It looks like the crisp, grey days are here to stay; and it’s officially time to cozy up by the fire and enjoy the season!

In designing and remodeling a fireplace, there are many elements to take into consideration:

– Where the fireplace will be located?
– Amount of heat you need produced
– Size of the room since the scale is important

Wood-burning? Gas? Electric?

Many clients are changing their wood-burning fireplace to gas or electric for convenience. The days of hauling wood inside from the cold outside are over; with a flip of a switch, you can have a roaring fire in seconds. If you have an electrical outlet, you can have an electric fireplace. The simplicity of installation is appealing to some clients.

Electric fireplaces are also a great alternative for someone in a small space or temporary location since it does not require ventilation and installation is just plugging it into the wall. Because of their realistic look and ability to produce heat, gas fireplaces had been considered superior to electric ones. However, there are now some very realistic and good-looking electric fireplaces. It’s hard to beat the crackling of a real fire, so if you enjoy making a fire (or even s’mores), the cost and maintenance routine of a wood-burning fireplace may be worth it.

Create a theme

If you’re struggling to find the right decor for your fireplace, try coming up with a theme. You could create a vintage theme by decorating only with antique items, or you could do something as simple as using the same color.

Raised Hearth/Built-In Storage Unit

There’s always the design dilemma to feature a TV hanging over the fireplace. While a TV can take away from the beauty of the fireplace, some clients like the option to have their media above a roaring fire. If possible, we’d suggest housing the TV in another location. The old-world idea of a relaxing fireplace can cause conflicting focal points when the TV is fighting for attention as well. Ideally, televisions should be at eye-level, so placing the TV above the fireplace can be a little high, but it’s your home – so anything goes!

This raised hearth fireplace also offers additional seating. If you’re lacking in seating for large groups and entertain a lot, a raised hearth in a living room remodel solves that.

Keep in mind your room’s style

There are a lot of ways you can decorate your fireplace, and what works for you might depend on the room’s style. If your living room, for example, follows a minimalist style, then a cluttered mantel shelf might look out of place.

Fireplace Materials

There are many different styles of not only the fireplace insert but also the surrounding material. Whether you have a traditional home or a contemporary loft, the materials selected to create your fireplace feature will drive the entire room design.

– Tile Fireplace Surround
– Cultured Stone Surround – Utilizing a neutral color palette and imperfect stones add dimension