Chimney breasts and alcoves in particular are some of the most exciting elements of interior design. These are common in most traditional houses and add both function and style to the general layout of any house. Not only do they become impressive centerpieces, but they also have some hidden functions and can be used as shelves. Chimney breasts and alcoves are ideal for creating something unique out of a space as they offer an ideal setting for an artist.
Exposed Chimney Breasts
In many living rooms fire surrounds and mantelpieces provide an added touch of elegance. However, there are moments when it is possible to leave the chimney breast open and have a large open fire as the main focus in a modern interior.
In this case, the grey-painted chimney breast provides a new type of surface to the monotonous living area. The open-fire design is neat and the smoothness adds some sophistication to the streamlined design.
Before you start designing your chimney breast, you need to contemplate whether you want an open fire or a log burner. It can influence the kind of building work to be done and the extent of the work which in turn determines the appearance of the space.
Storage Integrated into Chimney Breasts
The new chimney breast design, therefore, can benefit from extra storage while at the same time enhancing the appearance. It can be used as practical structures such as log stores or as structures to hold books and decorations. If well done, it can turn out a very attractive feature wall that distinguishes the room from the rest.
This also creates an attractive feature in the extension of this blacksmith’s forge where storage is arranged around the chimney breast. The right wooden doors close the TV, and the grey plinth beneath it serves as a log storage.
The inset wood burner is another intelligent innovation. It proves that one does not require a freestanding stove. An inset woodburner works just as well and is almost hidden within the design.
How to Make Your Mantelpiece Stunning and Classy
Lay your mantelpiece simply with accessories such as candlesticks, a vase, and a large antique mirror with a nice finish. To make these items stand out, paint the chimney breast the same color as the walls. This results in a smooth canvas that will not distract the viewer’s attention from the mantelpieces, mirror, and decorations. The outcome is a clean, equilibrium kind of look that fits the room’s style to the core.
Woodstock
The chimney breast with a wood stack on the side provides such an interesting detail to the room. And having a wood stack is always nice to create warmth in the room even if the fireplace is not on.
Floating Chimneys
A ‘floating’ chimney is a gas fireplace that is visually offset by a floating chimney – stunning and guaranteed to make any space stand out. This design raises the room to another level, making the room an architectural statement piece of art that is dramatic and sophisticated.
Although, perhaps, such a design may not fit into every house, an inset stove or in-built gas fire with a large viewing window will help to warm and modernize the atmosphere of the room.
Oversized Chimney Breasts
There is a growing trend of chimney breasts and fireplace surrounds that are large in size. Quite a number of designs include chimneys that extend high almost in the form of a tower within the room. These are bold features that make a definite statement and provide the necessary height and volume to the interior.
The other emerging furniture type is elongated plinths. Not only do they look beautiful but they also serve the useful purpose of delineating snug social areas within the room and creating a clear division of space whilst retaining an airy feel.
Rendered Chimney Breasts
It has become fashionable in contemporary houses to plaster a chimney breast with colorless, hazy concrete. This treatment is an improvement over the simple flat surface making the feature more detailed and complex as compared to the simple flat surface that would otherwise be boring. A smooth finish might appear a little boring, but the rendered surfaces always possess some variations in terms of color and these vary when put under different lighting conditions in the room.
Stunning Tiles
Decorating the fireplace surround with tiles is a good method of beautifying a chimney breast. Because the area is limited it provides an affordable way to add exciting tiles that change the atmosphere of the place. Here are a few tile ideas to make the chimney breast truly stand out:
- Cement tiles in bright and large Aztec prints for a dramatic geometric feel.
- White glazed terracotta tiles are ideal for achieving an impressive appearance in a black-and-white interior design project.
- Soft grey tiles that harmonize with other neighboring products made from concrete and metal.
- White stacked tiles or natural stone, if you prefer a very simple and clinical look.
- Marble or mosaic and zellige tiles in deep and saturated ocean blue for an exotic and vibrant look.
- Tile an extra-wide chimney breast with soft organic colors of greys, browns, and black, to get a calming and harmonizing feel.
- Place an accent by installing tiles on the inner side of the fireplace wall in a vibrant color or a graphic black effect.
Experiment with Colour and Pattern on Your Chimney Breast
For those who are really into colors and patterns, the chimney breast is a great place to experiment with wallpaper. Due to the fact that the area is not very large, it is one place where one can afford to be extravagant and get a beautiful and eye-catching designer print. When choosing wallpaper, a wise idea is to pick a wall paint color that matches one of the shades in the wallpaper and the result will be a balanced look that improves the entire atmosphere of the room.
Build the Reading Corner in Your Fire Place
If you are in need of a perfect relaxation area, convert an unused fireplace into a book lover’s dream by stocking up books. Position a stylish feature chair near the chimney; you may put a round jute rug under the chair, and incorporate string lights which create a heavenly atmosphere. Finally, when all is set, all you have to do is relax, switch on the lights, and indulge in a good book.
Marble Fireplace Surrounds and Chimney Breasts
Marble is a never-fading material that can suit any style of the house interior, therefore it will look great as a surround for the fireplace or as a chimney breast. For the mantel or as a part of a timber or brick fireplace, marble is unique and brings elegance.
Greyscale marble is also ideal for blending with monochromatic furniture and accessories as well as with a black firebox. When the fire is lit, the natural beauty of the marble is easily seen and it also gives the room a classy look.
Creating a Magical Corner with a Non-Working Fireplace
An unused fireplace is a good idea to decorate a child’s room because it will add wonder and imagination into it. You could paper the chimney breast with some cute patterns such as wildlife or fairy tales.
To make the fireplace appear lively, fill it with soft toys. It also provides a great opportunity to place some of the things your child loves most such as books, toys, or artwork. This transforms a previously useless function into a cute and cute highlight of the room that is creative and magical.
Chimney breasts in modern kitchens
In the contemporary kitchens, there is no necessity to have an open fire. However, retaining the chimney breast during a renovation process is advisable because it brings the historical element to the room. This is well illustrated in this farmhouse kitchen, where the inglenook chimney breast is the most prominent feature of the room.
A new range cooker has been installed in the recessed chimney giving a traditional look with an added utility. In this manner, the chimney breast is much more than an aesthetic addition – it also acts as the focal point of the kitchen, dividing it into two meaningful sections, and giving it a great visual appeal as well.
Wood Panelling or Moulding
With wood paneling or molding, it is quite possible to raise the chimney breast or alcove to another level. This design choice makes the design look classic and also creates some depth in the visuals. It is one of the easiest methods to introduce elegance into a space.
Another advantage of wood paneling is that it creates a great base on which to install artwork, mirrors, or lighting. For an even tighter look, consider painting the fireplace surround the same color as the paneling used in that area. This will integrate the design and bring out the architectural features of the building.
Conclusion
Chimney breasts are not at all bad features which can be made to look and function more elegantly in your house. You can use storage pieces such as log stores or bookcases or can use timeless materials like marble to get a sophisticated look. Open chimney shafts and fake fireplaces are interesting solutions, that should be used for example in children’s rooms. They can be designed in a manner that they would be seen as special attractions in the general room layout.
FAQs
What type of material is appropriate for a fireplace mantel?
Marble, wood, or rendered concrete looks best when used for a timeless and durable fireplace surround.
Is it possible to increase storage space in a chimney breast?
Yes, introducing additional storage such as bookcases, cabinets or a log store as a feature around a chimney breast is one of the nice solutions.
What can I do to make a nonworking fireplace aesthetically pleasing?
In case, you do not use a fireplace, you can fill it with soft toys, plants, or artwork, and style the mantel to make it more attractive and decorative.