Making the hearth the centre of the home

Curling up in front of an open fire is one of life's greatest pleasures. There's nothing quite like walking in from the cold and finding a warm fire roaring inside. The crackle and glow of a real wood fire is hard to beat at this time of year.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Nov 2010, 13:20 BST
Updated 26th Nov 2010, 13:20 BST

Fireplaces form the focus of any room – whether it's in the sitting room, kitchen, dining or bedrooms. They can be filled with logs and flames – real or gas, or they might lay dormant. Either way, they form a feature.

There are all sorts of looks that you can create – whether your fireplace has a contemporary design, or something more traditional. For example, making log storage a feature creates a welcoming, rustic look. Either stack them nearby, or pile them into a pretty basket or more modern-style box – whatever looks best with the rest of the room.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If your fireplace is no longer used – which is often the case in bedrooms and kitchens – then use the space to make a feature. If the fireplace itself has long since been removed, leaving a gap in the chimney breast, see if you can find a replacement from the right era for your home.

If that's not an option, use the space to create an unusual storage feature. For example, you could create a library by stacking books in the space where the fire once was.

If it's a very large fireplace, you could even install seating, so it becomes a snug. Add cushions and throws to make it a super cosy corner.

Putting vases, exotic-looking houseplants, photographs or fairy lights in the fireplace is another way of using the space and creating an interesting focal point.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stacking a selection of cushions will make it a comfy place to relax.

Grouping candles together in a fireplace also makes a homely feel.

Around your fireplace you should look for cosy accessories. Rugs, like the Aintree range, with their hand-made, felted, shaggy design, are luxuriously thick and perfect for feeling cosy at the fireside.

Or if you're looking for something a bit more contemporary, the Jeff Banks Amalfi and Kaleidoscope ranges come in vibrant, bold styles which make a striking, colourful statement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Barker and Stonehouse has a great range of rugs and accessories to make your fireside a blaze of glory, whether you light it or not. Have a look in store or online at www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk

YP MAG 27/11/10