Attractive Fireplace Decor For Outdoor And Indoor

Fire can be dangerous but at the same time very attractive to look at. A lot of people like to sit by a fire place and watch the fire. To suit this need there are lot of ways to decorate your home inside or outdoor patio by a fire place. Fireplaces come in great range of variety and you need to choose a right one for your need. They could be huge traditional stone fireplace or some very compact and refined model. You could also have fireplaces which operate on special type of fuel to minimize pollution because it would make you admire the real fire without any smell or smoke. Portable fireplaces are one of the most interesting models. They can be placed as a home decor in any of the rooms.

Fireplaces are integral to a home in a cold climate although some homes in hot climates too like to have ornate fireplaces only for the attractive and old world ambience that they can lend to a living space. As opposed to the traditional fireplaces in old houses, the fire places today come in a variety of models. Most of these fireplaces are portable which are especially useful when throwing outdoor parties. If you are planning on hosting a garden party on a cold winter night, a couple of these portable fireplaces strategically placed about the garden will give a cosy ambience. Huddling around these portable fireplaces with drinks and snacks and reminiscing about the good old times will surely make this a party which you will always look back on with nostalgia.

These fireplaces are all very contemporary as opposed to the traditional fireplaces made from brick and stone and the facade, hearth and the mantel. Whether traditional or contemporary, there is no doubt that a fireplace adds character to a living space and inevitably becomes the focal point of the room where friends and family can gather around with their drinks and chatter. Neoclassicism became the rage through 19th century Europe, drawing inspiration from Napoleonic and British influence which also had elements of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Fireplaces in the classical mould were marked by a blend of refined materials and graceful proportions. Traditional, Country European, Arts & Crafts Laid-Back Lodge, 20th-Century European and Smooth Southwest are some of the other Fireplace styles.

A fireplace consists of the facade, hearth and the mantle. The facade is the decorative border around the fireplace. The traditional fireplaces had the brick or stone facades but the contemporary style fireplaces now have been experimenting with alternative materials such as concrete, glass or metal. The hearth is the floor of the fireplace and generally extends into the room. It is mostly paved with brick, flagstone or cement. Hearths shield the floors or the walls from damage by burning embers. You can give a traditional or a contemporary twist to the hearth by the choice of materials such as stone tiles, unglazed Terra-cotta Tiles, hand painted tiles, mosaic glass tiles or Black slate tiles. The most traditional are the stone tiles and using large tiles with rough surfaces will give the farmhouse effect. Mediterranean countries are partial to terra-cota tiles which are versatile and blend easily with the traditional and contemporary decor. You can use unglazed terra-cota tiles to give a charming rustic look to the fireplace. Furthermore, hand painting these tiles will give the rustic look a touch of elegance.

Mosaic glass tiles are ideal if you want the contemporary look and these come in a variety of finishes ranging from matte to iridescent. In the same vein black glass tiles also give a modern look to the hearth. Fireplace mantels also known as mantelpieces can trace their origin to medieval times as the hood that protrudes over the grate to block the smoke. But today, mantels have also come to include the decorative framework around the fireplace and these intricate designs can also extend to the ceiling.

Outdoor Fireplace For Patio