“Stay away from whatever is trending ‘hard’ presently,” he advises. We’ve been seeing mantels trend bolder (dare we say hotter?) than ever before, but as designer Tim Godbold cautions, you might want to think twice before playing too much with fire. So how do you go about transforming your existing fireplace or designing one from scratch in a way that feels at once functional but has that wow factor? A mantel, be it bold or traditional, is, naturally, a glowing focal point for your living room, bedroom, or patio. And while your fireplace might be the prime spot to cozy up, hearth and home (to borrow an old aphorism) obviously go hand in hand as far as decor is concerned. To avoid this, make sure to measure and extend the surround to a two-tile wide diameter.As the mercury drops and the holiday season approaches, nothing holds as much appeal as curling up in front of a crackling fire, hot toddy in hand and the nip of winter at bay. In some cases, this creates an undesirable appearance. For example, if your fireplace surround is one and a half tiles wide, the design on one of the tiles will be cut in half for installation. Using patterned tile requires additional measurements to ensure the pattern is not cut or disrupted. While tile is a non-combustible material safe for use on fireplace surrounds, we encourage our Austin architecture clients to be conscientious when using patterned tile. Plus, we think it’s time to break up with the modern farmhouse trend anyway. This is because combustible materials like wood need to be installed at the proper distance from the firebox opening. While shiplap can be installed around a fireplace, it cannot meet the fireplace box opening and be used as a fireplace surround. Wallpaper is combustible and presents a massive safety risk when used in the wrong applications. While you can paint brick and plaster fireplaces to revive them, you cannot wallpaper over your old fireplace surround. Instead, invest and upgrade with durable ceramic, porcelain, glass, or concrete tiles. Vinyl tile won’t be as fire resistant as other materials, and the heat from the fire can pose a safety risk and damage the material over time. However, we discourage you from updating your fireplace surround with peel and stick vinyl tile. It may be tempting to find easy or cost-saving solutions to update your home during your first remodel. Our Austin architects say never to use these four materials on your fireplace surround - no matter what! 1. However, this rustic look can be incorporated into other traditional designs as well.Ĥ Materials Not to Use on Your Fireplace Surround Stacked stone is an excellent option for log cabin and Texas Hill Country-style homes. Stacked stone fireplaces evoke the warm feeling of waking up on a snowy morning in a cozy cabin. With a wide range of metallic finishes available, there is room for customization on shine, color, and visual warmth. They have a contemporary and industrial feel and may not feel cohesive with more traditional home designs. Metal-clad fireplaces create a bold and unexpected visual impact. It can be used as a coating around the fireplace walls or poured into intricate molds to form a hearth bench and mantel. Concrete is an incredibly durable and flexible material. ConcreteĬoncrete fireplace surrounds have a similar look and feel to plaster fireplaces but with a modern industrial edge. With millions of colors, patterns, and designs, there is a tile option to fit any space and architectural style. Tile can be used as a surround accent or extend over the entire fireplace wall for a dramatic focal point. There are many fireplace-safe tile options, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and concrete tile. While a wood-burning fireplace requires a hearth, it is optional for electric models. For example, electric fireplaces are less of a fire hazard than wood-burning because the flames are artificial. Wood, gas, and electric fireplaces require different measures to ensure protection. Pay attention to local building codes and the regulations they have on your particular fireplace model. However, the materials used on the hearth and surround can flow as continuous flooring in the room or as an entire wall finish if desired. Typically, the hearth will extend 16 to 18 inches from the firebox opening, and the surround will be 8 to 12 inches wide. Non-combustible materials include tile, stone, and brick. However, the hearth and surround need to be non-combustible. The fireplace mantel can be made out of any material (as long as it is far enough away from the firebox opening). The three main components you will be shopping for are a fireplace surround, hearth, and mantel. Fireplace Surrounds Need to be Non-combustibleīefore shopping for fireplace surrounds and finishing materials, familiarize yourself with the parts of a fireplace and the specifications required for each item.
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