Discover How Fireplace Surrounds Can Enhance Your Home
Few things make a room seem more welcoming than an inviting fire. A well presented hearth can boost the value of your home. It is a feature that many prospective buyers find attractive. Nevertheless, homeowners should ensure that fireplaces are safe, and complement, rather than detract from, the surrounding environment. Carefully chosen fireplace surrounds are essential.
There is a wide choice of materials to select from when deciding on the right surround for your home. It is fun choosing a design, but homeowners must recognize the practical limitations placed upon choice and stay within a sensible budget. It is important that the surround fits in with the existing decor and furnishings.
The most commonly used materials are wood, brick and stone. Granite and marble are popular choices at the higher end of the market. People restoring period properties often have a preference for cast iron inserts. Homeowners should not rush their decision, but take time to look around at what is available. It may be useful to browse interior design magazines and websites for ideas.
Wood is both an attractive and an affordable material. It can be adapted to suit just about any kind of interior decor. A wooden mantel can be as simple as a shelf made from a piece of driftwood, or it can be an intricately carved masterpiece. The finish can be natural, to reveal the grain, or painted in a color of the owner's choice.
Brick fireplaces have tremendous character. They work well in both contemporary and traditional settings. Bricks, and other types of masonry such as stone blocks and slate, are a popular choice for inglenook and freestanding fireplaces. Installation will require building skills of a professional standard.
A stone surround it both durable and beautiful. It can lend an air of solidity and permanence to a room. Traditionally this kind of surround would be carved from solid blocks of stone. Limestone and sandstone are favorite choices. The modern alternative is a pre-fabricated cast made from reconstituted stone, which is much lighter and easier to install. However, as these are bonded using resins with poor heat resistance they are not suitable for solid fuel fires.
Marble and granite are expensive materials, but they are also durable materials and will maintain their good looks for many years. They lend themselves to both modern and classic designs. A surround made from these materials is a statement piece. Such opulence may look out of place in smaller, more modest properties. However, when situated in a grand room of a larger residence, these majestic fireplace surrounds are entirely appropriate.
There is a wide choice of materials to select from when deciding on the right surround for your home. It is fun choosing a design, but homeowners must recognize the practical limitations placed upon choice and stay within a sensible budget. It is important that the surround fits in with the existing decor and furnishings.
The most commonly used materials are wood, brick and stone. Granite and marble are popular choices at the higher end of the market. People restoring period properties often have a preference for cast iron inserts. Homeowners should not rush their decision, but take time to look around at what is available. It may be useful to browse interior design magazines and websites for ideas.
Wood is both an attractive and an affordable material. It can be adapted to suit just about any kind of interior decor. A wooden mantel can be as simple as a shelf made from a piece of driftwood, or it can be an intricately carved masterpiece. The finish can be natural, to reveal the grain, or painted in a color of the owner's choice.
Brick fireplaces have tremendous character. They work well in both contemporary and traditional settings. Bricks, and other types of masonry such as stone blocks and slate, are a popular choice for inglenook and freestanding fireplaces. Installation will require building skills of a professional standard.
A stone surround it both durable and beautiful. It can lend an air of solidity and permanence to a room. Traditionally this kind of surround would be carved from solid blocks of stone. Limestone and sandstone are favorite choices. The modern alternative is a pre-fabricated cast made from reconstituted stone, which is much lighter and easier to install. However, as these are bonded using resins with poor heat resistance they are not suitable for solid fuel fires.
Marble and granite are expensive materials, but they are also durable materials and will maintain their good looks for many years. They lend themselves to both modern and classic designs. A surround made from these materials is a statement piece. Such opulence may look out of place in smaller, more modest properties. However, when situated in a grand room of a larger residence, these majestic fireplace surrounds are entirely appropriate.
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Want to find out more about fireplace surrounds, then visit the English Fireplaces website for information on how to choose the best marble fireplaces for your home