888.630.9224There’s nothing quite like curling up on a handmade wooden chair, soft cotton blanket around your shoulders and bear skin rug beneath your feet. Topped off with a good book, hot chocolate and a roaring fireplace. A fireplace is perhaps one of the oldest means of heating in any home and have become a symbol of rustic beauty and finding comfort in the little things. Following are some of the most beautiful working fireplaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but offer a functional heat source that dates back hundreds of years.
Firebox
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The firebox style of fireplace is primarily form over function. Usually constructed with rocks or bricks the firebox was common to find in small homes as their only source of heat, as well as in multiple rooms in larger home. While the firebox doesn’t leave much room for decoration, it’s functional, old-world charm is a lovely addition to a private family room or den.
Aristocratic
The fireplace that adorned the living rooms of Victorian mansions were used for heat just the same as fire pits were in lower status homes, just with more finesse. The servants were the ones who usually tended to these, making sure that the esteemed Wellingtons were as comfortable as their pretentious snobbery would allow on a cold winter day.
The Cabin
A staple for any cozy cottage, this stone fireplace with the decorative grate is something we’d all enjoy on a cold winter evening. The old charm is apparent and simple nature can be seen from the firebox style, but the cover is decorative enough for the fireplace to be seen as more than a means to keep warm. The strong, heavy stones give it a homemade feel and quaint appeal.
The Lodger
What ski lodge is complete without a gigantic fireplace with a roaring fire? This beautiful display captures the essence of simple luxury. Wooden furniture, dark leather cushions and an intricate patterned rug is everything you’d need for a relaxing break before taking on the black diamond.
The Detective
How could anyone hope to unravel a mystery without the artistic disarray that accompanies this East London flat? The haphazardly tossed books and animal skin is a nice touch without taking focus away from the obviously used fireplace. The various knickknacks surrounding the fireplace enhances it and makes the room itself seem like a mystery.
Truth be told, the fireplace a source of warmth in the cold months was not very effective and left many rooms unheated and well as most of the upper levels of a home. If you have a fireplace in your home, it may not be the best idea to rely on that for your main heating element; a central heating system is a good investment. And for those lucky enough to have a fireplace in their home, there presents almost endless means of decorative justice.
