The English Home
attention
FOCUS OF
Whatever the season, a well proportioned fireplace, appropriate to the interior, creates a welcoming focal point
T
18 THE ENGLISH HOME
SETTING THE SCENE A fireplace is best styled with components and tools in keeping with the period of the surround. A Regency hearth should have a Regency-style fire basket, screen and accessories; if the fireplace is Victorian, look for Victorian accessories. Even though the fireplace is generally no longer the main heat source in a room, do not let it play second fiddle to the television. It is tempting to place the television above the room’s natural focal point, but this is very jarring. To style the scene appropriately, place a mirror or painting on the wall above the mantelpiece and arrange the key seating to face it. Keep a television screen hidden within a cabinet when not in use. If the fireplace is the first thing your eyes naturally focus on when you entering the room, everything should be in perfect harmony. PHOTO: WESLEY BARELL
he fireplace is perhaps the most important factor in setting the tone of a room. In a period property, it is safest to opt for a fireplace design from the same era. A Victorian fireplace, for example, will have been designed with the proportion of the sash windows and style of the cornices and skirting in mind. If used with care, a slightly later style of fire surround can work in such a context, but anything from an earlier period, compared to the architecture of the room, would look out of place. “Fireplace styles can and do cross historic periods,” says Will Fisher, founder and owner of Jamb. “One of the most charming aspects of a country house’s interior is the aesthetic journey it takes as the interior evolves over the centuries. That said, cornicing, mouldings and scale all play a part in choosing the surround. Each room may have been adapted at a different point in a house’s history, and this could be the point to return to. With listed properties, the detail of the listing can be crucial.” Dedicated fireplace retailers will have a variety of fireplaces on offer, either original restorations or reproductions, from Tudor times up to the present day. Specialists, such as Stuart Interiors and Arttus, can create exact replicas from historic drawings. It is not always necessary for a fireplace to be in proportion to the opening, however, it is important to select the correct scale of fireplace for the room. “As the main focal point in the room, a fireplace sets the tone for all other fixtures and fittings,’ says Eve Iravani, co-founder of Montpellier Marble. “A small room would call for a smaller, more restrained design; a room with large proportions and high ceilings would need a larger, more ornate chimneypiece.” “A general guide to proportion, is to size the fireplace height no taller than half of the room height, and no lower than a third of the room height,” advises Mark Smart, Chesney’s sales director. “Ideally, there should also be at least five centimetres clearance between the end of the mantel shelf and the edge of the chimney breast, and the hearth should generally be set at the same width as the mantel shelf,” adds Matt Kisler, product manager at Dimplex. “It is not just the size of the room that needs to be considered when choosing the size of your fireplace,” states Mike Johnson, managing director of English Fireplaces. “Consider what else is in the room. If it is likely to be very full, opt for a slightly smaller surround relative to the chimney breast.”
REFLECTED GLORY Placing a traditional gilt mirror above a mantelpiece was once de rigueur, allowing those sitting around the fire to look up and be able to see everyone in the room. It also helps to seal the fireplace’s status as the centre of the room. Whilst a cast-iron insert does work with other surrounds, cast-iron mantelpieces and surrounds look lovely teamed with a cast-iron insert, as shown here. Adelaide insert, £922 and William IV cast-iron mantel, £1,749, Stovax
ECHO THE ERA A carved stone, mid-eighteenth-century surround, such as this one, lends itself particularly well to a townhouse home, filled with antique furniture and accessories from the same era. The same surround would not work, for example, with a modern fitted carpet, but this antique-style rug complements it perfectly. The barrel-shaped frieze features garlands of oak leaves and acorns, representing peace, prosperity and longevity. Dyrham stone fireplace, £6,480, Jamb
PERFECT PLACEMENT As wood-burning stoves are not native to the UK, unlike Scandinavia where they have a tradition of stoves going back hundreds of years, stoves suit rooms where it would once have been appropriate to see an oven in the hearth, such as a kitchen or relaxed dining area, and rooms with a more informal feel. The Morsø 2110 Panther stove is a double-door multi-fuel stove with large stay-clean glass panels which provide an excellent view of the fire. 2110 Panther multi-fuel stove £1,714, Morsø
IN HARMONY This Arts & Crafts style fireplace has beautifully simple, organic detailing, very much in keeping with the style of the room in which it is situated. Even when the fire is not in use, its hearth remains full of attractively arranged logs, as even on a hot summer day, a bare hearth can make a room feel cold and empty. The traditional artwork on the walls, the simple earthenware on display, and the basic, basket-style fireguard all fit in with the Arts &Crafts styling. Spelsbury three-seater sofa in Zoffany Kalamkari, £5,120, Wesley Barrell
THE ENGLISH HOME 19
LESS IS MORE To be the focal point of a room, the fireplace does not need to be surrounded by furniture. It can provide a quiet reflective space in a hallway or library. This fireplace is a replica of a model designed in 1777 for the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, which was located in the library of his house in London’s Hanover Square. It is part of the Adam Collection, comprising six chimneypieces designed from drawings from the office of architectural greats, Robert and James Adam. Roxburghe fireplace from £13,800, Chesney’s
THE CASE FOR STOVES
Wood and smokeless fuel-burning stoves are becoming increasingly popular, as they can add an instant period feel to a room and they are easier to start and clean than a traditional open fire. Stoves also allow more control over the flame size and heat output, and are more efficient at sending heat directly into the room. “If you are looking for the experience of a real fire, but with more efficiency, a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove is the preferred option,” says Iravani at Montpellier Marble. “An open fire is wonderfully romantic, but much of the heat from this escapes up the chimney, whereas a stove, being an enclosed unit, will contain the heat generated and push it into the room.” Stoves can burn wood and smokeless fuel, and there are realistic, mock-wood-burning stoves on the market for those wanting a low-maintenance option. Realistic electric stoves are ideal for those trying to recreate a period feel in a chimney-less home, as they do not require a flue.
TEMPERED FORMALITY Carved stone surrounds tend to have an imposing formal air, but can be toned down by leaving the fireplace insert as bare brick. Here, the classic Champagne Marble Milano surround is teamed with an ornate cast-iron fire basket set within the bare brick of the chimney breast. Milano 57” in Bianco Persiano from £1,990, Montpellier Marble
STATEMENT PIECE The Belgrave cast-iron fire surround has a strong, pared-back Edwardian design paired with an imposing straight-edged insert typical of late Georgian style. Whilst the advice is to adhere as closely as possible to the original architectural style of the setting where possible, it is not necessary to be slavishly rigid. The distinctive combination of straight lines and subtle profiling of this surround works beautifully with the simplicity of the Georgian insert. Belgrave surround in full polish, from £525; Royal insert in full polish, £450, both Carron
THE ENGLISH HOME 21
VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE Whilst traditionally, British fireplace surrounds have always tended to stick to the architectural rules of form and proportion, French surrounds are more ornate with detailed carving. They became popular in Britain from the early 19th century onwards and can look spectacular in large, high-ceilinged rooms built during this period. Versaille fireplace in travertine with a slate hearth, from £1,750, English Fireplaces
Traditional, wood-burning stoves look most at home in bare, brick alcoves, with their simple, rustic feel. Look for a model that has a large window through which to see the real flames, for atmosphere. Whether it is electric, gas or burning smokeless wood pellets, the stove can still be styled with a scuttle of coal to make it look like an authentic real-flame stove. Country 6 Stove, from £830, Charnwood
SEAMLESS BLEND Many stone or artificial stone fireplaces can be ordered in a variety of different finishes. However, it is advisable to opt for a stone that matches other stone featured in the room. This Louis XV Fireplace with shaped apron, mouldings and shell decoration is available in Portland, Bath, Coade, terracotta and slate colours. From £1,659, Haddonstone
RECLAIMED SURROUNDS Buying a reclaimed fireplace from a salvage or reclamation yard, or at an auction, will bring individuality and character into a room. Whilst some enjoy spending hours rummaging around crammed reclamation yards, others go online to source a key piece. As a rule of thumb, it is fine to choose a fire surround that is older than the home it will be put in, but generally, avoid one from an earlier period. One important factor to bear in mind is making sure a reclaimed fire surround meets today’s fire safety standards. Another is the material from which the fireplace is made. Cast iron, brass or wood, such as oak, pine and mahogany all have different heat-absorbing properties and age differently, too. Always engage professionals to install fireplaces, for utmost safety. Companies specialising in reclaimed fireplaces include: Salvo Web (salvo.co.uk), LASSCO (lassco.co.uk), Jamb (jamb.co.uk) and Westland London (westlandlondon.com). n
WORDS ANNA TOBIN
RUSTIC CHARM
FOCUS OF
Whatever the season, a well proportioned fireplace, appropriate to the interior, creates a welcoming focal point
T
18 THE ENGLISH HOME
SETTING THE SCENE A fireplace is best styled with components and tools in keeping with the period of the surround. A Regency hearth should have a Regency-style fire basket, screen and accessories; if the fireplace is Victorian, look for Victorian accessories. Even though the fireplace is generally no longer the main heat source in a room, do not let it play second fiddle to the television. It is tempting to place the television above the room’s natural focal point, but this is very jarring. To style the scene appropriately, place a mirror or painting on the wall above the mantelpiece and arrange the key seating to face it. Keep a television screen hidden within a cabinet when not in use. If the fireplace is the first thing your eyes naturally focus on when you entering the room, everything should be in perfect harmony. PHOTO: WESLEY BARELL
he fireplace is perhaps the most important factor in setting the tone of a room. In a period property, it is safest to opt for a fireplace design from the same era. A Victorian fireplace, for example, will have been designed with the proportion of the sash windows and style of the cornices and skirting in mind. If used with care, a slightly later style of fire surround can work in such a context, but anything from an earlier period, compared to the architecture of the room, would look out of place. “Fireplace styles can and do cross historic periods,” says Will Fisher, founder and owner of Jamb. “One of the most charming aspects of a country house’s interior is the aesthetic journey it takes as the interior evolves over the centuries. That said, cornicing, mouldings and scale all play a part in choosing the surround. Each room may have been adapted at a different point in a house’s history, and this could be the point to return to. With listed properties, the detail of the listing can be crucial.” Dedicated fireplace retailers will have a variety of fireplaces on offer, either original restorations or reproductions, from Tudor times up to the present day. Specialists, such as Stuart Interiors and Arttus, can create exact replicas from historic drawings. It is not always necessary for a fireplace to be in proportion to the opening, however, it is important to select the correct scale of fireplace for the room. “As the main focal point in the room, a fireplace sets the tone for all other fixtures and fittings,’ says Eve Iravani, co-founder of Montpellier Marble. “A small room would call for a smaller, more restrained design; a room with large proportions and high ceilings would need a larger, more ornate chimneypiece.” “A general guide to proportion, is to size the fireplace height no taller than half of the room height, and no lower than a third of the room height,” advises Mark Smart, Chesney’s sales director. “Ideally, there should also be at least five centimetres clearance between the end of the mantel shelf and the edge of the chimney breast, and the hearth should generally be set at the same width as the mantel shelf,” adds Matt Kisler, product manager at Dimplex. “It is not just the size of the room that needs to be considered when choosing the size of your fireplace,” states Mike Johnson, managing director of English Fireplaces. “Consider what else is in the room. If it is likely to be very full, opt for a slightly smaller surround relative to the chimney breast.”
REFLECTED GLORY Placing a traditional gilt mirror above a mantelpiece was once de rigueur, allowing those sitting around the fire to look up and be able to see everyone in the room. It also helps to seal the fireplace’s status as the centre of the room. Whilst a cast-iron insert does work with other surrounds, cast-iron mantelpieces and surrounds look lovely teamed with a cast-iron insert, as shown here. Adelaide insert, £922 and William IV cast-iron mantel, £1,749, Stovax
ECHO THE ERA A carved stone, mid-eighteenth-century surround, such as this one, lends itself particularly well to a townhouse home, filled with antique furniture and accessories from the same era. The same surround would not work, for example, with a modern fitted carpet, but this antique-style rug complements it perfectly. The barrel-shaped frieze features garlands of oak leaves and acorns, representing peace, prosperity and longevity. Dyrham stone fireplace, £6,480, Jamb
PERFECT PLACEMENT As wood-burning stoves are not native to the UK, unlike Scandinavia where they have a tradition of stoves going back hundreds of years, stoves suit rooms where it would once have been appropriate to see an oven in the hearth, such as a kitchen or relaxed dining area, and rooms with a more informal feel. The Morsø 2110 Panther stove is a double-door multi-fuel stove with large stay-clean glass panels which provide an excellent view of the fire. 2110 Panther multi-fuel stove £1,714, Morsø
IN HARMONY This Arts & Crafts style fireplace has beautifully simple, organic detailing, very much in keeping with the style of the room in which it is situated. Even when the fire is not in use, its hearth remains full of attractively arranged logs, as even on a hot summer day, a bare hearth can make a room feel cold and empty. The traditional artwork on the walls, the simple earthenware on display, and the basic, basket-style fireguard all fit in with the Arts &Crafts styling. Spelsbury three-seater sofa in Zoffany Kalamkari, £5,120, Wesley Barrell
THE ENGLISH HOME 19
LESS IS MORE To be the focal point of a room, the fireplace does not need to be surrounded by furniture. It can provide a quiet reflective space in a hallway or library. This fireplace is a replica of a model designed in 1777 for the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, which was located in the library of his house in London’s Hanover Square. It is part of the Adam Collection, comprising six chimneypieces designed from drawings from the office of architectural greats, Robert and James Adam. Roxburghe fireplace from £13,800, Chesney’s
THE CASE FOR STOVES
Wood and smokeless fuel-burning stoves are becoming increasingly popular, as they can add an instant period feel to a room and they are easier to start and clean than a traditional open fire. Stoves also allow more control over the flame size and heat output, and are more efficient at sending heat directly into the room. “If you are looking for the experience of a real fire, but with more efficiency, a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove is the preferred option,” says Iravani at Montpellier Marble. “An open fire is wonderfully romantic, but much of the heat from this escapes up the chimney, whereas a stove, being an enclosed unit, will contain the heat generated and push it into the room.” Stoves can burn wood and smokeless fuel, and there are realistic, mock-wood-burning stoves on the market for those wanting a low-maintenance option. Realistic electric stoves are ideal for those trying to recreate a period feel in a chimney-less home, as they do not require a flue.
TEMPERED FORMALITY Carved stone surrounds tend to have an imposing formal air, but can be toned down by leaving the fireplace insert as bare brick. Here, the classic Champagne Marble Milano surround is teamed with an ornate cast-iron fire basket set within the bare brick of the chimney breast. Milano 57” in Bianco Persiano from £1,990, Montpellier Marble
STATEMENT PIECE The Belgrave cast-iron fire surround has a strong, pared-back Edwardian design paired with an imposing straight-edged insert typical of late Georgian style. Whilst the advice is to adhere as closely as possible to the original architectural style of the setting where possible, it is not necessary to be slavishly rigid. The distinctive combination of straight lines and subtle profiling of this surround works beautifully with the simplicity of the Georgian insert. Belgrave surround in full polish, from £525; Royal insert in full polish, £450, both Carron
THE ENGLISH HOME 21
VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE Whilst traditionally, British fireplace surrounds have always tended to stick to the architectural rules of form and proportion, French surrounds are more ornate with detailed carving. They became popular in Britain from the early 19th century onwards and can look spectacular in large, high-ceilinged rooms built during this period. Versaille fireplace in travertine with a slate hearth, from £1,750, English Fireplaces
Traditional, wood-burning stoves look most at home in bare, brick alcoves, with their simple, rustic feel. Look for a model that has a large window through which to see the real flames, for atmosphere. Whether it is electric, gas or burning smokeless wood pellets, the stove can still be styled with a scuttle of coal to make it look like an authentic real-flame stove. Country 6 Stove, from £830, Charnwood
SEAMLESS BLEND Many stone or artificial stone fireplaces can be ordered in a variety of different finishes. However, it is advisable to opt for a stone that matches other stone featured in the room. This Louis XV Fireplace with shaped apron, mouldings and shell decoration is available in Portland, Bath, Coade, terracotta and slate colours. From £1,659, Haddonstone
RECLAIMED SURROUNDS Buying a reclaimed fireplace from a salvage or reclamation yard, or at an auction, will bring individuality and character into a room. Whilst some enjoy spending hours rummaging around crammed reclamation yards, others go online to source a key piece. As a rule of thumb, it is fine to choose a fire surround that is older than the home it will be put in, but generally, avoid one from an earlier period. One important factor to bear in mind is making sure a reclaimed fire surround meets today’s fire safety standards. Another is the material from which the fireplace is made. Cast iron, brass or wood, such as oak, pine and mahogany all have different heat-absorbing properties and age differently, too. Always engage professionals to install fireplaces, for utmost safety. Companies specialising in reclaimed fireplaces include: Salvo Web (salvo.co.uk), LASSCO (lassco.co.uk), Jamb (jamb.co.uk) and Westland London (westlandlondon.com). n
WORDS ANNA TOBIN
RUSTIC CHARM
