Period Features To Love Forever: Fireplaces
Here is everything you need to know about how fireplaces can heat up the heritage value in your period home
Fireplaces have traditionally occupied a special spot in the home, as centres of heat and warmth and as ambient gathering places. Indeed, there was a time when no period home was without at least one fireplace, and these where often located in the kitchen, bedroom, living room and other rooms in need of heat.
However, with electric, gas and central heating superseding fireplaces as the primary source of warmth, many have been bricked or boarded up, plastered over, transformed into storage or display spaces or removed altogether. Those fireplaces still in situ have evolved from a functional necessity to an architectural detail of visual interest, adding beauty, ambience, focus and even a sense of nostalgia to a room. Here’s what you need to know about fireplaces.
However, with electric, gas and central heating superseding fireplaces as the primary source of warmth, many have been bricked or boarded up, plastered over, transformed into storage or display spaces or removed altogether. Those fireplaces still in situ have evolved from a functional necessity to an architectural detail of visual interest, adding beauty, ambience, focus and even a sense of nostalgia to a room. Here’s what you need to know about fireplaces.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING OR RESTORING A FIREPLACE
- Whether you’re restoring a fireplace or adding it new, you can choose from a wide range of manufactured stock components, or you can have it custom made according to your requirements.
- Consider the style and era of your home, as this will play a role in the design of the fireplace insert and surround, if you want to retain historical accuracy.
- Traditionally, a fireplace’s height, size and decorative detail indicated the importance of the room. Fireplace surrounds were larger and more decorative in the public rooms (drawing room, dining room), decreasing in size and detail for the best bedroom, and even more so for the minor bedrooms.
- The size and scale of your house will determine what size fireplace your period home can bear. The larger the room, the greater the potential for a fireplace that takes more width or height.
- Consider whether you want an electric model or if you’d prefer to burn wood, gas or ethanol.
- Seek professional advice when installing or restoring a fireplace insert. The structure and safety of a fireplace and chimney should be checked, inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.
- Ensure your fireplace complies with relevant building codes.
FIREPLACE DESIGN
A number of elements contribute to the look of a fireplace, and these will vary in subtle or dramatic ways depending on the style and era of your heritage house.
A number of elements contribute to the look of a fireplace, and these will vary in subtle or dramatic ways depending on the style and era of your heritage house.
Insert and fascia
Fireplace inserts were usually cast iron due to that material’s ability to tolerate very high heat exposure, and they originally included an integrated grate to burn timber or coal. The fascia (or hood) is the decorative layer of cast iron that frames the insert and distances the mantle or surround from the fire.
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Fireplace inserts were usually cast iron due to that material’s ability to tolerate very high heat exposure, and they originally included an integrated grate to burn timber or coal. The fascia (or hood) is the decorative layer of cast iron that frames the insert and distances the mantle or surround from the fire.
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Arched inserts proved to be most common in early- and mid-Victorian era homes, but by the late-Victorian era many inserts were square with more prominent and decorated fascias. The square insert remained popular during the Federation-era and can also be seen during the Art Nouveau years, after the turn of the century.
Mantelpiece
The mantelpiece is a shelf above the top of the fireplace, which can be used to conveniently display pictures, ornaments, books and other decorative pieces. It is often incorporated into the sides of the fireplace for a unified and elegant look.
The decorative detail of the mantelpiece was often in line with the modesty or grandness of the home. More elaborate mantelpieces in drawing and dining rooms had carved decorative elements. Victorian homes often featured corbels or other moulding beneath the shelf, which became more elongated as the period progressed.
More on timber mouldings
The mantelpiece is a shelf above the top of the fireplace, which can be used to conveniently display pictures, ornaments, books and other decorative pieces. It is often incorporated into the sides of the fireplace for a unified and elegant look.
The decorative detail of the mantelpiece was often in line with the modesty or grandness of the home. More elaborate mantelpieces in drawing and dining rooms had carved decorative elements. Victorian homes often featured corbels or other moulding beneath the shelf, which became more elongated as the period progressed.
More on timber mouldings
Federation-era mantelpieces included bevelled-edge mirrors, and Edwardian-era mantles became much more geometric in design.
In the late Victorian era, homeowners would live a little dangerously by our standards and fancy up their fireplaces by draping material below the shelf. They would also secure a curtain rod to the wall and drape material above the mantel, and even paper the wood or stone of the fireplace surrounds. These trends are not to be repeated, both for aesthetic and for safety reasons.
The urban Australian house
In the late Victorian era, homeowners would live a little dangerously by our standards and fancy up their fireplaces by draping material below the shelf. They would also secure a curtain rod to the wall and drape material above the mantel, and even paper the wood or stone of the fireplace surrounds. These trends are not to be repeated, both for aesthetic and for safety reasons.
The urban Australian house
Materials
Fireplace surrounds were most commonly wood, stone and marble. This last material was particularly popular in the Victorian era, but only seen in grander homes by the end of World War I. The stone colour generally indicated the importance of the room – with light-coloured stone used in the sitting room or bedrooms and darker stone in the study or dining room.
Fireplace surrounds were most commonly wood, stone and marble. This last material was particularly popular in the Victorian era, but only seen in grander homes by the end of World War I. The stone colour generally indicated the importance of the room – with light-coloured stone used in the sitting room or bedrooms and darker stone in the study or dining room.
In Arts and Crafts period homes, the preference for the use of simpler materials saw timber favoured over marble. It may have been painted a monochrome colour – often white – waxed to enhance the natural appearance, or stained or ‘fumed’ to a darker colour as an alternative to French polishing.
The Arts and Crafts movement for the modern home
The Arts and Crafts movement for the modern home
Federation villa mantels were also made from timber, and Edwardian villas had mahogany or oak mantlepieces left unpainted.
Tile inserts
Tile sliders, which are purely decorative, were first introduced into cast-iron fireplaces in the 1860s, allowing 6-inch (15cm) tiles to be slid either side of the fireplace opening.
During the Federation-era, tiles often featured images and motifs of Australian nationalism, including flora such as the waratah.
Tile sliders, which are purely decorative, were first introduced into cast-iron fireplaces in the 1860s, allowing 6-inch (15cm) tiles to be slid either side of the fireplace opening.
During the Federation-era, tiles often featured images and motifs of Australian nationalism, including flora such as the waratah.
Art Nouveau motifs became more prominent after the turn of the century, with tiles featuring sinuous designs and vibrant colours.
Hearth
The hearth is the floor panel in front of the chimney and it can consist of two parts. The constructional hearth is a flat area of fireproof material (usually concrete) that sits flush with the floorboards around the fire. The decorative hearth sits on top of the constructional hearth. It will often be raised and can be made from stone, slate or ceramic tiles. Federation-era hearths were usually tiled and laid flush with the floor with mitred corners.
The hearth is the floor panel in front of the chimney and it can consist of two parts. The constructional hearth is a flat area of fireproof material (usually concrete) that sits flush with the floorboards around the fire. The decorative hearth sits on top of the constructional hearth. It will often be raised and can be made from stone, slate or ceramic tiles. Federation-era hearths were usually tiled and laid flush with the floor with mitred corners.
A fender, seen around the edge of this fireplace, can be added around the hearth to demarcate the edge of the fireplace. Back in the day it also, apparently, kept women’s billowing skirts away from the fire. A very useful invention!
TELL US
Do you have an original fireplace in your home? Please share your photos of it by uploading them in the Comments section below.
MORE
10 Hearth-Warming Ideas for a Festive Fireplace
Have a Hearth: Make Your Fireplace Look Smokin’ Hot All Year Round
Fabulous Shelving Solutions to Frame Your Fireplace
TELL US
Do you have an original fireplace in your home? Please share your photos of it by uploading them in the Comments section below.
MORE
10 Hearth-Warming Ideas for a Festive Fireplace
Have a Hearth: Make Your Fireplace Look Smokin’ Hot All Year Round
Fabulous Shelving Solutions to Frame Your Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure at the base of a chimney designed to contain, in this case, an internal fire. Fireplaces are traditionally used for heating, and historically have also been used for cooking, heating water and toasting marshmallows.
In period houses, fireplaces are often made up of two parts including the insert – where the fire burns – and the surround, consisting of the mantel and side supports.
Chimneys in period homes