For many people when they think of a fireplace in earlier centuries, stone or brick comes to mind. But on the contrary, there were many places in the world that created fabulous fireplace scenes using marble and stone also. No matter what the type of material that is used, all of it can be put together to create a surreal picture of an antique fireplace. When purchasing a fireplace to match the type of house that you have, you may even have to decide which type of material that will go best in your house. For example, if you have a brick house, there are brick fireplaces that can be purchased, either freestanding or not, that will add a great mystique to the look that you already have. But if you have an old style Victorian mansion, then maybe marble or granite would be just right for the material. Using marble as the material for your fireplace mantel and to surround your fireplace would create a good accent for a Victorian or New England style house.

Fireplaces that are made to look antique do not have to be plainly decorated either. A lot of companies will even provide a specific design that is cut right on the fireplace and mantel itself, and you can even find places where you can custom design or make your own fireplace. In addition, fireplace accessories can be purchased that will give your fireplace and home an antique look as well. For example, large columns can be placed near the fireplace on either side, accenting the fire itself. In between the columns you may have antique andirons that flare up on either side of the fire. Andirons do not have to just be there for a specific purpose anymore; if anything, getting andirons that give your fireplace an antique look will show your fireplace off even more! Putting that mantel to use would provide a good way to add even more uniqueness as well. If you have an old collection of photographs or even a collection of old tea kettles, cups, or glasses would work too. Placing all of that in some kind of orderly fashion would draw attention to the fire and make for some interesting discussions by the fireplace as well.

No matter your interest in earlier centuries or not, having that type of style would add a great deal of your own personality to your house. You could impress your friends, family, and relatives by having an antique fireplace setting and entertain them while watching the greatness of the fire. Purchasing a Fireplace, an antique fireplace at that, will only add that special glow to your house and make it seem larger and create an even more homey feeling than what is already felt!

Thanks.

Use a private company, thasts what I did in my house for ALL my televisions / my home theater. Not sure where you live but the company i used was dhdpros.com | Private companies will never rip you off and generally use the greatest technology. (my house uses a program called "Control 4" i can turn off my kids’ bedroom lights / TVs from the basement.)

And also, the fire won’t affect it. If you want a picture of my hearth room ill send you one.

After the inspection and draft test is complete, you are ready to begin. First, make sure there is a metal grate in the firebox. This is a raised metal grate which keeps the logs off of the floor of the firebox. On the metal grate, place a generous layer of crumpled up newspaper. On top of that, cris cross about small 8 to 10 branches (kindling). Then, add a layer of small logs. Light the fire by catching the paper on fire. The kindling will begin to burn. Without disturbing the fire too much, gently place larger logs on the burning kindling by allowing some air space between the logs for the flames to come up and lick the logs to catch them on fire. Then add more logs going in the other direction. Or, you can cheat and get a fire log at the grocery store for about $4.00. All you do is place the fake log, still in the wrapper on the grate inside the fire box and light the corners of the outer wrapper and you have an instant fire for three hours. Do not touch the log because it will fall apart and not burn as long as it should.

I sometimes save an empty paper milk carton to use as a fire starter because those cartons have a layer of wax on them and they burn really hot and make a great addition to starting a speedy fire.

Always have a fire place poker so you can move the burning logs as you add more logs to the fire.
You always have to think of safety first. Never begin a fire unless you have a fire extinguisher in the house. Move stored logs away from the fire. Do not have a rug up against the hearth. Use common sense. Have a fireplace screen so it catches hot embers from poping logs.

If you can find pine cones that have been dipped in copper sulfate, they make a fire turn really pretty shades of blue and orange.

I am not a pyro, but I have been using Wood Stoves and a fireplaces for more years than I care to admit here.

If you must, check to be sure the Chimney is properly screened (you don’t want an errant spark burning down the whole neighborhood) and have the chimney inspected to be sure it is not cracked from past earthquakes and the fireplace is safe for a fire before you do anything else.

The holidays are just round the corner, and you may be considering installing a new fireplace in your house. After all, a fireplace warms the whole place up, and creates a cozy feeling for the entire family. So perhaps it’s a good idea to consider some new designs for the fireplace.

There are many types of fireplace designs that you may choose from. For example, there are modern designs, contemporary designs (more classic looking), art designs, and many other custom designs. You can also choose to create your fireplace from different types of materials such as stone, brick, concrete, limestone, marble, granite, etc. Here are some important issues to keep in mind when choosing your fireplace designs.

Matches with the overall theme.

The design of your home is already there. So when considering the design for the fireplace, make sure that you choose something that doesn’t look too out of place. In other words, it should be a design that enhances the overall look and feel of the current theme instead of spoiling it. You can always get your contractor to show you a mock up drawing of what the final outcome would look like so that it’s easier to make a decision.

Size of the fireplace.

When you install a new fireplace, it is easy to get carried away and choose a fireplace that is too large for the house. This can happen when you are entranced by an intricate design with lots of details. Generally speaking, the more detailed the design of the fireplace, the larger it needs to be. This is the ensure that the details don’t get lost in a fireplace that’s too small. A fireplace that is too huge steals attention from other center pieces such as the sofa set or a large painting in the living room. What you want is a nice cozy corner. So choose an adequate size for your fireplace.

Types of materials.

This is a huge decision to make when installing a new fireplace with a new design. The type of stone you choose for your fireplace has a great impact on how the fireplace will turn out. Each and every type of material has its own unique characteristics. For example, marble has naturally beautiful patterns on its surface. This will enhance the look of the fireplace. Other materials may have natural grains or they may come with smooth or rough surfaces. The final decision depends very much on your personal taste as well.

Price.

Finally, you have to consider the price of the Fireplace. The price is most affected by the type of materials you choose, the size, and the design. Marble tends to be more expensive. And if you choose a custom design that is elaborate and complicated, that may take more skills and time, which in turn leads to higher cost.

Ultimately, you want to choose designs that look nice and falls within your budget. Of course, you have to be comfortable with the designs as well.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/fireplace-designs-to-consider-670057.html

Building a fireplace mantel can be a fun and interesting experience. That is because the possibilities are endless! You can building your fireplace mantel using different types of materials such as wood or stone. And the type of material that you choose will give a rather unique look to the fireplace mantel. Of course, it is always better to have some sort of focus. So you have to ask yourself the type of designs that you prefer for fireplace mantels. Here are some suggestions.

Functional designs.

For these designs, you are not too concerned with the aesthetics of the fireplace mantel. You just want something simple that sits nicely in the home. The greatest benefit of functional designs is that because of the simplicity, such fireplace mantels can fit into almost any home.

Traditional designs.

Traditional designs are more sturdy looking, and they tend to be made from strong materials like oak. Such materials give the Fireplace mantels an authentic feel. The designs are kept simple and reserved deliberately.

Classic designs.

The purpose of having classic designs is to ensure that your fireplace mantel never go out of date. Therefore, you are free to use more permanent materials such as stone when building your fireplace mantel. Once built, you would expect the fireplace mantel to be unchanged for ages. Furthermore, similar to functional designs, classic designs can be matched with almost any type of home design. For this reason, classic designs are very popular among homeowners.

Modern designs.

Modern designs are forever changing. They are cutting edge, and they are more daring. But the downside of modern designs is that there is a risk of the design going out of date. When that happens, you may be faced with the problem of having to change the fireplace mantel to another modern design. If you are like keeping up with the times, this type of design is most ideal. You can always create a fireplace mantel out of wood, which can easily be replaced later on.

Antique designs.

If you are looking to build a fireplace mantel in the study room, and the room is full of antique furniture, then perhaps it’s a great idea to match the style of the room by building a fireplace mantel that looks antique. Antique designs are rarer, and harder to come by. Therefore, be prepared to have a fireplace mantel that is custom built.

The design that you choose for the fireplace mantel depends not only on functional issues, but also on your own personal tastes. Do you prefer a Victorian style fireplace mantel? Are you the reserved type who would prefer a traditional design? Asking yourself the right questions will help in the decision making. When the right design has been chosen, the fireplace mantel can provide heat and beauty for the entire family.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/different-styles-of-fireplace-mantel-designs-690616.html

The fireplace is a structure that serves both function and aesthetic purposes. Usually, fireplaces are very durable and they last for years. So it is important to choose a design that you really like, so that you don’t have to spend resources replacing or modifying it in the future. Here are some creative fireplace design ideas that will help you get started.

Starting from the materials.

When you choose a building material for your fireplace, you have to be aware of the limitations of the materials. Some materials will look nice than others for certain designs. For example, you can choose aluminum as the primary building material for your fireplace. However, you must be aware that although aluminum is fire resistant, it is rather difficult to add complicated patterns to the metal. You may have to settle for classic or more conventional looks. Of course, you can expect the cost to be cheaper.

Stones are more popular choices among homeowners. Although they cost more, you can add more intricate designs to fireplaces that are built from stones. Furthermore, there are many different types of stones to choose from. You can choose a cheaper type of stone like granite or limestone, or you can choose a more expensive type like marble. Different types of stones will have different outer appearances. This will affect the design of your Fireplace.

Drawing inspiration from the surroundings.

Sometimes, homeowners find it difficult to choose a design that fits with the design of the home. So instead of choosing from existing designs, work backwards and draw inspiration from the surroundings. For instance, are there wavy lines around the fireplace? Is the style one that is Victorian or classic? From there, you can start thinking about how the fireplace can fit into the surroundings. This approach is way better than choosing from several hundreds of existing designs. It will give you a much clearer idea on the right design for your home. You may then narrow down your choices and pick one from a readily available design, or you can create a custom design.

Placing emphasis on the fireplace mantel.

The fireplace mantel can serve dual purposes. It can be a decorative element by itself, or it can serve as a shelf. The entire fireplace can be simplistic, with emphasis being placed on the fireplace mantel. All the details should be focused on the mantel. This way, attention is drawn to the mantel automatically. You may then place other items such as books or ornaments on the mantel to enhance the look and feel of the fireplace.

Furthermore, a fireplace mantel can be made from wood like oak. That means intricate designs can be carved on the mantel. Wood mantels can also be easily removed and replaced with new designs. This approach is more flexible, and more cost effective. You don’t have to remove the entire fireplace just because you grow tired of the existing look!

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/creative-fireplace-design-ideas-692271.html