Modern fireplaces: types and design ideas

Nowadays, fireplaces are becoming more and more popular. And if initially they were installed mainly in living rooms, now they are placed in that part of the house or apartment where people spend a lot of time, that is, in the kitchen. This decision can be considered interesting and rather daring.

But how to choose the right fireplace so that it blends harmoniously with the interior of the dining area? First of all, you need to navigate the option for the future acquisition.

In this case, the following factors must be taken into account:

• feature of the living space;
• its area;
• technical safety standards.

There are several types of fireplaces on the market today.

The first type, on solid (wood) fuel, is one of the most common. It is understandable, live fire cannot but rivet the eyes. Being next to such a piece of interior, you feel coziness, warmth and peace of mind. The crackling sound of logs also has a beneficial and relaxing effect on a person's condition.

A fireplace with a hob is also very widespread, the functionality of which lies not only in heating the living space, it can also be used for cooking.

Also, the disadvantages of such a heat source include the fact that it is quite difficult to maintain, it constantly requires a large amount of firewood that needs to be stored somewhere. In addition, the installation process itself is quite laborious. Therefore, the classic options are placed mainly in country cottages as a decor item, and not for warming up the house.

Alternatively, you can use a natural gas stove, because solid fuel is not required for its operation and thanks to the injection burner, the flame is real. Today, manufacturers also produce mobile versions of such structures, which, if necessary, can be moved. But, before installing the gas device, it is required to coordinate this issue with the management company, since if improperly installed there is a danger of spontaneous gas leakage.

This is the most acceptable variation for a dining area. It is environmentally friendly, reliable, easy to use and warms up the room well. Naturally, such a unit does not look like a genuine hearth and is just a copy of it, but despite this, such a design is very organically combined with other items and is suitable for both cottages and most apartments.

They are an excellent alternative to the hearth at home.

The external component or, in other words, the portal is made from all kinds of materials, such as plastic, ceramic tiles, wood, stone and marble. Structures located in front of the wall are usually decorated with natural or artificial stone. Sometimes they are edged with natural wood, thus creating an imitation of genuine stoves.Products made of composite materials, for example, cast marble, as well as electric fireplace frames made of glass ceramics and tinted glass, look very impressive.

Any portal must meet the following requirements:

1. Elimination of any possibility of ignition of the front part of the structure during the operation of the fireplace hearth.
2. Ensuring the safety of the owners of the stove during its use. That is, when installing an electric heat source, protection against electric shock must be made.

Other characteristics, such as dimensions, material, style, location, provide design solutions that can be used to improve the environment.

When placing a fireplace, you must first familiarize yourself with the installation recommendations:

• a wood-burning or, as it is also called, an English fireplace must be installed in such a way that the chimney is straight;
• when determining the space for placement, it is necessary to take into account the direction of the air flows, excluding those places where there are drafts;
• the most successful location is a wall that is located at right angles to the windows;
• the rest corner should be located so that it is comfortable to be near the fireplace.

So what's the best way to position your fireplace to blend in well with other furnishings?

There are several placement methods:

1. Island, that is, in the form of a free-standing structure. In this case, the installation is done in the center of the room, which visually divides the kitchen area and the living room into two components. This variation is very practical in terms of warming up the space.
2. Wall mount. This method is used to install both gas and electric fireplaces in accordance with the design features.
3. Outdoor location. The most common placement, which is typical for both classic and gas or electric fireplaces.

After you have decided on a suitable option and location of the future structure, you need to analyze how harmoniously it will fit into the environment. It is important that the design organically complements the dining area. And only with this approach, the design decision to make changes is justified.

There are many different styles that can be guided when choosing a stove model.

As a rule, classic-style fireplaces are built into the wall, therefore they decorate exclusively the combustion chamber and the U-shaped entrance. Decorations can be made from melanite, marble or onyx. Molding, frescoes, and also columns are used as decorative elements.

The stove should be located in the center of the room, a seating area is organized around it. Such designs outwardly resemble the classics. They are also made in the form of the letter "P", but unlike the classics, rectangular shapes prevail here. No fancy decorations. A distinctive feature is an impressive portal decorated with ceramic tiles, metal products or noble wood. The combustion chamber is small in size, but quite spacious.

This trend is characterized by a natural appearance and no frills. In the process of designing such a fireplace, every little thing is taken into account. The color scheme is predominantly calm pastel tones. Sometimes the effect of aged paint is applied. The final coating is done with tiles, natural stone or glazed tiles.

The memory of a country house, the comfort and warmth of a family hearth are characteristic features of the country style.Such furnaces are massive and impressive in size. The front part resembles the letter "D", below there is a storage for firewood, and above - a firebox. Such fireplaces are installed in the presence of a large free space. Logs or gas are used as fuel, therefore a chimney is required. Such stoves are decorated with natural quartzite, brick or wood.

For those who like to combine business style with the romance of a country house, there are several directions:

At the heart of Art Nouveau fireplaces is a classic stove with basic components, but a modified form. Marble, granite, natural stone or metal are used as materials for decorating a fireplace.

The minimalist trend is very popular today. A characteristic feature is the lack of decoration. First, a base is made: a combustion chamber and a chimney, then they are hidden behind a decorative panel, which turns into a component of the wall.

The result is the feeling of an open space of flame.

On the basis of constantly developing technologies, high-tech fireplaces are made from ultra-modern materials. This direction is characterized by straight lines, pronounced boundaries, the ability to regulate the intensity of the flame, the presence of afterburning systems, a tabletop of bright color.

Such ovens can be made in the form of a coffee table or a retractable shelf in which a combustion chamber is located. There is a huge variety of shapes for fireplaces: rhombus, prism, ball, pyramid or truncated cone, which are mounted on the wall or ceiling.

There are unusual revolving fireplaces, with a waterfall and others. Tempered glass and metal are used for this style. The same building materials are used for chimney hoods.

In general terms, we have identified the key points to be guided by when deciding to purchase a fireplace for the kitchen space and its correct layout. You can choose any option if you have a combined kitchen with a living room or a studio apartment.

For the outdoor kitchen of a private house, you can also choose one of the versions. The summer veranda also in many ways has sufficient dimensions for such a heating device. Even despite the existing limitations, anyone can find a fireplace that suits them.

You can learn how to build a brick fireplace with your own hands from the video below.