One more disadvantage to possessing the electric variety is the fact that that requires the actual writers a few mins to obtain to be able to total heat range if you change these folks on higher. Due to that, electronic runs aren’t everything effective.

An additional 1 with the drawbacks regarding electro-mechanical ranges may be the simple fact which, in case you do not have energy for some motive, a person cannot prepare. I’ve prepared loads of a new evening meal once the energy continues to be out on my personal organic gas or maybe http://electricstovetops.biz seeing that in comparison to be able to a great number of associated with my personal neighbours whom would not make since they had a good electrical range. A few candle plus a gas stove will certainly enable you prepare as well as consume once the energy is otherwise engaged, in which a electrical oven is not going to.

Many people employed to say make fish an electronic collection excited far more evenly, specially inside the furnace, although Practical goal therefore certain that’s accurate.

One particular within the pros having an this variety, Just maybe, could be which my personal the baking periods are a tad reduced ordinarily, dependant on the particular wood stove.

I’ve discovered the electrical stoves/ranges include the versions which have this self cleaning routine most with the time, also. When i do not usually use the self-cleaning circuit, by myself, although I know some consumers involving the item all of the time and adore the idea.

You’ll find many people that do not want to make on an electronic wood stove or maybe spectrum, yet, in the exact same period, you will discover folks that do not prefer to prepare over a propane/gas spectrum. It’s just about all private choice, I guess. Simply just maintain your security factors in thoughts if you get purchasing for one more assortment once again.

A lot of people already have their preconceived ideas about the decision of gas or electric stoves. At times we want to continue working with a stove that we are used to. Maybe we feel limited by the convenience or lack of a gas connection in our present kitchen. If you are thinking about experimenting, though, take into account that in many regions natural gas is usually cheaper than electricity, and gas gives the cook more mastery over cooking temperatures. Electric stoves are usually more affordable, though, and if you like the style of a ceramic cook top, this is more convenient to get with electric burners. Also, be sure not to miss the Stainless Steel Kitchen Backsplash.

Quite a few new stoves offer you convection ovens together with normal ovens to choose from. Most of us spent their childhood years with standard ovens, and understand how they function. A convection oven is designed to cook quicker, and might be a terrific product for a person who bakes several times a week. If your stove sees more meat loaf than muffins, though, a normal oven should suit your purposes perfectly.

The most important design decision to make is whether to buy a stand-alone stove or a detached cook top and wall oven combination. If you are working with a cramped kitchen, a stand-alone stove can make the most sensible use of your finite square footage. These types of stoves are additionally cheaper than cook top and wall oven combination. If you happen to have a bigger kitchen, though, being able to detach your burners from your oven offers a number of advantages. First, you will have a number cooks cooking in the kitchen who aren’t tripping over each other. Second, you may get to position your cook top and ovens at the height that could be most comfortable for you.

Keep in mind that the ideal stove for your kitchen will come down to two issues; your budget and your priorities. Any new stove sold currently will be effective at cooking food; you are going to be searching for a stove that will enable you to cook dinner your way.

Natural materials are sourced from different areas found in countries all over the world, all having individual characteristics, strengths and practical uses. These have to be considered when choosing a fireplace together with the method of heating appliance which is intended to be used within the fireplace.

The utmost consideration would have to be for that of solid fuel burning, where heat output can vary considerably depending on the fuel used for the fire (e.g. Logs, Coal, Briquettes etc) how much fuel is used, plus the aesthetic effect on the material with regard to marking and staining. Specialist slabbing of any stone is required to allow for expansion for fireplaces intended for solid fuel.

A survey from a HETAS registered fitter who’s responsibility is also to check the suitability of the flue, install the fireplace correctly and allow for adequate ventilation required to meet regulations. For this reason the fireplaces offered on this website are suitable for gas fires or electric fires only.

Appreciation of Natural Stones:-

They are from parts of the world that have been under continuous movements by the continents and oceans, and through earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. For example the famous stones of Portland and Bath were laid more than 150 million years ago when what is now an area of England, was more like the Bahamas of today. Limestone starts as floors of shallow, tropical seas. You can find today, some perfectly formed hard stones no more than 30-40 years old. These floors contain animals, insects and have even been known to contain Cola bottles!

Limestone is commonly light in colouration, usually beige or white. However limestone can occur in other colour variations according to impurities in the stone such as metals, sand, clays, or organic matter.

The finish of limestone can also differ. For example, the reason that French limestone can be highly polished is due to the mix up in the formation of the Alps resulting from Africa bumping into Europe over the past 50 million years. As the land buckled and folded, the limestone became heated causing large crystals to form in the stone, allowing a finer polished finish. This can also cause veining as a result of uneven pressures on the stone.

Today, in the course of developing the quarry, considerable variation may occur in the colour, texture and grade of the stone being extracted. Therefore, uniformity of appearance should not be expected. Each piece has different characteristics and no two pieces can ever be the same.

It is common in limestone to find remains of shells, fish & metal fragments. These elements in no way detract from or weaken its wearing qualities. In fact they are considered to enhance its appearance and distinquish real stone from imitations and is the sign by which nature authenticates her own handiwork.

In a world of man-made materials a stone fireplace remains a natural product with it’s own unique characteristics.This provides the stone it’s expensive looks, style and ageless elegance combined with durability.

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.

One of the main advantages of electric fires is that they can be installed quickly anywhere there is access to electricity and unlike any of the fuel burning fires they don’t need a chimney, nor do they emit any potentially hazardous gases. Moreover, you can easily control the amount of heat they emit simply by setting the controls to your desired level of power.

The newest types of electric fires are also high on energy effectiveness. They devour only a fraction of energy and yet heat the room rapidly. Temperature control, the extent of heating, and the time required for heating are constantly displayed on the electronic panels of these contemporary electric fires.

There are some kinds of electric fireplaces that simulate the flames of traditional fireplaces. Literally, nothing is being burnt and the illusion of burning is achieved through the use of audio and visual effects. Aside from the aesthetical point of view, they are also good in serving their main objective which is heating a room.

These fires can offer a unique switchable fuel effect flicker, a flame without a heat setting and are available with either coal or log effects. In the past consumers were not totally satisfied with the way the “fire” of the electric fireplaces looked but due to rapidly evolving technologies the illusion of burning has been improved drastically.

An electric fireplace is very easy to install, in fact there are models available these days that can be installed in less than an hour and they don’t really need additional space because many of them are mounted against walls. Some of them however can be installed in places where previous fireplaces were located which means that an electric fireplace can still be the focal point of a room but without the commitment and work of a live fire.

Compared with the traditional wood and gas- fired fireplaces, many people would consider electric fireplaces to be more environment-friendly. They don’t emit any fumes and additional carbon dioxide into the air because they utilize electricity. However the electric fireplace is not carbon neutral because the energy that is utilised by these fireplaces comes from the grid which also emits greenhouse gases. This said though the fact is that they are arguably more environment-friendly than burning wood directly in fireplaces.

Electric fires are incredibly convenient since they usually come with remote controls and many have a built-in temperature reader which automatically turns off the fire when the desired temperature is reached. Some electric fireplace models today even have air filtration systems and fans which distribute the heat evenly throughout the room.

Another advantage of the modern electric fire is that throughout the summer months when a real fire would feel too warm an electric fireplace can turn off the heating function but turn on fake flames and give the living room a warm glow and happy ambience, indeed some modern designs also allow a change of speed and colour of the “fire”.

Without a doubt the modern electric fireplace can be a very attractive proposition for those who like to enjoy the comfort and the beauty of having a fireplace but without the installation and maintenance of a traditional fireplace. With the right model, whether it is free standing or an inset fireplace, you literally can have your cake and eat it as with the aid of technical trickery such as a welcoming red glow and ‘smoke’ rising from the fuel bed it is possible to replicate the homely ambiance of the live fire without any of the attendant problems.

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.

It is a well accepted fact that having a live fireplace and a cheap source of fuel can trim down the costs of heating your home, via utility companies, quite considerably and so it goes without saying that it is well worth renovating your fireplace and putting it to good use. It is definitely a much better option than shelling out a large amount of money for a brand new fireplace.

There are many easy ways to remodel your fireplace. For example if you are thinking of having a brick fireplace renovated, you could simply tile over with some fabulous tiles from somewhere like Fired Earth to give your fireplace an elegant new look. It wouldn’t take long to do and it would create something you could feel proud of without spending too much.

A tatty stone fireplace that looks past its best could be given a new lease of life by sand blasting or chemical cleaning and re-pointing or even resurfacing the entire fireplace with a decorative cement mix. This is a little more expensive and it will take a bit longer for the project to complete. If you have no real DIY experience it is probably sensible to hire an expert to do that project for you.

Painting your fireplace is another option if you are not fond of tiles or you don’t want to spend too much cash. Basically you could just paint the brick or stone surface of your fireplace but do make sure that the paint is suitable for the job and won’t be adversely affected by strong heat. The choice of painting finishes and colour options are endless and at least if you don’t like the finished result you can paint over it and start again.

If you just want to make your current fireplace look different, but not dramatically so, you could stencil the brickwork either after painting it or, for a more rustic look, straight onto the raw bricks. To create a totally unique look you can draw up your own design and create a stencil that reflects your own taste and surroundings.

Don’t forget that while you are remodelling the exterior of your fireplace you shouldn’t neglect the fire basket, fire dogs and companion set etc. Even forking out a bit extra for quality fireplace accessories can enhance the whole appearance of a room, especially if the flickering flames are captured in the reflection of a beautiful brass fender.

If are considering remodelling your fireplace for functionality reasons do make sure, for safety reasons, that your damper is properly ventilated. If it malfunctions, your home could be filled with dangerous fumes. Check that each part of the damper is working properly and not rusty or broken, if so they must be changed before you light a fire.

Fireplaces may be purely decorative and only used on special occasions, such as Christmas or for parties, or they can be extremely functional and used to heat the whole house. Either way, adding a fireplace to any room will make it very elegant and desirable, but even more so if you have had the satisfaction of renovating a previously unattractive fixture. With a little imagination and know how you can transform your fireplace into something so stunning that it considerably changes the look and feel of your home.

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.

Around the twelfth century the fireplace was moved from the centre of the dwelling place to a position against a wall and during this century the beginnings of the chimney began to come into use and continued pretty well into the fifteenth century by which time most buildings of any note had two floors, or more, and people wanted fireplaces upstairs to heat bedrooms and nurseries.
These early fireplaces vented the smoke out of the building horizontally and since smoke wants to move vertically it was just as likely to come back into the room.

This is when the chimney really came into its own by encouraging the smoke to rise vertically and flow out of the building. The chimney proved to be a critical innovation as the first and second floors of the home would share a common chimney structure and it was at about this time that architects began to take fireplace design seriously.

Sir Christopher Wren, a famous English architect, began to design fireplaces to improve the whole look and feel of a room. So during the seventeenth century the fireplace became an important architectural feature of reception rooms, especially in the great houses of the day.

In 1678 Prince Rupert of the Rhine discovered that by raising the frame used for holding the burning fuel there was immediately more air circulation underneath the fire and therefore the fireplace became more efficient. His design also included a switchable baffle to allow the air to flow up, then down, then up again. This meant that hot gases had longer to travel before being completely burnt thereby producing more heat.

In the eighteenth century a prominent American named Benjamin Franklin invented a stove that became known as the Franklin stove. This unique stove made of cast iron sent the heat back into the middle of the room and this re-distribution helped to heat whole rooms much more evenly. This clever invention continued to radiate heat long after the fire was out and a heat vent at the top allowed the heated air to escape into the room.

Another American named David Rittenhouse added an L-shaped stovepipe to move the air through the fire and vent the smoke out through the chimney. This vastly improved the performance of the Franklin stove and by the end of the 1700’s the stove was being used throughout the US.

In the late 1700s Sir Benjamin Thompson, also born in the United States designed the first fireplace as we know it with a tall and shallow firebox. This firebox reflected heat more efficiently and provided a much better method for smoke to escape. This design, the foundation of all modern fireplaces, allowed the chimney to be placed in the wall of the home which was far more convenient, not least because it cut down on the number of chimney fires.

There then followed the industrial revolution that led to large scale housing developments which in turn brought about the standardisation of fireplaces. Probably the best known fireplace designers during this period were the Adam brothers. They perfected a style of fireplace that became very famous and was used for generations. Even today there are many reproduction fireplaces produced in the ‘Adam’ style.

By this nineteenth century the basic structure of the fireplace was firmly in place and consisted of two main parts which were the surround and the insert. The surround was the mantle and sides and usually constructed of wood, marble and granite, while the insert was the part of the fireplace where the fire burned. The latter was made of cast iron and often decorated with various tiles. The Victorians were particularly sentimental and viewed the fireplace as adding a cosy, classy and beautiful addition to their homes.

In the early twentieth century not long after the First World War a strong design movement known as Art Deco focused on function over form. These views swept through society and in the main emphasised the value of modern aesthetic values so fireplaces built during this period reflected this particular trend. With the advent of World War II came widespread destruction throughout Europe creating an urgent need for cheap and practical housing and with all that began the immediate development of prefabricated electric fires and fireplaces.

Modern day Britain has seen many technical advances including the introduction of central heating. At this point, and for a while, the fireplace became not much more than a decorative statement in the home rather than a source of necessary heat. However, slowly but surely the fireplace has once again achieved recognition as an important part of family home life and is now back in vogue to be enjoyed by a growing number of traditionalists who regard the fireplace not just as a place to keep warm but also as a centre for social gatherings.

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.

You need to find out what kind of wood, stone or marble is available, what accessories can be put with it and exactly what size the finished fireplace will be. The latter is particularly important since something that may look great in a brochure could take up too much floor space and overwhelm your living area. Doing thorough research beforehand will go a long way towards saving you time and money in the long run.

In addition be sure to do plenty of homework on the company who are making your custom fireplace mantel. Look them up on the web, ask for references from previous clients and be wary of anyone who asks for full payment up front. Find out if there are reviews of the company and then read them to see how they’ve done in the past. Even a little digging around can go a long way towards avoiding future disappointment.

Ask whether the company offer a warranty or return policy in the event that the fireplace is damaged in the delivery, the mantel doesn’t fit or, worse still, isn’t exactly what you expected. It is important also to ascertain if the delivery will include installation. If you’re able to install the fireplace mantel yourself, there’s no need to worry, but if you’re not, don’t automatically assume that they will or you may be in for a shock. Find out for certain whether your mantel will be installed and, if not, how much it will cost to have it installed either by the company making your custom fireplace mantel or by another party.

Be sure that the provider of you fireplace mantel has all the information it needs including exact measurements of the fireplace space. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for the fireplace to be made and spending money on a custom design only to find it doesn’t fit because you weren’t sure how to measure correctly.

If you’re unsure of how to measure for your new fireplace mantel and the directions either on the company’s website or over the phone aren’t clear, ask if they can send somebody out to take the measurements, or recommend somebody to help you get accurate dimensions of your fireplace.
When placing your order, don’t forget to confirm all the key information such as when you can expect your fireplace mantel to be delivered and whether or not it will be installed for you. Don’t be concerned about appearing to be a nuisance, asking a few questions at this stage can save a lot of heartache later.

Before confirming any order ask yourself what type of material you want used and if you opt for a wooden fireplace surround, what kind of wood do you want to have it stained, painted, or left natural to stain or paint yourself? Do you prefer a modern or classic style? Even after considering those options, you have to consider what’s available and what the company constructing your unit is actually capable of creating.

Be absolutely sure of what you want and don’t select a company just because they offer a good price or are local. If they don’t have all or at least most of your preferred options available move on to a company that does. You may have to compromise slightly to get the custom design fireplace mantel but at the end of the day make sure you get what you want, not what the company try to sell you.

Of course it would be fantastic if you could simply order your custom made fireplace one day and have it delivered the next, but if you’re expecting any kind of quality then you have to realise there will be a minimum time frame required to make your perfect fireplace. The company should be able to give you a rough estimate of a date, and many will even give you a firm date but be prepared to have that date moved back as there are always outside circumstances that can affect the actual delivery date.

Also, be aware of how your house will change, even slightly. If the fireplace mantel you’ve designed is small and simple then the change will be minimal, but on the other hand if you’ve chosen a far more grand design, then the entire look and feel of your room can change, including having a smaller amount of living space depending on the size of your room and how far the fireplace mantel will extend out from the wall.

Finally no matter what you elect to go with, picking out a custom fireplace mantel can be an enriching experience so long as you have a reliable company to work with. Therefore to ensure that the whole operation goes smoothly you must do your homework, know what you want and set realistic expectations. Take your time and don’t stress yourself out too much and above all enjoy the process and taking delivery your dream fireplace.

Fireplace insert designs are fairly basic and they are categorised primarily by the fuel burned which can be natural gas, propane, wood, electric, pellet and coal. Be certain to get a fireplace insert that can handle the fuel you want to burn. The idea is to replace your existing fireplace opening with a unit that can handle hotter burning fuel. Wood burning fireplace inserts in particular are ideal if you want to keep the charm and ambience of a wood fireplace.

Many have state-of-the-art features such as fans and thermostatic controls depending on the fuel type. Typically air enters through vents below, circulates around the main chamber, heats up and then exits through vents on the top of the unit.

Before you install an insert for your fireplace, you should determine what type of insert will fit into the space that you are selecting and you should make sure that the space has the features needed to add the insert. When it comes to selecting an insert bear in mind that many fireplace insert makers will offer detailed assistance on choosing the right one and you should also think about any decorative or functional features that you want to include.

The key benefit to installing a fireplace insert is that the right insert can reduce your overall home heating bills if it is installed properly. A well designed fireplace insert does not suffer the traditional heat loss problems from which standard fireplaces typically suffer from, therefore an insert can help keep the house warm and contain the heat source.

Generally it is best to use a professional company to install your insert as the area has to be opened up, depending on the size and shape of the insert; it may even be necessary to make the opening larger or change the shape of the opening in order for it to fit. Once the insert is inside the opening, it is sealed to make sure that it stays in place then decorative features like stone, bricks, or marble around the fireplace opening can be added.

Installation should be completely straightforward. In the past, most installers placed inserts in the fireplace without any chimney connections but on wood burning fires this method could allow creosote to build up causing a potential fire hazard. Nowadays requires inserts are installed with a positive connection to the chimney, having a connector between the appliance outlet and the first section of the flue liner. This sends the smoke and gases up and out of the chimney more directly, so minimising any combustible deposits that condense in the fireplace.

Inserts may need to be removed when the chimney is being cleaned and maintained and because fireplace inserts are heavy and often awkward to handle their removal is often best left to a professional chimney sweep.

However, there are some that you do not have to remove to clean the chimney, they can stay in place during cleaning if you install a full relining system, a stainless steel pipe that connects to the insert and goes to the top of the chimney. It is considered that many fireplace insert installations will probably benefit from a full relining of the chimney in the long run; this is because the smaller pipe size will provide a better draft as well as an added margin of safety.

If you don’t like the look of modern inserts and prefer the idea of a period style fireplace you might to be better to invest in a reproduction Victorian or Edwardian style cast iron insert which are readily available in a wide range of styles from specialist suppliers. Simply look on the internet to find what appeals to you but do remember that in the long term what ever you decide on is going to be a long term fixture in your home – so do choose wisely.

Outdoor stone fireplaces in particular are the best and most inexpensive way to add elegance and style to the outdoor space at home. They can create a relaxing gathering place, where family and friends can spend time on winter and chilly nights.

Imagine having a lively Halloween party in your garden drinking hot punch and eating hot potatoes baked in the hot embers of your own fire. In many ways having an outdoor fire is just like being a kid again when you can wrap up against the elements, enjoy warming your hands and staring into the fire well away from the cares of adulthood. If you enjoy the look, sound and smell of a fire out of doors there is no reason why you shouldn’t build your own outdoor fireplace.

Be aware though that a wood burning fireplace can cause air pollution and therefore in a heavily built up area they may be impractical. Depending on where you live an outdoor fireplace may have certain restrictions on its use. In some areas, an outdoor fireplace can only be a certain size and only burn on certain days or may only burn up until a certain hour of the night. To avoid future disappointment just make sure that you check the planning laws in the area where you intend to build your fireplace.

Also when you start thinking about building an outdoor fireplace, check with the local authority on the allowed height and width; you certainly don’t want to go through all of the expense and hard work of putting your fireplace together only to be told that it is illegal and has to be taken down.

Some of the most affordable outdoor fireplaces are the portable units available online form garden shops. The convenience of these is their portability. Such fires can be moved around to convenient spots depending on how many people you want to entertain, whether you want to throw a fireworks party beside your pool or whether you simply want to enjoy the beauty of winter snow in your garden whilst keeping warm.

Just as there are many different types of indoor fireplaces, there are many different types of outdoor fireplaces. You can customise your fireplace to suit your individual needs and above all budget with the end result being anything from plain and simple to elaborate and unique.

If you have a generous budget you can invest in a hand-crafted fireplace made from beautiful cuts of natural stone, either building it yourself or employing a specialist to design and build it for you. A fireplace like this wouldn’t be portable but it would make a really stunning focal point in your garden.

Many of these bespoke fireplaces can be designed to include cooking and counter space which allows you to prepare exciting alfresco meals. In fact with the right unit, you have more than just an outdoor fireplace; you have an outdoor kitchen.
Remember too that size matters so when comparing outdoor fireplaces, look at the size of the firebox. If this is too small, buying or cutting the right sized wood becomes more difficult. Always try to find a large firebox, a small firebox will be less cost effective in the end; you don’t have to burn a large fire just because you have a large fireplace, simply use less wood to have a smaller fire.

It is best to burn hardwood in your outdoor fireplace and it is by far the most popular fuel for outdoor fireplaces. Pine wood and its own cones have a pleasant scent when burning which also helps in keeping insects away but be cautious about this wood as it can spit and damage clothing or even bare flesh.

Choosing between portable or permanent hand-built units depends solely on your available space, choice of style and how much you want to spend. But no matter which type of outdoor fireplace you opt for you will undoubtedly expand your living space, add value to your home and savour even more of the great outdoors.

Perhaps now the fireplace is not being used it is time to put your creative skills to work by turning it into a beautiful accent, simply by decorating your fireplace for summer. With a bit of skill and imagination you can turn even the most basic fireplace into a stunning focal point. It may sound sentimental or even plain daft but as your fire has been there for you through rain, hail, wind, snow and thunder storms surely now it is time to show it a little tangible gratitude.

In old country communities our agrarian ancestors decorated ploughs, horses and even corn sheaves to confirm their needful relationship with Mother Nature. There were pagan, and then Christian, festivals held to give thanks for impending crops and then a good harvest and also to offer respect for whatever kept their lives safe and bearable; so in a way perhaps we also should give thanks for the joy of our fireplace by enhancing it, rather than disregarding it in summer.

The most obvious way to make an unused fireplace look much more cheerful is to embellish it with plenty of plants and fresh flowers. Silk flowers will do at a pinch but they are never going to have the charm of real flowers, especially if they gather dust and you choose flowers that are definitely not in season; such as daffodils in mid August.

If you have ample hearth space you can fill it with all sorts of flowering plants in pots that range from stylish for a grand fireplace, to winsome for the cottage grate. Potted plants are a great way to decorate your fireplace as they are available in almost any colour and in such a variety of heights that the whole arrangement can be quite enchanting. So much so that once again people are drawn to the fireplace not to keep warm but instead to admire the lavish floral tapestry in situ.

Another captivating option for a special occasion is to decorate your fireplace mantle by adding great swathes of ivy, honeysuckle and climbing roses, clusters of fresh fruit, strewn rose petals and beautiful wide ribbons, for an even better effect try adding cream pillar candles and fresh green grapes.

Ivory candles are particularly appealing as they bring cheer and beauty into your home and if you don’t have a real fire, but want to add a warm glow to your room, you could always use a bank of different sized candles as a substitute. What is also very attractive on top of the mantle is to have a display of candles in old-fashioned terracotta pots topped with fresh moss. Never be tempted though to leave candles unattended.

You can also make the fireplace smell nice by adding a few drops of essential oils, such as orange and cinnamon, to bowls of fir cones, fir tree cuttings and dried orange slices placed on the hearth. Alternatively fill a huge urn or copper bowl with dried rose heads steeped in tearose oil and stand it in just in front of the fireplace opening. You can easily dry your own roses or buy them from a specialist supplier.

If you have a kitchen fireplace that looks a bit dowdy in summer, liven it up with a herb garland made by wiring dried herb bunches to a grapevine wreath and adding chillies, bouquet garni, tiny terracotta pots and a big green bow. For parties or kitchen based family get-togethers you could even hang it with lots of your favourite edible delights.

Finally what is very effective decoration for any living room or hallway fireplace is to push masses of white-painted birch twigs into a sturdy wicker basket and then wind twinkling white lights around the branches. These simple, but sophisticated, lit-up twig displays strategically placed in a large hearth can be quite dramatic and even a talking point.