Creating Fireplace Designs

Creating fireplace designs. A fireplace can be the highlight of your home. Nowadays, except for traditional fireplaces, most are relatively easy to install, cost-effective, and energy-efficient. Fireplace design options are limitless and can add much aesthetic appeal to your dwelling. The design process begins with the type of fireplace you have.

Which fireplace design you go with will depend primarily on two factors: fuel type and mounting option.

Fuel Type

When selecting a fireplace for your home, your first consideration is the type of fuel your fireplace will burn. These include:

• Wood: inviting, adds to a room’s ambiance, expensive to install and maintain
• Gas: low cost, easy to install, energy-efficient
• Electric: cost-effective, low maintenance, and safe for young children and pets

While wood is the most traditional fuel source, others, such as electric and gas, are popular because of their cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and easy care.

Mounting 

Types of mounting include:

Traditional

Traditional mounting is for wood-burning fireplaces only. Traditionally mounted fireplaces are typically made of brick or stone and have a flue or chimney. A traditionally mounted fireplace is expensive and complicated to build into a home. Most people with this type of fireplace already have one that came with their home; they don’t usually install them because of the cost.

Wall-mounted

Wall-mounted fireplaces are suitable for small houses or apartments. Sometimes people use them as outdoor fireplaces. Some need to connect to chimneys, and some don’t. Some you can even move from room to room. Wall-mounted fireplaces come in a variety of styles and sizes.

Two-sided

Two-sided fireplaces are ideal for homes spacious enough to have room partitions in them. Their benefit is that you can enjoy them from two rooms simultaneously.

Hanging

Hanging fireplaces are suspended from the ceiling and have a contemporary design and minimalist style. You would probably not put one of these in a log cabin. While they are expensive to install, they take up no floor or wall space and are a spectacular addition to any contemporary home.

Free-standing

A free-standing fireplace imitates the look of a traditional fireplace. These fireplaces are either free-standing or attached to a wall or ceiling, depending on whether they are vented. 

Free-standing fireplaces come in several different styles (rustic, contemporary, modern), shapes, and sizes. They can even be part of the furniture, such as the bottom of an entertainment unit. Free-standing fireplaces are great for small homes or apartments.

Tabletop

Tabletop fireplaces are light-weight and portable. Easily movable from room to room, you may see them in outdoor spaces—an excellent conversation piece.

Built-in

With a built-in fireplace, you insert a gas, electric, ethanol, or gel fireplace into the opening of your wood-burning fireplace. This is a great cost-effective, energy-efficient alternative to wood-burning that maximizes your existing space. You can choose a style consistent with your traditional fireplace or go more modern.

Fireplace Styles

Now that we’ve covered fuel types and mounts, it’s time for the fun part: style! There are three broad categories of style: traditional, contemporary, and modern, but within those categories, your choices are limited only to the imagination.

Traditional

Traditional fireplaces are usually built from stone or brick. They generate a sense of warmth, coziness, and rusticity that no other type of fireplace can. These fireplaces are typically wood-burning, although you can easily add a built-in gas or electric to the opening to save money and energy.

Contemporary

Contemporary fireplaces are also frequently made of brick or stone; however, their lines are sharp and well-defined. Contemporary fireplaces look beautiful anywhere but go best in correspondingly contemporary-style homes. 

Modern

Modern fireplaces tend to forgo brick and stone for other materials, like marble and glass. These fireplaces have a futuristic quality. 

Fireplace Design Ideas

Thanks to the web, you have an endless supply of genius fireplace design ideas, many of which you need to see to believe, provided you can secure the right materials to emulate or improvise. HGTV alone suggests 80 distinct fireplace designs, using materials like the above but also mosaic tiles, driftwood, stencils, wallpaper, and slate. Homebnc.com features restored farm wood, vintage window frame, and built-in wall shelves. Some designers have even used metals in their fireplace construction.

Owning a fireplace is much easier than it used to be, and when it comes to fireplace design, the sky’s the limit. Let Brick + Ember Outfitters of Indianapolis help you with your creative vision and construct the fireplace of your dreams. Call 317-500-1250 or visit us at https://brickandember.com/ today. Let’s build together!