Hearth and home

INTERIORS:A fireplace is often the focal point of a room, and what you put on the mantelpiece is almost as important as the fire surround itself, writes EOIN LYONS

THE FIREPLACE IS the focus of most living rooms and a symbol of hearth and home. It provides a natural focal point and adds architectural interest. But aesthetics aside, there are few things more comforting than the flickering flames and smouldering wood of an open fire. So, if you are updating an existing fireplace or buying a new one, what you choose and how you decorate it matters greatly to how your home feels.

It’s usually wise to keep an original fireplace, as it will probably suit the proportions of the room better than a modern alternative. But, if it’s an ugly fireplace that has to go, for a contemporary look you can neaten up the aperture with a plain metal surround and remove the offending surround altogether. This means there is no mantelpiece, just a simple opening in the wall. You could raise such an opening so the fire is up off the floor and incorporate an extended hearth that can double as a seat or display area akin to a mantelpiece. One builder who can do this for you is Tommy O’Reilly of Sunlight Construction (tel: 086-1290475).

David O’Reilly specialises in period fireplaces (tel: 01-4544101). Don’t be put off by his location on Francis Street: he may operate at the higher end of the market but he does not overcharge for what are mostly antique surrounds. Some are very expensive, others less so. But then these are valuable items and their appearance will have a big impact on your home.

If you want a period look, but don’t want to spend a large amount of money, consider a timber surround. Those that O’Reilly has from time to time are beautiful, unpretentious, and cost comparatively less than a marble surround. They’re lighter looking too, but will suit most period homes. I have both painted them and left them in their natural state, depending on the style of a room.

In Cork, Hickey Fireplaces (tel: 021-4872021) is reliable, not too expensive and has some lovely styles. For a house in Cork, I used its limestone Harvard fireplace – it’s a classic, light look with stepped geometric detailing and is the kind of piece that won’t date. Consider using a curved metal hearth surround as a contrast to the linear look of this surround. The Clandon is another limestone fireplace that is from the same manufacturers, Stone Facings in Mullingar, and it is equally timeless. There is a list of suppliers on its website, stonefacings.ie.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that the fireplace should be in proportion to the room. Also, it might sound obvious, but remember the living room needs to be warm: generally speaking, people are sitting around relaxing, not bustling around creating their own heat. So, no matter how efficient your heating system, you will want your fireplace to throw out as much heat as possible. Think, too, about the proportion of your chimneybreast and have it built out if a wider expanse would give the room better balance. Avoid leaving a black hole between lighting fires; a stack of firewood is better than a dirty grate. White birch logs are always lovely, if you can get your hands on them at a garden centre.

There are alternatives to having black slate around a hearth. Think about the overall decor and consider using a lighter stone. These work particularly well around gas fires as no dirt is created. Look at using burnished metal between the surround and aperture. For the grate, keep to either chrome or brass, depending on what your door handles, curtain poles or other hardware are.

For gas fires, Fenton Fires (tel: 01-2874310) has the one of the best ranges and is conscientious on all safety aspects. If you have an old fireplace that you want to convert to gas, Russell Hendy (tel: 087-2596373) will connect gas and supply the fire fittings. Artefaction (tel: 01-4089702) sells fireplaces and wonderful stone.

Replacing a fireplace usually involves re-painting the area around the fireplace. Whatever you do, don’t pick out the chimneybreast as a feature wall in a bright colour. A subtle contrast between the chimney and walls is good, but anything too bright is passé. Two painters I can recommend are Tom O’Toole (tel: 086-8382355) and Paddy Kelly (tel: 087-8174580).

How you decorate your mantelpiece has almost as much bearing on the look of the fireplace as the hearth itself. Here are a few dos and don’ts:

Do

Alternate large items with a few smaller ones that draw you in for a closer look.

Include something natural such as fresh flowers or a piece of coral. Blooming Amazing (bloomingamazing.ie) will create small vignettes of flowers for special occasions.

Edit carefully. Too many little items together can look like clutter.

Keep it simple. A parade of white pottery is always a pleasant grouping.

Get personal. Groups of small, framed images that mean something to you always look great.

Don’t

Pile the mantelpiece with picture frames.

Hang a picture in the middle of the chimneybreast. Place it off centre and use something placed on the mantle to create balance.

Use a large gilt mirror in a period home – it’s too clichéd. Instead use a smaller mirror on the chimneybreast and combine it with some artwork.

Be afraid to mix high and low, old and new. Not everything has to be top quality or expensive. Oxfam Home often has great display pieces.

Separate pairs – two small vases or candlesticks are often better side by side.