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The Joy of the Country House Fireplace

There is no doubt that there is a great deal of joy to be had from an open fire, especially on a cold winter’s day, and nothing quite adds as much character to a room as a beautiful open fireplace. An open fire gives us the kind of primeval comfort that our ancestors probably felt while enjoying the crackling of a burning logs and the scent of wood smoke. There is an unmistakable quiet pleasure to be gained from watching soft flickering flames dancing in an open grate.

While there are a lot of obvious advantages of using a wood burning stove there is nothing to touch the charisma of an open fireplace in your home. It not only adds tangible warmth to a room but it also serves as a focal point, especially in the country home where there is more likely to be natural fuel easily to hand. 

This said however, in any wood burning fireplace it is vital to use the right kind of wood that is cut to a convenient size. Hardwoods such as oak or fruitwood are the best option as they give off the most heat. Softwoods such as birch give off a good heat but tend to be consumed pretty quickly, while pine contains a lot of spark forming resin that can spit all over your floor or rug. Ideally, logs should measure between 9 and 14 inches long although it doesn’t hurt to use a couple of larger logs on your fire to give it a bit of character.

Only ever use seasoned wood in your fireplace. If you try to burn green wood the heat produced by combustion must dry the wood before it will burn and you risk a buildup of creosote in your chimney which creates an imminent fire hazard. In addition by using well seasoned wood you will you get a much hotter fire; thus creating more heat for your home. It is worth bearing in mind that all wood for burning should be seasoned for a minimum of six months and stored under cover, so it is best to buy and stack firewood well in advance of the coldest months.

One of the most important decisions you need to make when installing a fireplace is choosing the type and style of mantel. This can be a tad overwhelming as there is such a range of materials and styles available these days. A beautiful mantel will always contribute towards the overall look and feel of a room so it is important to get it right. Your choice will of course depend on the type of property you own and how much money you want to invest in adding a fireplace your home. Naturally if you have plenty of cash to spend a custom designed fireplace mantel is always going to be the best option especially if you want a fireplace mantel specifically to enhance the look of the décor in your room.

Some of the most spectacular country house fireplaces are made of stone or marble. These not only have a timeless appearance that can add both charm and elegance to any room but they are built from a material that is durable and long lasting. A well-built stone fireplace requires less maintenance and creates a classic and commanding presence which immediately commands attention, making it the focal point of any room.

Selecting an appropriate stone fireplace means picking a design that is right for your home, for instance there is little point in installing a magnificent and huge fireplace which then dwarfs the room, leaving virtually no actual living space. Do also bear in mind also that once installed the stone is not easily changed so it is important to select a stone material that you don’t easily tire of.

This said you certainly can’t beat the permanence and illustrious looks of a stone fireplace which can appear as simply a box in your living room with a hanging mantel or with a mantel that has legs fastened on the wall. For large rooms with tall ceilings, a stone mantel can stretch up to the full height of the ceiling and display paintings or even a old tapestries.

Stone materials vary enormously in colour and composition; whether you opt for limestone, granite, marble, cast stone, slate or even a thin stone veneer each have their own unique look and feel. Of all the stone materials, marble is probably the most expensive and difficult to maintain but if you are after a sumptuous elegant look in your living room, it can be the perfect choice. On the other hand if you don’t want to spend huge amounts of money there is always the cheaper alternative of man-made marble.

Limestone can be very captivating if you select a neutral colour that will complement almost any interior design while granite, though not so soft, is also a good choice because it needs very little maintenance. Alternatively you can use veneer stones which are in fact real stones but thinner and therefore easy to work with. They give your fireplace the look of real stone but will save you money since they are much cheaper.

One important point to consider when installing a heavy stone fireplace; do make sure that you have a strong ground floor which can support the weight of the structure. If you have any doubts, have a professional surveyor check it out before you start building. You may just need to reinforce the floor to support the weight of your new fireplace.

Wooden fireplace mantels are also extremely popular and made from many different natural wood finishes including cherry, mahogany, oak, birch and ash or alternatively a paint finish which can look stunning, especially if you have a carved mantel where the finer details are picked out in a different but complementary paint colour.

Strangely cast Iron mantels are still available today even though they were first introduced in the eighteenth century as hob grates and then as the more familiar cast iron fireplace inserts and combination fireplaces in the Victorian era. They are possibly an acquired taste, with a slightly limited following, but in the right setting can still look very attractive.

Another fireplace option is to search for a lovely antique fireplace mantel which can be sourced either through a reputable antique dealer or an architectural salvage company. There are also specialist antique fireplace dealers around but be wary of paying through the nose for what you may even be able to pick up cheaply from a demolition company. The only problem with an antique mantel is that it may not be the correct size to fit your space and cover the firebox.

In most cases, a fireplace is normally only used during certain months of the year so when your fireplace is not in use you will need to put your creative skills to work to turn your fireplace into a attractive room accent. In the summer months this can be done by decorating it with flowers, potted plants or a beautiful fire screen. Never leave a cold grate full of old dusty ash or half-burned logs as this makes the fireplace not only look redundant, but also extremely drab and depressing.

Finally don’t forget basic fireplace safety rules. Having any kind of open fire means ensuring it never gets out of control and that small children and pets don’t get close to the flames. It also means ensuring that smoke and toxins do not leak into your home.

There are a few essential safety rules for guarding against lethal accidents; follow these and you will always get untold peace and pleasure from your fireplace. Always make sure your chimney is professionally swept every year, never use any type of flame accelerant in the fireplace, don’t leave open fires unattended or without a safe fire guard, store hot ashes outside in a sealed metal container, don’t throw rubbish on a fire, install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, keep your fireplace hearth free of anything combustible and never wear any kind of loose clothing or billowing nightwear near a naked flame.

About the Author

Karole Howard is passionate about interiors, fabrics and colours inspired by the countryside. She launched her well known online shop http://www.countrycream.co.uk in 2003 in order to help people who want to create the country look in their homes.

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