The Burning Desires That Go Straight To The Hearth

Yorkshire Post - 21st November 2007 - Life & Style Section: Homes

Interiors

"Fires & fireplaces, whatever their age and style, bring infinite comfort and warmth to any home", says interior designer Jamie Hempsall.

There is nothing more comforting than a real fire, whether it contains actual burning logs or a gas flame. The effect of lighting a fire by match (or even remote control!) is to immediately fill a room with warmth both perceived via the lighting and overall ambience, as well as the actual physical pleasure.

You get rid of any fireplace that you have at your peril. They may take up wall space, but their mere presence adds a wonderful, comfortable feeling. It is better to enhance them as a feature, than to remove or board them up.

Gas effect fires have come a long way in recent years. They can work with special logs, twigs, stones or just fire bowls providing you with an opportunity to express your individuality. They are no longer just decorative, but also provide warmth although not as much as a real fire. So bear this in mind when thinking about your heating requirements.

Your fire surround should reflect the feel of your room do not be off put by an old fashioned fireplace and allow this to limit your decorating. If appropriate update with a more contemporary style. Granite and smooth stones work wonderfully in modern homes, and antique reclamation yards provide a terrific source for those requiring a traditional touch in an older property. You may well be surprised at what you can find and how little it can cost with some careful negotiation.

In a living room your fireplace should form the natural focal point and in an age of Flat Screen TVs, where better to place it than above a roaring fire ensuring that the electrics are installed and embedded by a qualified electrician to guarantee that they are both safe and out of sight.

If you do not have a flat screen TV try to arrange the furniture so that at least some of it favours the fireplace. You will be amazed at how this promotes a feeling of wellbeing and comfort – not to mention a natural inclination to engage in conversation, rather than passively watching TV.

Your chimney breast can also be the focal point to introduce a new design element into the room via a feature colour, wallpaper or even just a new texture.

There is also no longer any need to despair if you do not have a flue, as there are wall mounted fires that provide the full visual effect, with none of the fuss and bother. They also allow you to put fires where you would never normally be able to (especially useful in flats) and come in a variety of styles both traditional and contemporary. Some use pots of gel, which you have to replace, to allow the real flame effect and are even available as a complete freestanding unit including fire surround.

If you are installing a new fireplace consider the location carefully. Generally, a central position is best. It is the most appropriate both aesthetically and when it comes to designing the rest of the room.

Contemporary fireplaces often do not need a mantle piece. However, if you do have one avoid cluttering it up. A few carefully chosen pieces picking up on colours or themes in the room work far better than a mass display. Whatever you do though, do not forget to ensure that there is room to hang up those all important stockings in December.

Jamie Hempsall is one of the region’s leading interior designers and an Associate of BIDA. For more information visit his website at www.jamiehempsall.com or call for an appointment on 01777 248463