror perfectly scaled to the space. The result? Heaps of character – and a fireplace that can work its meditative magic.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimately, a well-designed fireplace is the perfect accessory to any living space, and it always gets a big tick from us when the principles outlined above are kept in mind. If you’re considering updating your fireplace – or simply want to explore what might be possible – please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, big or small. We’d love to help if we can. For now though, as I (Emily) type this, it’s getting dark outside, so I’m going to shut the laptop, call it a day and go and light the fire. After all, it would be rude not to, right?
