Fireplace Design Ideas
There is more to a fireplace than the fireplace itself. There are other elements to consider completing the fireplace in your home. There are three major components to any fireplace design.
The three components are the hearth the firebox and type of opening used between the firebox and the room. The hearth is the area outside the firebox whereas the firebox is the location where the fire will be burned.
The hearth may be flush to the floor sunk into the floor or raised above the floor. Some fireplaces may not have a heart at all. In most cases the firebox is situated at least two inches above the floor so the purpose of the hearth is to protect the floor from the heat of the fire.
Some hearths include seats for enjoying the fire. The more traditional heart seating is types with two blocks on either side of the firebox opening for extended periods of enjoyment of the open flames.
The fireboxes are just as different as the hearths. Generally the firebox is two inches above the floor or relative to the hearth. There are flush fireboxes that are the same height of the floor raised fireboxes and submerged fireboxes set lower into the floor.
The most common fireplace opening is the rectangular opening. The sides of the firebox are often flared out towards the face of the fireplace. These are the common types used in many homes with slight variations with decorated arches or mantels to change the overall appearance.
There are flat arch openings with straight sides as well as having the openings in a slight arch. There is a continuous curve to these types with the curve being all around the face of the fireplace.
There are corner fireplace openings with both sides of the fireplace open to the different rooms. There are also the corner fireplaces set in a triangle pattern so provide the fireplace environment as well as saving space. There are U-shaped fireplace openings with the firebox open on three sides.
