Alternative Ideas for Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Love the idea of a flickering fire, but want something different to set your room apart? Take a look at these designs
Wood-burning fireplaces that have an eco-approved design and are fitted properly are great for creating a cosy atmosphere in both traditional and contemporary homes. But if you want more than the classic black box in the fireplace, it’s time to think outside the square. Be inspired by these clever ideas.
Make a feature of the chimney
If your room has a high ceiling, it makes sense to exaggerate it. Here, a double-height space is highlighted by a towering chimney. The tapering design draws the eye upwards towards the lofty heights of the upper floor.
Smoking Hot: 8 Fireplaces to Inflame Your Sense of Style
If your room has a high ceiling, it makes sense to exaggerate it. Here, a double-height space is highlighted by a towering chimney. The tapering design draws the eye upwards towards the lofty heights of the upper floor.
Smoking Hot: 8 Fireplaces to Inflame Your Sense of Style
Work yours into a kitchen design
Think there’s no room in your kitchen for that much-desired fireplace? Think again. This scheme has a fireplace built into the benchtop. The chimney is hidden neatly behind a facade that has been created to match the cabinetry.
Think there’s no room in your kitchen for that much-desired fireplace? Think again. This scheme has a fireplace built into the benchtop. The chimney is hidden neatly behind a facade that has been created to match the cabinetry.
Create order with a plinth
If a freestanding wood-burner and a pile of logs feels a bit messy for your scheme, try this idea. The brick plinth, painted white to blend with the wall behind, corrals the stove, logs and kindling into one neat unit.
It also gives the wood-burner an importance in the room, and means the flames are at eye-level for anyone snuggling up in an armchair.
If a freestanding wood-burner and a pile of logs feels a bit messy for your scheme, try this idea. The brick plinth, painted white to blend with the wall behind, corrals the stove, logs and kindling into one neat unit.
It also gives the wood-burner an importance in the room, and means the flames are at eye-level for anyone snuggling up in an armchair.
Elevate an unexpected room
We expect to see a fireplace in a living room, maybe in a combined kitchen/dining room, perhaps in a bedroom, but why not give a gorgeous family bathroom the wow-factor with a compact model?
If you’re not keen on the idea of fireplace maintenance in a bathroom, choose a convincing gas or electric model instead.
How Do I… Choose a Gas Fireplace?
We expect to see a fireplace in a living room, maybe in a combined kitchen/dining room, perhaps in a bedroom, but why not give a gorgeous family bathroom the wow-factor with a compact model?
If you’re not keen on the idea of fireplace maintenance in a bathroom, choose a convincing gas or electric model instead.
How Do I… Choose a Gas Fireplace?
Fashion a central focal point
In a large room, a centrally placed, floor-standing fireplace can create an eye-catching focal point.
If you’re considering this idea, a curvaceous design like the one shown here is more sympathetic to this kind of treatment – in other words, soft lines look better than sharp angles.
In a large room, a centrally placed, floor-standing fireplace can create an eye-catching focal point.
If you’re considering this idea, a curvaceous design like the one shown here is more sympathetic to this kind of treatment – in other words, soft lines look better than sharp angles.
Integrate in a pillar
In this smart eat-in kitchen and living area extension, a supporting pillar has been widened to accommodate a double-sided fireplace in the centre of the room.
Space-efficient, sleek and contemporary, it offers the cosiness of flickering flames in the kitchen and the seating area (behind the camera) without taking up extra room.
In this smart eat-in kitchen and living area extension, a supporting pillar has been widened to accommodate a double-sided fireplace in the centre of the room.
Space-efficient, sleek and contemporary, it offers the cosiness of flickering flames in the kitchen and the seating area (behind the camera) without taking up extra room.
Choose an unusual shape
Wall-hung fireplaces are perfect for creating a streamlined look in a contemporary space, but why not take your design statement a step further and choose one in an unusual shape, like this spherical design?
Keep the rest of the room’s furniture and accessories low-key to let the stove do the talking, but check that your fireplace adheres to current Australian standards and regulations.
Wall-hung fireplaces are perfect for creating a streamlined look in a contemporary space, but why not take your design statement a step further and choose one in an unusual shape, like this spherical design?
Keep the rest of the room’s furniture and accessories low-key to let the stove do the talking, but check that your fireplace adheres to current Australian standards and regulations.
Slot in on an angle
If you have a small living room, or no clear section of wall, consider tucking your fireplace into a corner.
It can work well on an angle, but try to arrange your furniture to make the most of it, so it becomes a focal point rather than looking as if it’s been pushed out of the way.
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
If you have a small living room, or no clear section of wall, consider tucking your fireplace into a corner.
It can work well on an angle, but try to arrange your furniture to make the most of it, so it becomes a focal point rather than looking as if it’s been pushed out of the way.
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
Tell us
Are you looking for an alternative idea for a wood-burning fireplace or have any of these ideas sparked inspiration? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Feel a burning need to install a fireplace this winter? Find fireplace specialists in your area who can offer a quote and discuss design options
Are you looking for an alternative idea for a wood-burning fireplace or have any of these ideas sparked inspiration? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Feel a burning need to install a fireplace this winter? Find fireplace specialists in your area who can offer a quote and discuss design options
Large, open-plan rooms tend to be bright and airy, but it’s important that they’re welcoming and cosy in the colder months, too.
Fitting a double-sided fireplace within a centrally placed, half-height wall such as this one gives you the best of both worlds: a warming focal point and the open-plan vibe.