10 WAYS TO CREATE A WELCOMING HEARTH
The replaces in Jane’s house ( from page 86) create striking focal points that take centre stage during the coldest months. Here, Maggie Stevenson shows us how to create a show-stealing hearth
Whatever the style of your home, there’s nothing like cosying up by a real "re. Maggie Stevenson shows us how to make the hearth a showstopper
1 A PLACE BY THE FIRE
A cosy chair is the ultimate fireside essential, providing a place to relax, read or just gaze at the embers. Wing chairs were designed for this purpose, their projecting sides shielding the sitter from draughts, but classic armchairs with deeply sprung seats and cushioned backs will do the job just as well. When choosing an armchair, always try it to make sure the seat is the right depth and height for you and the arms are comfortable. Choose a cover fabric for its tactile qualities – those with a pile like velvet or corduroy are good choices, as is wool, which is warm and durable.
2 WARMTH OF WOOD
Log burning stoves have an elemental attraction thanks to the heat, glowing embers and the scent of wood smoke. Before you buy, consider the practicalities. You’ll need a supply of wood for fuel and somewhere dry to store it. Stoves come in a wide variety of colours and styles, from traditional models that sit in the hearth, to modern, freestanding appliances. In 2022, legislation will require all new stoves to comply with efficiency levels and emissions limits. So if you’re buying a stove now, look for an Ecodesign Ready model, which already meets these standards.
3 ON THE SHELF
The overmantel is the natural focal point of a traditional sitting room and provides the perfect place for displaying vintage treasures. The best arrangements change throughout the year with the addition of flowers, holiday finds, cards and invitations to mark the seasons. Mantelpiece decoration comes into its own at Christmas when antiques, evergreens, dried flowerheads or bright berries come together in wintry displays.
4 PERIOD PLACES
Coal fires have been used to heat homes for around 300 years and, while once they were the main source of warmth, now they are more likely to be a supplement to central heating on colder days or a cosy decorative feature. Over the centuries, due mainly to the need for greater efficiency, grates have evolved from the fire basket to the hob grate, to the more enclosed and controllable Victorian register grate and beyond. As the decorative and less functional part of the fireplace, antique chimney pieces are more widely available and valued for their timeless aesthetics.
5 WARM TOUCH
When temperatures fall, blankets and throws add another layer of warmth. Choose plaids, stripes, checks and tweeds for their soft texture and glorious colours and Welsh blankets for their intricate patterns. Store in a chest near the fireplace or pile high on a chair for a snug feature.
6 SOFT LIGHTING
Nothing conjures a feeling of warmth and ambience like candlelight. Ramp up the effect with mercury glass and silver candleholders to catch the light and glittering decorations for added sparkle. Scented candles and evergreen foliage add their own special magic.
7 FESTIVE FIRESIDE
For a sophisticated yet playful look, decorate the mantelpiece with lights, baubles and fresh or faux foliage. This is also a good place to hang up your stockings on Christmas Eve but do make sure they are securely fixed far away from the flames of the fire.
8 MODERN VIEW
Modern stoves and fires may not be an obvious choice for homes furnished with antiques but their discreet looks and efficiency make them suitable for a variety of settings. Where a traditional fireplace is very much a room’s centrepiece and demands attention, a contemporary heating appliance can be simply designed so it won’t compete with your favourite pieces. There are practical benefits too and a stove or a cassette fire that is set into the chimney breast will give you greater heat output and fewer draughts than an open fire.
9 CERAMIC ART
Cast-iron fireplaces made in the Victorian and Edwardian eras often featured tiled panels lining the fireplace opening. Tiles could be individually decorated with identical floral, arabesque and geometric patterns or a continuous motif drawn over a five-tile panel. The decoration could be flat, tube-lined or a relief moulding and in a range of colours from subdued monochrome to vibrant hues. They were almost always glazed. Most tiles were a standard 6in (15cm) square, though some larger fireplaces had 9in tiles. Antique fireplace tiles are available and complete sets cost from around £200, while decorated reproduction sets start from about £80.
10 PERFECT SETTING
Because of its central position in the room, your choice of fire surround will have a strong influence on the look and feel of the space. Choose a glossy marble surround with a polished metal frame around the opening and the effect will be sharp and sophisticated, but opt for toned-down colours and textured materials and the effect becomes much softer. When you’re aiming for a warm and inviting look, consider your choice of fire surround in the context of the room it will be in. In a homely sitting room, a plain wooden surround, left natural or painted as part of the decor, has a rustic feel, especially when teamed with brick, handmade tiles or slate.