Fireplace in the interior. Which one to choose? I PdD

When the weather outside is chilly, it's nice to warm up with the heat coming from the fireplace. We associate it with traditional interiors, but also extremely atmospheric.

Open fireplace and closed fireplace with insert

We should think about installing a fireplace already at the stage of designing the house. Its location, type and appearance will be of great importance for the design of the future living room. It is also important what function the fireplace is to perform. After all, some will heat the entire interior with it, while others will be satisfied with only its decorative aspect.

Open fireplace

It's the one that first comes to mind when talking about a fireplace in a classic or rustic style home. The smell of wood, the sound of a burning fire and its warmth bring back memories of pleasant, safe and comfortable moments.

However, this is an expensive and not very practical solution. It requires constant replenishment of wood, causes smoke to settle on the walls, and takes up a lot of space. In addition, in an open fireplace as much as 80% of the heat escapes through the chimney. It certainly will not provide us with the right temperature in the entire room, but only warms it up. So it is spot heating and quite expensive.

The fireplace surround can be very diverse. Very elegant will be the use of natural stone, such as marble or granite. We can also finish it with glittering crystals, which will perfectly relate to the glamour style. Those who prefer a more austere atmosphere should like fireplaces encased in brick with wooden shelves, finished with fieldstone, or simply plastered.

Closed fireplace

Closed fireplace with insert

This is the most popular and functional variant. It serves both a decorative and practical function. It is connected to the chimney, but has an insert, either cast iron or less durable steel, which is closed with a glass door. It is worth mentioning that the glass heats up to a very high temperature, so accidentally touching it will cause burns. Therefore, such a fireplace will not work as a permanent heating in homes with small children. We can protect the place with an additional cover, but this does not give us 100% protection from children's curiosity.

More sophisticated versions of such fireplaces include a water mantle. Then, the water in the walls of the insert also helps to heat the rooms away from the fireplace.

When it comes to the appearance of fireplaces with inserts, we have virtually unlimited freedom. So we can easily arrange the living room space in the style that suits us best. A variety of color and form options are available. We have a choice between fireplaces permanently fixed to the ground, and the so-called "goats", set on legs.

Goat-type fireplace and bio-fireplace

Bio-fireplace

Currently fashionable products in the ecological trend can also be found in the world of fireplaces. Bio-fireplaces are a version that use eco-friendly fuel. The steam and flames produced by its combustion warm the room, and the additional use of fragrant oils will wrap us in a pleasant aroma. In addition, the fire from biofuel does not emit dirty ash or soot. This is a version for those who appreciate sophisticated design and modern solutions.

Bio-fireplaces have their supporters, also among owners of apartments in blocks of apartments, due to their ease of installation. This is because they do not need flue pipes or a chimney. These types of fireplaces do not emit smoke, fumes or ash. Wood or briquettes, found in traditional fireplaces, are replaced here by biofuel in liquid or gel form. Bio-fireplaces raise the temperature of the room by about 2 to 5 degrees, but they cannot be used as the only source of heating. It should also be borne in mind that although they emit a negligible amount of carbon dioxide, it is nevertheless worthwhile to ventilate the room in which the fireplace is used from time to time.

We have many possibilities for arranging this type of device, as we can install it as a free-standing, hanging, corner or table element. The lack of additional installations and chimney flues gives us the ease of incorporating a fireplace into any interior.

Tiled fireplace in the interior

Tiled fireplace

This is an elegant solution, ideal for lovers of tradition. Ceramic tiles can be both a decorative element of a fireplace with an insert, but they also work perfectly as a material that keeps the heat in.

Due to the great interest in this type of heating, manufacturers offer ready-made tiled stoves, for the installation of which we do not need a stovemaker. The only condition is to have a flue to which we connect the stove.

The cladding is made of ceramic tiles, which are covered with a glaze resistant to high temperatures. The main components of a tiled fireplace are the hearth and the cumulative mass. The combustion chamber is made of chamotte bricks or can be a ready-made stove insert. The cumulative mass heats up in 1-2 hours, and then gives off heat to the outside for a relatively long time. Such fireplaces are fueled by wood, coal or briquettes.