BUYING GUIDE: FIREPLACES
Laura Dadswell from Westland London, specialists in antique replaces, explains what to look for when choosing a replace
A !replace contributes to a decorative scheme just as much as a sofa or a piece of artwork but is far harder to replace. So !rst and foremost, buy something you love and will enjoy looking at every day. Secondly, select a material that works with the rest of your furnishings. Scale is another factor. If you want a !replace shelf to display photographs or hang a mirror above, make sure the shelf isn’t too high.
If you have a listed property then it’s o"en necessary to source a !replace that is contemporary to the building. A conservation o"cer may even ask you to choose something of a particular style within that period (the 19th century alone encompassed the Gothic Revival, Arts and Cra#s, the Aesthetic Movement and Art Nouveau).
If your home isn’t listed then you have much more #exibility. Historically, interiors were updated as fashions changed, so there’s no need to be so rigid with your choice of !replace. Looking at styles from France and Italy also gives you more choice.
Usually a room, unless very grand, has a chimney breast, and the width of this is incredibly important. You want your !replace to sit within this space, without looking too diminutive. Be sure to keep a couple of inches of wall space either side of the mantelshelf. Aside from the width of the chimney breast, another important measurement is that of the !rebox (the opening of the
!replace). Sometimes this is concealed by an existing register grate or even bricked up. There is some $exibility here, so don’t despair if your dream !replace doesn’t seem quite the right size. A professional will be able to check what can be accommodated.
Antique !replaces should hold their value, but a reproduction !replace is only worth a fraction of what you paid for it as soon as it’s installed. Antique designs o#en come with fascinating provenance, too – we currently have a !replace that was designed by Catherine the Great’s favourite architect, his only commission before he had to $ee to Russia a#er becoming entangled in a romantic scandal!
The simplest of 19th-century marble surrounds start from around £1,500 but, for a !ne 18th-century English example, you would expect to pay a six-!gure sum. This is because it’s rare to !nd one in good condition. We would advise appointing a HETAS-registered professional to carry out work to the interior of the !rebox and chimney. However, the !replace surround can o#en be !%ed by a good builder.