Dressing up
As well as deciding on the fireplace design, think about how you are going to dress the room. Max Rollitt, from Max Rollitt Architecture, shares his expert advice: ‘Always have an overmantel mirror – ideally with a soft mercury silver plate. Ensure you have two or three table lamps dotted around the room; together with candles and firelight, they will give a warm, cosy glow on winter evenings. If your fireplace is in a living room, add a wing chair or a pair of Howard armchairs, and an antique tripod or sideboard for drinks. Finish with an antique woven rug or jute rug on the floor to give colour, texture and warmth to the room.’
Image Adam Carter
Over the festive period, the fireplace plays a vital role. It is around the warmth of its flames that the family gathers, stockings are emptied, presents opened, and where toasts are raised. While we no longer depend on the fireplace to heat our homes, it still brings an irreplaceable focal point to a scheme, both in terms of aesthetics and architecture.