HOW TO GET THE PERFECT VICTORIAN FIREPLACE FOR YOUR HOME – Victorian fireplaces can be a stunning addition to any home. And they really are suitable for all decors thanks to their incredible adaptability. After all, there must be a reason why they have remained popular for so long.
If you think you like the look of Victorian fireplaces and want to get this look yourself, here are a few things you will want to think about first:
Size Of Your Fireplace
Fireplaces in the Victorian era were quite dominant and were introduced as a way to show off wealth to guests. In order to do this, they were often oversized and covered in lashings of richly coloured drapes and expensive ornaments, which were newly fashionable.
They were essentially big, busy and bold. This is an easy look to emulate (although perhaps we have learned better health and safety measures and could avoid the drapes over a fire) but it is worthwhile checking if there is room in your house.
Look at the size of your room. Will a huge fireplace overpower the area and make it look smaller? If yes, go for a more simple design with a less prominent mantelpiece.
Materials of Your Fireplace
Victorian fireplace frames are most popular in either marble or wood, and there are benefits to each. Think about which is most important to you and go from there.
Marble is elegant, easy to maintain and can house some beautiful intricate carvings. It is slightly more expensive than wood, but is durable, making it a worthwhile cost. After all, a fireplace isn’t something that you want to replace often, so you’ll want it to last.
Wooden frames can be bought treated or untreated. This means, you can either buy the finished product or just the wood frame itself with the option of updating your fireplace at a later date with little hassle, with the simple addition of some varnish or a wax treatment to completely transform its look.
Style of Your Fireplace
What style is likely to be suited to your home? Do you have modern or traditional tastes? If your house was built in the 1800′s, chances are it may some telltale signs of the Victorian era already with deep skirting boards and moulding on the ceiling. And there may even be the makings of a traditional Victorian fireplace with a cast iron fire.
If you don’t, this doesn’t mean a Victorian fireplace can’t work. Marble and wood are the materials we still see today in many contemporary designs. With neutral colours ever popular for interior design, a statement elegant fireplace will be suited to any style.
Function of Your Fireplace
Are you looking for a fireplace for show or for function? With more efficient central heating making its way into many homes, some find that they simply want a fireplace for aesthetics only as opposed to the warmth.
However, cast iron fires are the traditional accompaniment to a Victorian frame. For easy maintenance, ensure that your floors are protected from any ash or soot stains that may occur.
