INTERIORS
Don’t hold back on your hearth — there are wild and warming options aplenty
FIrEPLACES have never had it so good. For sure, they come into their own at this time of year when temperatures drop, but you don’t have to live in a period property to bask in their warming glow.
there are all kinds of choices, not least electric fire baskets, stoves and ethanol flames that work without a traditional flue, while homes that do have chimney breasts are benefiting from updated surrounds that strike a simple but glamorous note.
‘Fireplaces are just as important as the kitchen table, providing a place to congregate as well as offering a glimpse into a building’s character,’ says restorer and dealer Owen Pacey, at renaissance London ( renaissance
london.com). ‘they help a room to function better and make it more alluring to live in.’
Many properties still retain their original fireplaces, but if yours has been boarded up, stripped out or painted over, restoration or replacements are both viable options.
researching the period in which your home was built and staying true to its origins is a good place to start.
Classic Victorian fireplaces, for example, often feature Carrara marble corbels supporting the mantelpiece which complement many of today’s interiors, whether opulent or pared-back.
If you’re lucky enough to have an original marble surround that just needs some love, be prepared to roll up your sleeves and give it some elbow grease.
‘Use a solution of cream cleaner and a few drops of bleach,’ says Owen Pacey. wI
th a sponge or a soft pad and a rubbing action, you can draw out stains and marks. Follow up by dabbing with tissue paper. Iron paste and lead polish, both of which can be sourced online, are useful for cleaning black marble. For heavy duty stains, call in a specialist restorer.’
Some surrounds may be beyond repair. In which case, it might be time to revitalise your hearth.
If you want to splash out on something special then Chesneys’ ( chesneys.co.uk) latest collaboration with interior designer Kelly hoppen evokes the glamour of Art Deco with a twist, featuring striking combinations of stone, marble and metal.
‘I wanted to reignite our love of the fireplace to make it the focus of the room,’ says hoppen. ‘ the idea is it can stand alone, as a table does be seen as a work of art.’
If your house was built without a chimney breast, don’t despair.
‘ there are several options available for homes without a chimney,’ says Kevin Peel, at Stovax ( stovax.
com), which offers a range of plug-in, ‘ hang on the wall’ electric fires.
Open-plan living spaces can now also integrate a fire as a connecting feature between two rooms.
the latest electric stoves are fuss-free, offering the look of a wood burner without any mess. Clean, inexpensive to run and easy to install, these stoves can be used where conventional heat sources such as gas or solid fuel are unavailable.
A range of colours from putties and dark tones to neons will create a stir. You can also enhance your hearth with some creative styling. Clusters of candles at differing heights always create a warming effect. ‘ Consider leading the eye along the fireplace with accessories arranged in an intriguing format,’ advises interior designer Sarah Latham, of Etons of Bath ( etonsofbath. com). ‘And use a variety of colours and also textures.’ try compiling piles of books, or a collection of treasured ceramics in contrasting scales, but similar colourways. If you don’t have a mantelpiece, recreate the look: ‘ Even a contemporary fireplace can work with the addition of a floating shelf above the fire, accessorised with personal items,’ says interiors specialist Alison teverini ( milwardteverini.com).
At this time of year, vases of berries add a festive feel, while a piece of art hanging above the mantel is a welcome alternative to the ubiquitous mirror.
Finally, arrange furniture so that sofas face each other to frame the fire giving everyone a cosy and uninterrupted view.