Turn a Chimney Breast Into A Focal Point.

Most houses used to be built with a standard chimney and traditionally it was there to just satisfy that one purpose, provide space for the chimney to go out through the house and carry away the harmful combustion gases.
But in the ever changing world of interior design, who says the chimney breast can't become a focal point in the room in its own right? Instead of acting as a mounting plate for a fireplace or wall-hung picture. So why not make the chimney breast itself a focal point? Combine it with a fireplace to really create that focal point of the living room.

In this article we look into just how to create that look in just a few simple steps. Doing away from the matching colourscheme across the whole wall room and going for a feature wall and chimney breast.

To achieve the look illustrated left we started with the wall itself either side of the chimney breast, to truly make the chimney breast a focal point the wall is painted in a warm off white colour, such as Magnolia. Which while not dominating means that the white walls aren't harsh and dominating.

We then went for a lovely contrasting floral wallpaper for the chimney breast iteself, we went for Marciana Floral Wallpaper, Cranberry Red & Natural wall paper by Laura Ashley (available here) This stunning floral wallpaper features pearlescent inks and a washable coating. The deep cranberry reds contrast with the pale background to really accentuate the chimney breast.

To top it all off we paired the lovely wallpaper with the Aura Suite from Drugasar. This stunning solid stone fireplace complements the neutral wall colour either side of the chimney breast while the downlights and contrasting black granite back panel highlights the fire in the centre.

Finally a colour coded vase and ornament completes the look!

The People Behind The Magic at Drugasar

Today Fires|Fireplace|Stoves is going dutch, no we're not splitting the lunch bill, we're going behind the scenes at Drugasar to see just who is responsible for creating such unqiuely designed fires.

Martyn Graat

“We develop products that continuously meet the highest stipulations and as such retain the level of quality we are used to. Where homes are becoming increasingly better insulated, we offer products for example that still delievr a lovely fire but with less capacity," says Graat.

“Through constant research and development we offer new possibilities year on year which the customer of tomorrow can identify with. 2011 will be a year in which wellbeing and personality are central. A stove can contribute to the home's ambience. The premise: being and living together in a dynamic environment."

Martyn Graat works as a designer at DRU. Aside from designing new products the translation of appealing ambient photography, showroom set-up and designing stands for trade fairs all fall under Graat's remit.

Jeroen van Dijk

Jeroen van Dijk is just one of the architects who serves as a product development sparring partner in the DRU focus group project. With his experience in design and consultation in the field of interiors and smallscale new builds, he comes into daily contact with consumers and their specific interior needs and wishes. Jeroen has regularly placed DRU stoves in his line of work.

‘We consciously work with DRU stoves as the possibilities in model, design, capacity and technique are highly diverse and revolutionary," says Van Dijk.

Roy Bertholet

2architecten came about towards the end of 2008 after a collaboration between Roy Bertholet and Björn Schoeberichts. Based in their office in Eindhoven they worked on a plethora of nationwide projects, ranging from renovations to a private clinic. Roy Berholet is also a sparring partner in the DRU focus groups project.

‘A stove takes its rightful place in your home. It invites you to come and sit by it. A practical advantage is also that you can quickly make the space cosy; which takes longer with underfloor heating or central heating", says Bertholet.

Creating A Quality Contemporary Fireplace For Under £800

For those looking to create a stylish, voguish and original fireplace but without the large budget to spend thousands of pounds on a fireplace and fire then for those with the luxury of a natural gas connection should read on for a very contemporary and modern fire surround but without creating a fireplace with a cold aesthetic.

The first thing you see when you look at a fireplace is the surround. To create a modern and contemporary feel without sucking the warmth out of the room and without breaking the bank, I would suggest the Bemodern Kansas in American Walnut. The rich dark colours of the Oak add a warmth to the surround not found in a beech, limestone or marble surround. The crisp straight lines and stepped finish frame the fire and draw attention in towards the surround and fire in the centre.

This rich and warm dark colours of the American Walnut would be prefectly complimented with the Black Granite Hearth and back panel. The deep black colour of the granite brings out the almost red colourings of the American Walnut and highlights the natural wood grain patterns.
For an even more contemporary touch this fire is available with optional downlights with a 25mm rebate, these would really add a contemporary touch with the downlights illuminating the back panel, hearth and fire and further drawing the eye to this stunning focal point.

The Bemodern Kansas is also available in a slightly lighter natural oak finish which retains the suggest of warmth unlike some lighter wood finishes and adds a degree of subtlety. It is also available with White Marble, Pearl stone or Marfil hearth and back panel sets which help frame the surround between the back panel and a pale coloured wall, this drains a little bit of colour out of the wood, making the American Walnut appear slightly less dark.

The perfect complimentary fire for this contemporary surround would be the Flavel Windsor Contemporary HE, this high efficiency glass fronted gas fire features a minimalist and post-modern design in stunning silver finish. The 89% net efficiency of this fire provides both convected warm air and radiated heat. This means thatonly 11% of the heat is wasted up the chimney for ultimate value for money, while the 3.2kW efficiency means that more than enough heat is generated to warm the definitive living room.

The minimalist silver finish design features a ultra-realistic coal or pebble fuel effect with a realistic core glow for added realism and quality details such as the ribbed fireback.The strong horizontal lines of the fret detail work well with the crisp lines of the wooden surround and help turn the fire and surround into a stunning fireplace, while the stylish stainless steel trim contrasts against the dark colours to really draw attention to the fire and frame the glowing flames in the centre in front of a black ribbed fireback.

Together the Bemodern Kansas fireplace surround in American Walnut and the Flavel Windsor Contemporary HE combine to create a vogue and contemporary fireplace while maintaining the warmth and natural feel of a traditional fireplace. The glow from the living flame effect combined with the warming colours of the American Walnut really create an ambience best saved for cold, dark winter nights with the fire projecting the warming glow into the room and creating that warm ambience that only a fire can provide on a cold and dark wintery night.

This creative fireplace that would become an amazing focal point in most living spaces with contemporary furnishings and even more-so during the dark winter months when the 3.2kW of convected and radiated heat count just as much as the warm, contemporary aesthetic.

The Bemodern Kansas and Flavel Windsor Contemporary HE are available from the Fireplace Megastore for just £781, this amazing deal saves £185 on the RRP and means that for well under £1000 you can own a stunning modern fireplace that will be the focal point of your living room for years to come.

Everything that has been described above is now available from The Fireplace Megastore

Please note the above image features the Bemodern Sensation and not the Flavel Windsor Contemporary HE,

Image displays surround in American Walnut with Black Granite Heath & Back Panel

Laura Ashley Fireplaces

With the help of Katell Fireplaces, Laura Ashley has now produced a complete range of Fires and Fireplaces, to match there world renowned Laura Ashley designs. These fireplaces are fast becoming one of the most popular names in Modern home design. Have a look if any of the above designs catch your eye, no doubt there will be several.

All now available direct from the UK's Best showroomFireplace Megastore, Chester

• Laura Ashley Acacia Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Acacia electric fireplace suite available in 2 finishes, Natural Oak and Chestnut. 1 size only. Features a matching inset electric fire
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• Laura Ashley Azalea Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Azalea electric fireplace suite available in 2 finishes, Natural Oak and Chestnut. 1 size only. Features a matching inset electric fire
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• Laura Ashley Camellia Stone Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Camellia Stone Fireplace Surround is a traditional fire surround available in Portugese Limestone or Mocha Beige Marble, 51" Shelf, Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.
• Laura Ashley Fuchsia Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Fuchsia Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround available in Antiqued Ivory Finish, available in 1 size and Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.
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• Laura Ashley Hampton Electric Fire
  Laura Ashley Hampton electric fire is a 1.5Kw inset electric fire in brass and black or chrome and brushed steel effect finish, thermostatic control, coal fuel effect, manual & remote control

• Laura Ashley Hampton Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Hampton Gas Fire is a modern gas fire, coal or pebble fuel effect, manual control, Brass or Chrome finish, suitable for class 1 & 2 prefabricated flues with a maximum heat output of 4Kw, natural gas
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• Laura Ashley Hampton High Efficiency Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Hampton HE is a stylish gas fire with coal or pebble, choice of finishes, suitable for class 1 and 2 chimneys, prefabricated** & precast flues* with a maximum heat output of 4.4Kw and high efficiency rating of 89%
• Laura Ashley Hyacinth Fireplace Wood Surround
  Laura Ashley Hyacinth Fireplace is a modern fire surround available in 2 finishes, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Iris Wood Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Iris Wood Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround available in 4 different finishes, 52" Top shelf, Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Jasmine Fireplace
• Laura Ashley Jasmine Fireplace is a modern fire surround available in Natural Oak or Chestnut, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Lily Fireplace
  Laura Ashley Lily Fireplace is a modern fire surround available in 2 finishes, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Lotus Mirrored Hang on the Wall Electric Fire
  Laura Ashley Lotus Mirrored Hang on the Wall Electric Fire for stylish room with a space saving off the floor design

• Laura Ashley Lucerne Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Lucerne electric fireplace suite available in 2 finishes, Natural Oak and Chestnut. 1 size only. Features a matching electric fire

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• Laura Ashley Malvern Electric Fire Laura Ashley Malvern electric fire is a 1.5Kw inset electric fire in brass and black or chrome and brushed steel effect finish, thermostatic control, coal fuel effect, manual & remote control

• Laura Ashley Malvern Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Malvern Gas Fire is a modern gas fire, coal or pebble fuel effect, manual control, brass or chrome finish, suitable for class 1 & 2 prefabricated flues with a maximum heat output of 4Kw, natural gas

• Laura Ashley Malvern High Efficiency Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Malvern HE is a stylish gas fire with coal or pebble, choice of finishes, suitable for class 1 and 2 chimneys, prefabricated** & precast flues* with a maximum heat output of 4.4Kw and high efficiency rating of 89%
• Laura Ashley Mulberry Wood Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Mulberry Wood Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround available in Portugese Limestone or Mocha Beige Marble, available in 1 size, Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Orchid Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Orchid Electric Fireplace Suite, Antique Ivory finish. A choice of back panels effects, black Granite or Antique Ivory. A choice of hearths effects, black Granite or Antique Ivory

• Laura Ashley Primrose Wooden Surround
  Laura Ashley Wooden Surround is a modern fire surround available in 2 finishes, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 24 / 76mm rebate
• Laura Ashley Tatton Electric Fire
  Laura Ashley Tatton Electric Fire is a 1.5Kw inset electric fire in brass and black or chrome and brushed steel effect finish, thermostatic control, coal fuel effect, manual & remote control
• Laura Ashley Tatton Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Tatton Gas Fire is a modern gas fire, coal or pebble fuel effect, manual control, brass or chrome finish, suitable for class 1 & 2 prefabricated flues with a maximum heat output of 4Kw, natural gas
• Laura Ashley Tatton HE Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Tatton HE is a stylish gas fire with coal or pebble, choice of finishes, suitable for class 1 and 2 chimneys, prefabricated** & precast flues* with a maximum heat output of 4.4Kw and high efficiency rating of 89%
• Laura Ashley Wisteria Stone Surround
  Laura Ashley Wisteria Micro Marble Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround in Mocha beige marble or Portuguese marble effect, available in 1 size, Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires