Design Considerations for Fireplaces

Design Considerations for Fireplaces

Maybe it’s because of our stone age, cave dwelling programming or maybe not, but the fact is undeniable that mankind likes a fireplace. Even in this age of electrical gadgets and forced air gas heating, fireplaces are still one of the most popular features in any home. We love the crackle and hiss, and looking into a fire releases something primordial in our brains that says "safety and comfort" — we gather to it.

Fireplace design goes back just as far as our experience with our oldest discovery. It’s doubtful that Cro Magnon used brass pokers with fleur-de-lis on the ends, but it’s certain that he built his cave fires in a rational way to maximize safety and heat. That being the case, if you’re considering putting a fireplace in your "cave", give plenty of thought to design. Contrary to popular belief, fireplaces are rather more complex to consider than many would believe. It’s not so easy that even a — well, you get the point.

Traditional designs are the preponderance of the market for fireplaces. Some are stone (ring a bell?) and others use metal inserts to allow placement in a standard wall. Whatever the choice, the overriding factor in choosing a design is its functionality and beauty for the long term. A fireplace isn’t a ceiling fan, after all. Its permanence demands continued harmony in your home.

Contemporary designs suffer by this standard. While something may look very fashionable at a given moment, it may go out of style and become an eyesore in years hence. When discussing furniture this is not so much a problem, but tearing out a fireplace five years from now is not something most people would find enjoyable (if you know anyone who would like it, avoid them as a bad influence).

Be sure that style is given proper consideration when selecting a look for your fireplace.

Of course some elements of a fireplace can be easily changed and therefore leave some room for contemporary tastes. An example might be a gas burning fake log or some style of fake rock. These types of features are easily replaced with something else and can be considered in the wider picture.

For those who already have a fireplace in the home, services exist which are expert at modifying it and changing the look without total replacement. A firebox being in use is a modular approach that, while it betrays to some degree the cro magnon in us all, does have the advantage of making apparently major changes in your fireplace without the trouble of digging out and replacing an entire hearth.

This option should be considered by those who place a premium on being trendy.