In olden days, the only form of heating was from wood burning fires, then a coal fire and as time went gas-powered fireplaces gained popularity. However due to technology and the need for fireplaces which can be installed quickly and be maintained easily, the electric fireplace came into its own.
These days, electric fires have become a standard in most homes and one of the more popular styles of electric heating is to install a fully electric fireplace suite, thus making an attractive feature in any living room. These are very easy to install and generally require no inset as they simply stand on the floor. They can come in a wide range of traditional mantel styles from oak finish to a pale limestone effect or for a more state–of–the–art look surface mounted wall suites with a glass panel; these in particular are ideal for modern flats or smaller rooms. Continue Reading »
Are you tired of looking at an existing fireplace you never use or have you discovered an old, but unattractive, fireplace that was previously hidden? If so now may be just the right time to consider remodelling your fireplace. This can be a fulfilling venture that involves either changing the fireplace completely or applying a few effective but economical ways to give your fireplace a welcome facelift.
There are many options to choose from and any one of them will turn your fireplace into a more attractive and useful feature, while adding extra value to your home. In addition by making your fireplace fully functioning it could well help to cut down on some of the more extravagant heating costs. Certainly you will immediately have a much wider scope for heat efficiency experimentation; therefore the cost of remodelling will probably pay for itself in the long run. Continue Reading »
Whenever we consider the history of fireplaces one thing is certain, even the most basic type of fireplace has been used by every culture in the world in some form since mankind first started to evolve. In fact the first fire pits which were a rudimentary form of fireplace were dug by early caveman for warmth on cold days and nights, protection from wild animals and essential cooking.
These basic fireplaces were also the center for the coming together of people to gather around and experience the heat. There was of course a problem with building a fire pit in a cave or indeed any other enclosed structure, there needed to be a way for the smoke to escape. With the dawning of straw huts the smoke made its way through the tiny openings in the straw but it still must have been fairly “eye-watering” but in the case of Indian tipis, for instance an opening was placed in the top of the structure to let the smoke escape. This lasted for thousands of years and even today nomadic tribes emulate these first fireplace designs. Continue Reading »
One of the best ways to enhance a special room in your home is to install a beautiful fireplace and even better is to install a custom fireplace mantel. The main benefit of having a custom fireplace mantel built for you is that you can get the fireplace mantel that complements not only your fireplace, but also the overall look and feel of your home. However, before ordering that custom mantel, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Always do your homework first so that you know precisely what to expect before having a custom fireplace mantel made for you. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be flexible if you don’t find exactly what you want but the key to getting what you want is to have a clear understanding of what you want your fireplace mantel to look like once it is in situ. Continue Reading »