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Traditional fireplace designs


15 traditional fireplaces – design ideas to inspire your renovation

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A traditional fireplace, alight with burning coals or logs on a cold winter night, is the ultimate period feature. Period homes are often renowned for being cold and difficult to heat, but a fireplace creates the ultimate cosy and comforting atmosphere. 

Fireplaces come in many forms, ranging from the large inglenooks found in early homes, to the cast-iron, marble and wooden surrounds of the Georgian and Victorian eras.

Many fireplaces were boarded up in the 1960s and replaced with electric fires, but fashions come and go and now the heart-warming cheer of an open fire is aspirational again.

So, if you are looking to uncover a previously boarded up fireplace, or simply want to include this gorgeous period feature in your home, check out our selection of the best traditional fireplace design ideas. For more living room ideas, don't miss our inspiring guide. See more traditional living room ideas in our gallery, too.

1. Be inspired by Neoclassical style with a grand fireplace fit for a grand room

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

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'A fireplace is the focal point of the room and can be a conversation piece which people will gather around – choose carefully as the right design and style can make an ordinary room exceptional. ' Paul Chesney, managing director of Chesneys, advises, 'Grand, traditional fire surrounds look wonderful in large rooms with high ceilings, however some of our simpler designs can still look grand and be an impressive feature in any room, if chosen carefully to suit the style of the property and interior design scheme.'

2. Choose an exposed red brick fireplace for a cottage

(Image credit: Bridget Peirson)

When it comes to finding traditional fireplaces ideas, it is important to celebrate the original materials within your home. The rich red of the bricks of this fireplace are brought to life by the patterned cushions and warm wooden furniture. Opting for neutral, light coloured walls helps showcase the exposed brick, while a picture rather than a complete mantlepiece, draws the eye, letting the original features speak for themselves.

3. Fit a sculptural mantlepiece in a small room

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

There are no real hard and fast rules regarding the size, shape and proportion of a fireplace, as each room is unique, and can look and feel very different according to the prevailing light, paint colours and ceiling height.

However, in general, avoid squeezing a generously proportioned fireplace into a small room and, equally, don’t place an average-to-small-sized fireplace in a grandly proportioned room.

Here, a mantlepiece alone, painted to blend with the chimney breast, provides focus, without overwhelming a smaller room. If you're looking for the simplest of traditional fireplace design ideas, this is it.

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian homes very often had marble surrounds. If your original fire surrounds have been removed, your first stop for an authentic original would be a specialist fireplace company or a salvage yard. Bear in mind that original marble fire surrounds bought in salvage yards are rarely in one piece. Instead, expect to have to assemble yours on site. This is no small task and it would be wise to get a professional involved. A fire surround bought like this would usually need professional cleaning, too. Try SalvoWeb for a salvage yard near you.

No matter which style you opt for, fireplaces and chimneys require regular attention to work safely and efficiently and, even if they are never used, some routine maintenance will be inevitable. Check out our expert guide on how to clean and maintain a fireplace to help keep yours in check. 

5. Add classic elegance with a Victorian fireplace

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

When choosing a fireplace for your home, pick out a design that's authentic to your property's period. It might be that neighbouring houses have original designs that you can take inspiration from, or you can consult with an established company experienced in providing traditional pieces.

Just as important as picking the right fireplace style is to ensure the design you choose is of the proper proportions. In other words, its size should flatter the room's size: too small and it will look out of place; too large and it will overwhelm the space. 

(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

By the second quarter of the 18th century, the fireplace had become the centrepiece of the main reception room, so if you're lucky enough to live in a home of this period, choose a fire surround that really draws attention to it.  

If you are happy to retain an original fireplace, but perhaps want to update the mantel and surround, it’s a good idea to take the opportunity to check that the structure of the chimney is still sound and safe. Contact HETAS to find a chimney sweep in your area.

For good advice on choosing either a real or gas fire, visit a fireplace specialist, which can also advise on installation and recommend local gas fitters or electrical engineers that are appropriately qualified.

7. Install a stove for easy maintenance

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

Wood burning stoves are now a popular option fireplaces in homes of all periods, since the flame is contained within the body of the stove meaning that there is a lot less mess than with a traditional open fire. 

Stoves offer great controllability and the crystal clear glass doors make the fire a spectacle to behold. Plus it produces five times more heat output than an open fire as well as being a more eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.  Find out all you need to know about choosing a stove (woodburning or multi-fuel) in our guide, and check out all the best stoves on the market in our buyer's guide.

8. Choose a tiled Victorian fireplace to complement your home's original style 

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

Traditional fireplace design ideas aren't just about looking for the right surround – details are important, too. Victorian fireplaces often featured beautiful inset tiles in the surround to add an artistic flair to the room. 

'If you are renovating a period home, and want to stay true to its heritage, it is more than likely you will want a fireplace to suit the decorative grandeur of your home’s history. There are a range of options available to you, including something like Stovax's classic Combination Range,' says Michael Coke, senior development engineer at Stovax.

'Whether as a working model or purely a centrepiece for aesthetics, the  Combination Range makes replacing an existing fire more simple by including both mantel and insert in a single unit, whilst remaining in keeping with the architecture of your late 19th century or early 20th century design. With its compact dimensions, a Combination tiled insert would be perfect for homes with a smaller chimney breast.' 

For more information on installing a tiled fireplace, check out our expert guide to tiling a fireplace here.

(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

Looking for traditional fireplace design ideas that make it the focal feature of your living room? If your fireplace feels too small for your room consider adding a stand-out feature such as a fender, attractive fire guard or fire gate to further ‘extend’ the look of the hearth. It also adds an extra element of safety to the fireplace. Adding a detailed mantlepiece and mirror also draws attention to the fireplace, making it a focal point of the living room. 

10. Victorian fireplace are perfect for creating an ornate display. Find out how with these styling tricks

(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

Fireplaces can be a focal point without producing heat. Opting for decorative tiles, like these reproduction William Morris tiles, from Victorian Ceramics , in Henry Miller's renovated Victorian home create a sophisticated display. Complemented by painted detailing on the fire surround, and an ornate fire screen created by Henry's mother, the fireplace looks like a work of art in its own right. Perfect for this gallery-inspired home.

See more of Henry Miller's fantastic design ideas in this real home story.

11. Embrace fireplaces in every room of the home

(Image credit: Matt Clayton)

Traditionally, a fire in the fireplace was the only way to heat a home, so it's no surprise that they can be found in every room of period homes. Since we no longer rely on fires to provide heating, many get removed. However, why not embrace the traditional style, even if its not longer in use, and use the mantlepiece to host elegant displays, enjoying the focal point that the fireplace provides the room. 

This gorgeous green wallpaper is Farrow and Ball's Atacama in Yeabridge Green and Clunch and prevents the fireplace from dominating the room

(Image credit: Farrow and Ball)

If the fireplace you already have feels too large for the space, use visual tricks such as painting the chimney breast in a darker shade, or use a bold wallpaper to trick the eye and create a harmony between the fireplace and the wider wall.  

Be aware that the wallpaper trick used above looks wonderful but won't last in the long term since the heat of the stove will dry out the wallpaper paste, meaning it might need to be repapered once a year. Worthwhile? We think so.

13. Create a rustic look with a wooden beamed mantelpiece

(Image credit: Mark Watts/Unique Home Stays)

When finding the perfect fireplace for your home, it is important to note the context of your home’s affluence as well as its era. While a grand marble design might be a great fit for a Georgian townhouse, it is ill-suited for a more humble cottage, where a wooden fireplace may be a better fit. 

14. Elevate your interior style with a grand fireplace 

(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

Techniques for carving stone have changed little over the centuries. Carved fireplaces instantly add a grand feel to any room. Whether crafted from marble or limestone, its intricate detailing brings a hint of pattern to a neutral scheme.  

(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

While stone is usually the go-to material for classical styles, wooden fire surrounds can be less imposing and feature the same exquisite carved details as grander marble designs, adding interest and warmth to your space. Invest in a reclaimed wooden fireplace to add instant patina and character.

Take a look at these other advice features on fireplaces:

Holly is Sub-editor and Features Writer for Period Living. She is busy putting her stamp on a pre-furnished flat by making cushions and upcycling second-hand finds.

Traditional fireplace ideas: hearths and mantel looks

(Image credit: Brockschmidt & Coleman/Paul Costello)

Traditional fireplace ideas have been around for centuries, from Tudor halls and grand Georgian mansions right through to humble cottages and Victorian townhouses.  While designs have evolved, the purpose has always been the same – to provide families with a source of heating, cooking and comfort.

Today, modern ovens and central heating have replaced the need for an inefficient open fire, yet it is still one of the most sought-after features in period properties, evoking a romantic image of a time gone by and providing a cozy focal point. 

While many homeowners are lucky enough to find original fireplaces still intact, some have been removed or replaced with living room ideas that have inauthentic designs by previous occupants. This might mean you need to search for traditional fireplace ideas to help restore your fireplace to its former glory. 

Traditional fireplace ideas

If you're looking for fireplace ideas, a traditional fireplace elevates a home, whether it's a period property or one that's more modern. With logs burning in the hearth, it adds literal warmth, while its elegant exterior creates a cozy atmosphere even when the embers have died down.  

'A fireplace quite literally transforms a room, a real focal point, it brings people together. They are lovely community pieces,' says Owen Pacey, founder of Renaissance London , a longstanding seller of antiques, specializing in traditional fireplace restoration and reproduction

How to choose the right traditional fireplace ideas for your home

'When choosing living room fireplace ideas, it’s best to go with your initial instinct and choose something you really like the look of so long as its  exquisitely crafted,' advises Paul Chesney, managing director of Chesneys , 'however, it’s not necessary to go for a Victorian fireplace if you happen to live in a Victorian house. Architecturally, proportion of a fire surround is more important than matching the period of the fire surround to the period of the house.'

1. Embrace the beauty of Victorian fireplace ideas

(Image credit: Future)

Tiles are an icon of the Victorian fireplace and there are plenty of traditional fireplace ideas to choose from. Whether you opt for ornate fireplace tile ideas to flank either side of a stove or lay them in the hearth to create a pop of color, the tiles will quickly become the star of the show – always looking stunning, regardless of whether the fire is lit or not. 

Of course, if you're looking for traditional fireplace ideas that focus on a tiled design, your first question will be 'What tiles are suitable for a fireplace?' There are plenty – from porcelain and ceramic, to glass, marble and natural stones. 

'Porcelain is always a good bet,' says Hamish Smith, creative director at tile manufacturer Ca'Pietra . 'It naturally absorbs the heat because of its density, but whichever tiles you end up choosing, be sure there’s a buffer of 15in between your tiles and the flame. Also look to use a heat-resistant adhesive and grout that can withstand high temperatures.'

2. Be inspired by Regency style for on-trend traditional fireplace ideas

(Image credit: Brockschmidt & Coleman/Paul Costello)

Take inspiration from the Regency period and ensure your fireplace makes a statement. Mantelpieces in this period tended to be larger in order to accommodate items like carriage clocks on display. 

In order to create balance with the decor, the mantelpiece's design is simpler, tended to be white or lightly veined marble and featured reeding, corner tablets and decorative roundels.

'In terms of trends in traditional fireplace ideas, we have often been using steel slips with a beaded edge instead of stone. The detail was popular with Regency chimneypieces that used coal grates,' explains Courtney Coleman founder of design company Brockschmidt & Coleman.  

'This white marble Regency-style mantel and steel slip give an elegant focus to a library surrounded by bookcases and lightened with a bow window. While the mantel is quite large, the delicate carving, light color marble and ethereal steel slip keep the fireplace from dominating the room.' 

3. Give a traditional fireplace a modern edge with paint

(Image credit: Arada Stoves)

Of course, your traditional fireplace ideas aren't just limited to showcasing the mantel's natural materials. Painting your traditional fireplace the same shade as your walls will highlight the architecture of the fire surround, helping it to blend into the scheme and adding a touch of period elegance without dominating the space. Pair with a minimalist hearth to help maintain the pared-back scheme.

4. Create a focal point with a cool colored mantelpiece 

(Image credit: Brockschmidt & Coleman/William Waldron )

'We often advise painting wood chimneypieces a different color than the trim in the room,' says Billy Brockschmidt, founder of design company Brockschmidt & Coleman.

'Here, a cool blue color complements the slate slip and hearth and to contrast with the warmer ochre wall and trim colors. The strong mantel acts as a base for an antique mirror, cachepots, hurricanes and antique Paris porcelain.'

5. Traditional fireplace ideas to add color? A tiled hearth

(Image credit: Walls & Floors)

An original fireplace with tiled surround is a prized feature in many homes, but increasingly we are opting for the efficiency and environmental benefits offered by a stoves – and these also make for fantastic farmhouse fireplace ideas, perfect if you love that style. Tiling behind your stove in a light color helps it to stand out, while the expanse of hearth gives you the space to be creative with pattern and color.

6. Pick a carved wooden fireplace for grandeur and warmth in equal measure 

(Image credit: Future/Kasia Fiszer)

While stone is usually the go-to material for classical styles, wooden fire surrounds can be less imposing and feature the same exquisite carved details as grander marble designs, adding interest and warmth to your space. Invest in a reclaimed wooden traditional fireplace to add instant patina and character.

'Homeowners love reclaimed wood mantels because of their old world looks and timeless beauty. The very fact they’re reclaimed makes each one unique and different,' says Taylor Moore III, Vice President of specialists E.T. Moore .

7. Show off a fireplace's contours by painting a chimney breast in a bold color

(Image credit: Future/Julia Currie)

'Fireplaces can be fantastic features but painting the chimney breast with a contrasting color can change the perception of the room dimensions. A strong color on the chimney breast can make it appear to extend,' says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore . 

'If the room is long and thin with the fireplace on a long wall, painting the fireplace a darker color will make the room appear even longer. In this case it’s better to paint one of the short walls the stronger color so the room appears to be more square.' 

(Image credit: Future / Kasia Fiszer)

If you’re looking to bridge the gap between traditional features and a more modern style, a matte black traditional fire surround is a great choice. Striking a bold silhouette against a dark wall color, pair the black surround with an ornate tiled hearth to bring a touch of quintessential Victorian style to your living room. 

9. Paint walls and fireplace in complementary shades

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Your traditional fireplace is a dominating piece of your room's design so it can be hard to strike the balance between this and other elements – particularly wall color.  

'When it comes to painting a traditional fireplace, a good tip is to select an item such as the sofa, curtains or a cushion that can act as the starting point for the color palette. Using an individual point will help you to focus and select a complementary color to bring your fireplace to life,' says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore.

Here, the pink and white sofas have inspired the scheme, with the white painted fireplace set against the pink wall. Painting the fireplace a lighter color than the wall helps to brighten the space and make the fireplace harmonize with the rest of the interior design. 

(Image credit: Westland London)

The epitome of elegance and affluence, handcarved statuary marble mantelpieces were popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and continue to be a favorite for homeowners today. With beautifully intricate designs and dainty detailing, a handcarved marble fireplace brings a hint of pattern to a neutral scheme that will instantly elevate any room.

For the most part, Georgian designs were all about making a statement, with generous proportions and classic motives. Wealthy homes opted for marble designs while more modest households painted their wooden fireplaces white, adding mock marble veining to emulate the look. 

Quintessentially Georgian, this antique Dalquharran Castle Portland Stone fireplace from Westland London was designed by Robert Adam and features classical friezes including carved lyres. 

What can you do with a traditional fireplace?

A mirror is the most obvious traditional fireplace idea.  

'Since a fireplace is often the focus of the room, a large convex mirror reflects the whole room. Wall sconces flanking the mirror or hurricanes or even small lamps with shade on the mantel shelf give a glow to the center of the room,' explains Courtney Coleman founder of design company Brockschmidt & Coleman.

If your fireplace is unused, you can decorate the area around the grate, too.  

'One trick we often use is to pile up some firewood inside the fireplace. This gives such a lovely warm and homely feel and can transform an empty fire place,' says Emmie Brookman from Silver Mushroom . 

You can also use an empty fireplace to create an artistic feature in your room. Stacks of yellowed paperback books piled high and scattered with vases of foliage and pretty candles create a pretty period-inspired scene – perfect for a booklover.

Can I use my existing chimney with these traditional fireplace ideas?

Whether you’ve opened a new fireplace or have one that is already in use, it is vital that you check that it’s in good working order. Your first port of call should be a certified chimney sweep, who will not only be able to check whether your chimney is clear from debris but will also be able to give it a safety check. They will confirm that your flue lining, chimney and grate are all compatible with use, they will also be able to recommend any changes or replacements to keep it in good health.  

Once your fireplace is up and running, you should get it checked every six months – once at the start and once at the end of the colder seasons. 

This feature was created by H&G's sister brand, Period Living magazine 

Subscribe to Period Living for more inspiration

Period Living is the UK's best-selling period homes magazine, and is also available in the US. A subscription provides you with all you need to know about caring for and improving a traditional house and garden in a classic English style.

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature four years ago, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature. 

Fireplace construction. What is a fireplace made of?

Modern fireplaces are not only complex mechanisms, the production of which includes high technologies, but also heating devices that work on combustible materials. The installation of such devices requires strict adherence to fire safety rules and great practical skills - therefore, we always recommend our customers only professional installation of a fireplace with the help of a team of our specialists:


Where to look?
Installation examples

Modern fireplaces, despite the wide variety of types and finishing materials, consist of the same components - a firebox, a chimney and a fireplace lining.

Firebox or combustion chamber is the main element of fireplaces. Usually it is made of cast iron, but there are chambers made of heat-resistant steel, in which case the inner surface of the firebox is reinforced with cast-iron plates or laid out with fireclay or vermiculite - a lighter analogue of fireclay.
Fireboxes can be closed or open. In a classic fireplace with an open firebox, there is no door that closes the firebox, which is why its efficiency is low, and barely reaches 15%. Therefore, open fireplace systems are now almost supplanted by closed-fired fireplaces, which are equipped with glass-ceramic doors that can withstand temperatures up to 900 ° C. Such closed fireboxes not only allow you to control air flow and increase the efficiency of the fireplace up to 80%, but also do not deprive the owners of the opportunity to admire the open flame.
Glass transparency is guaranteed by the "clean glass" system used in modern fireplaces, when hot air is directed to the glass-ceramic firebox door and prevents soot particles from falling on its inner surface.
The firebox itself is located inside a warm air distributor or convection chamber that allows air masses to heat up as they pass near the red-hot firebox. Air circulation scheme. An air distributor can be included in a standard fireplace kit, or it can be built later. In this case, a casing made of a heat insulator is installed between the chimney and the firebox, which acts as a convection chamber. In its upper part there is usually a grate for equalizing pressure and a cut-off for routing heated air masses. The general scheme of heating and movement of room air is as follows: cold air enters the space under the firebox, and then into the convection casing, where, already heated, it passes through metal fireplace grates back into the room. Such an air heating system is typical for fireplaces with natural air circulation.
With forced convection, the air under the furnace and in the convection chamber is blown by several fans. There is only one drawback of this system - fans, and with them the fireplace will not work without electricity.

The second component of the fireplace is chimney connected to the combustion chamber with a special pipe. Modern chimneys are usually made of thermoceramic or heat-resistant steel. Multilayer thermal insulation makes their use very convenient and absolutely safe, and a variety of models allows them to be installed both at the stage of building construction and in existing premises.

Fireplace lining or portal is the third component of the fireplace system, the "face" of the fireplace, which determines its style. Depending on the chosen style: rustic, classic, metallic or high-tech, fireplace lining can be made of noble and expensive granite, or rough tuff or stainless steel modules and colored glass. There are also expensive author's models of fireplaces, whose portals are trimmed with gold leaf. There are also opposite examples when the lining of the combustion chamber is missing. We are talking about the so-called fireplace stoves, the prototype of which was the famous potbelly stove. The fireplace stove does not require lining in the classical sense - it can be completely lined with stone or ceramics, or made of stainless steel, which is very decorative in itself. In addition, modern stoves do not require large rooms during installation, are easily transported to another place, have high efficiency and are gradually crowding out traditional models in the fireplace market.

Traditional fireplaces

The fireplace was developed from an open hearth and was originally used for space heating and cooking. Extremely common in Western and Eastern Europe, the fireplace in our country remained exotic for a long time and almost never played the role of the main source of heat in the room, being mainly an element of decor.

This is quite explainable by the differences in the climatic conditions of Russia and countries located closer to the warm Atlantic Ocean. The fireplace with its open firebox and low, at the level of 8-12% efficiency, provided sufficient comfort in mild and damp winters, when it was necessary to quickly heat and dry the room. Severe Russian frosts required a different type of heating, which was fully consistent with the classic Russian stove, the efficiency of which reaches 60%, or its varieties.
It is not surprising that today traditional fireplace designs have been largely replaced by fireplace inserts. After all, the fireplace insert will not be the worst center of the interior than brick fireplaces. Author's fireplaces, made according to a special project for a particular building, are not as common today as they were one or two centuries ago. This happens for several reasons: firstly, any home master with sufficient experience can install a fireplace insert, connect it to the chimney and finish it. But it is always better to trust the experience of professionals, otherwise it may turn out that due to an error in the device of the chimney, insufficient draft, the fireplace will start to burn “in a black way”. Secondly, the design and construction of a fireplace is closely related to the solution of a whole range of engineering and technical problems. Such work is only possible for specialists with the necessary knowledge and extensive experience in practical work. And thirdly, there is an opinion about the high cost of author's fireplaces, which, of course, is partly true, especially if expensive materials are used for decoration - marble, ornamental stone or tiles (which today cost quite a lot of money). But in fact, a fireplace built by a real master can be even cheaper, because you need to add to the cost of inserting the costs of preparing the place, installing, strengthening the cladding, and finally, building a chimney. All this will increase the costs by two or three times relative to the initial ones, that is, the cost of buying a fireplace insert. For the same money you can build a real fireplace.

Despite the variety of types of modern fireplaces in the climatic zone of central Russia, it can hardly be classified as an effective heating device in the winter. Therefore, the main role of a fireplace in a country house or city apartment is to create a dominant in the interior, which organizes the room and in this role will be an excellent alternative to a TV. The fireplace can be used as a heat source in spring, autumn or cold rainy summer.

If you are interested in a fireplace as part of the heating system, then the way out is to build a new type of device - an intermediate option between a fireplace and a stove. Moreover, it will look no worse - heat-resistant glass doors of the most diverse shapes, this business card of a modern fireplace, are sold separately and can be easily installed in any oven of a suitable size. Such a fireplace is not just a decoration, it functions as a stove, and since such works of stove art are usually handmade by the author, they can be perfectly combined with a kitchen stove or a sauna stove.

A fireplace is relatively simple compared to a stove, but its construction has its own characteristics, which should be taken into account even at the stage of designing a house. This will allow you to avoid significant inconvenience in the future and save a lot of money on correcting your own or other people's mistakes.

A classic fireplace consists of a firebox, a chimney and a portal - a decorative frame for the firebox. Due to the open firebox and the absence of internal smoke channels, the fireplace does not accumulate heat in itself and heats thanks to the radiant energy of an open flame. Therefore, the fireplace gives heat as long as the fuel burns in it.

Fireplaces come with an open hearth and a closed one. In a traditional fireplace, the firebox does not close, but now they prefer to use various doors. The chimney must provide the draft necessary to ensure that the smoke does not go beyond the volume of the furnace and does not enter the room. It is thanks to the strong draft that the fireplace has the property of a ventilation device - during operation, it draws damp and cold air from the room, actively consuming oxygen during combustion. An open fireplace insert requires special attention to fire protection, so at the stage of designing a house, the customer must have an idea about the duration of a single fireplace insert. Its design, the quantity and quality of consumables and the degree of fire safety depend on this.

The task of building a fireplace is noticeably simplified if the customer and the architect, while designing the future house, determine the room in which the fireplace will be located and choose a place for it. Knowing the size of the room is necessary in order to correctly calculate the size of the firebox that is optimal for heating this room. It is the width, height and depth of the firebox that determine the heat transfer of the fireplace, the overall dimensions, the scale in relation to the volume of the room and, consequently, the options for the shape and finish of the portal.

In order for the stove to keep cool for a long time, the material of its walls must have sufficient heat capacity. You need a mass of material that heats up and will keep warm. And the best thing for this is the traditional, proven material for centuries - refractory bricks. When calculating the dimensions of a brick firebox, it is recommended to take into account the dimensions of the brick. The width of the furnace will be a multiple of the length of the brick (plus masonry joints), the height - rows of brickwork, also taking into account the joints. The lower the brand of brick, the better. Low-quality brick heats up more slowly and more evenly, releases heat more slowly and therefore almost does not crack. Brick of high grades is close in its thermal conductivity to metal, so the higher the grade, the faster it heats up.

It is clear that different places in the oven heat up unevenly - some quickly, but there are many places that should heat up slowly, and they cool down just as slowly. Previously, bricks of grades 10, 20, 25 were used, and now kiln bricks 200, 250, 300 are widely advertised, and the use of such grades is unjustified. (The brand of brick is the compressive strength of the material, how many kilograms 1 sq. cm of the surface can withstand). You can use only solid bricks, perforated bricks are completely unsuitable - the air will act as a heat insulator, uneven heating and destruction of the brick will occur.

The choice of material for lining the stove and fireplace depends on the interior and tastes of the owner of the house. You can veneer the fireplace with decorative bricks, stone, various types of ceramics - from tiles to tiles. A tile is a quite worthy alternative to tiles, the main subtlety when using it is the selection of reliable glue with a suitable coefficient of compression and expansion. The stove is not a bathroom wall, here the temperature drops even on the surface are very significant.

Doors may be glass or mesh. The mesh has almost more advantages than glass: an arbitrary size, the mesh transmits infrared rays much better than glass, such a screen looks like a door when the fireplace is not used, but when the fire is kindled, the mesh becomes transparent.
The chimney is no less important part of the fireplace than the firebox, because its quality determines how the hearth will be heated, what draft it will have, whether smoke (or, worse, carbon monoxide) will go into the room.

For the manufacture of chimneys, various materials are used - brick, metal, ceramic, glass tube modules and others. Chimneys are divided into built-in, suspended or supported by a fireplace according to the principle of binding to building structures. Brick chimneys resting on the fireplace and transferring their weight to it, as a rule, require an independent foundation. Built-in chimneys are a vertical channel for removing smoke, arranged in the "body" of a bearing or enclosing wall. Chimneys of this type are the most economical in construction. Being inside the wall, they do not require an independent foundation and are formed during the construction of house structures. Hanging chimneys are most often equipped with free-standing fireplaces, which does not exclude their use in other types of these heating devices. Suspended chimneys can be attached to roof structures, ceilings, as well as to walls using brackets or cable ties. However, no matter what type the chimney belongs to, when designing and manufacturing it, the following conditions must be observed: the flow area and the height of the chimney are calculated based on the size of the furnace. Since the height and visual "mass" of the outer part of the chimney (chimney) are an integral part of the silhouette of the building, an experienced architect will definitely pay attention to this circumstance.

The draft depends on the diameter of the chimney and its length, sometimes if it is impossible to make it the optimal size, special fans are installed in the chimney. Ideally, the flow of smoke through the chimney should be laminar, that is, in the form of a uniform flow without turbulence. Therefore, the inner walls of the chimney are made smooth. This is of particular importance when the chimney is formed by masonry. In order for the masonry joints not to have sagging, forming zones of turbulence of the gas flow, they are carefully rubbed. In this sense, metal pipes are more preferable, since during their installation there is less construction defects. When installing metal chimneys, good thermal insulation is important, especially when passing through ceilings. If it is insufficient, there is a significant risk of fire.

Sometimes when building a fireplace people manage to forget that the chimney needs to be cleaned. If this is not done, then soot deposits reduce the flow area of ​​the chimney over time and reduce its draft. As a result, the fireplace begins to smoke. In addition, the soot accumulated in the chimney often catches fire during the furnace. Flakes of burning soot flying out of the chimney can cause a fire in the roof of the house and neighboring buildings. To make it easy to get to the outer part of the chimney, a dormer window is provided in the roof structure, from which you can go to the chimney using a special ladder. Also, a special garbage collector is arranged in the chimney, into which soot and other debris fall during cleaning.

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