Style Specifics - Fireplaces

ART DECO

Art Deco fireplaces were very rectangular in their form and bold in their size and design. Surrounds were sometimes tiled, usually with beige, green or pink tiles. In terms of materials, they were generally made from concrete, which added to their bulk and presence in a room.

ABOVE: Lassco

VICTORIAN & EDWARDIAN

During the Victorian era, marble fireplaces were used in the best rooms, whilst slate (often treated to mimic the appearance of marble) was used the the next best rooms and finally cast iron for the least public rooms — although many people these days love the look of cast iron fireplaces. Edwardians used pretty much the same materials, but in around 1870, the splay-sided fireplace came into fashion, featuring tiled side panels.

ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Stovax; Lassco; Gallery

GEORGIAN

Georgian fireplaces saw a revival of many Classical styles and featured columns, either represented as flat pilasters or rounded halfcolumns with carved flutings. They also featured decorative motifs such as lions’ heads, swags and urns and very often had some kind of ornamental frieze. In the early Georgian period, hob grates were common, with two flat places on either side of the fire, originally intended for cooking or heating water on.

ABOVE: Chesney's

CONTEMPORARY

Modern fireplaces should be sleek and unfussy. Hole-in-the-wall designs have been particularly popular in recent years, some of them purely decorative, some providing heat. Another popular design at present is the double-sided fireplace, which suits open plan living arrangements perfectly. In addition, fireplaces that also serve another function, such as offering storage space, are a fantastic option and perfect for homes short on space.

ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Acquisitions; Euroflames; Brilliant Fires