Fireplace in the interior of the apartment: features and types

The presence of a fireplace in the interior of the apartment gives the room sophistication and chic. Depending on the preferences of the owner - it can be a romantic "antique" fireplace or a cubic fireplace in a modern style. There are a lot of variants of fireplaces execution, therefore each of the lovers of this ancient architectural element can choose the look, the purpose and features of which are in the best way consistent with its personal tastes and preferences.

The most ancient purpose of the fireplace is to heat the room in which it is installed. Once it was the halls of knightly castles, hunting lodges or houses of nobility. People of only very high incomes could afford a fireplace, and therefore a stable attitude to this part of the interior was fixed as an element of luxurious life.

The presence of the fireplace allows for the most interesting design solutions in the apartment.which would have been impossible without installing the fireplace portal. As an example, you can recall the charming Christmas garlands, candles, which are usually set on the mantels, or decorated around the fireplace corner for friendly gatherings over a cup of tea.

In some cases, a fireplace is not only a tribute to fashion and decoration of the room, but also a source of heat and comfort, especially in early autumn, when it is cool in the apartments, because central heating is not yet included. On these days it is especially pleasant to spend family evenings by the warm fireplace listening to the rustle of rain outside the window. It is for these reasons that fireplaces have increasingly begun to appear not only in country houses, but also in city apartments.

If, as a rule, there are no problems with installing a fireplace in a private house, then installing such a device in an apartment building raises many questions.As you know, for a real fireplace that runs on solid fuel (usually wood), you need a firebox, a portal made of refractory material and a chimney. It is possible to take into account all the listed requirements only in the apartment located on the top floor.

The placement of this wood-burning fireplace will need to be coordinated with the architectural and fire supervision authorities., to ensure that its use does not compromise the integrity of the building. This requirement is caused by the factors that the installation of the fireplace carries an additional load on the ceiling structure, and the combustion products leaving the chimney can serve as a source of ignition.

In the event that it is not possible to legitimize the installation of this fireplace in an apartment, it is worth trying to install one of the alternative device options, because today there is a huge variety of decorative, electric and biofireplaces on the market.

In the interior of any room, a fireplace always plays a dominant role and is a compositional center. This fully applies to a full-fledged building, as well as to a decorative structure, or, as it is also called, falshkamina.

This element of the interior is a portal fixed to the wall that does not have a fire chamber and a chimney, but is equipped with a mantelpiece, and sometimes a recess replacing the fire chamber. Professional architects recommend thinking about installing falshkamina still at the stage of creating a project of reconstruction of the apartment.

In this case, you can effortlessly decorate not just a decorative portal, but also risolite - this is the name of the duct inherent in this fireplace, through which hot gases rise into the chimney. Rhizolite attracts the eye, it is very effective in the design of shelves, mirrors and paintings.

Most often the portal falshkamina is made of MDF, polyurethane or drywall (homemade falshkaminy), although more expensive materials for such structures are also used, for example, marble or artificial stone. Also, to create the impression of naturalness, it is desirable to equip a recess in the wall that simulates a firebox, and lay it inside and along the contours with ceramic refractory tiles.

Thanks to the cladding inside this design, you can place the candles without fear of ignition. Very interesting will be the multi-level version of the placement of large candles. Forged drovnitsa can serve the same purpose, where up to a dozen candles of different heights can fit at the same time, which, of course, cannot serve to heat the room, but fill the room with a game of live fire and warm golden light.

Falshkamina portal can be used as a rack or cabinet, you can hang shelves near it, and put old books in the forger. A mirror or a collection of ceramics will look beautiful over the mantel.To give the false naturality more naturalness, you can lay out the floor around the firebox with stone tiles, as is usually done to protect the coals falling out of a real fireplace. For a complete perception of falshkamina, you can lay next to these logs and use them as supports for candles.

The electric fireplace, which is smokeless and does not require any special maintenance, also allows you to create the necessary contemplative atmosphere in a city apartment, but compared to a fake fireplace, the electrical model has an additional advantage, since it also serves to heat the room.

Depending on the installation method, the following types are distinguished:

• Table electric fireplaces, which are a portable device mounted on a bedside table, shelf or table.
• Suspended models that are mounted on the wall, externally, such devices are similar to a television panel.

• Recessed electric fireplaces, which are a firebox made of heat-resistant material and can be installed in cabinets, in cabinets or even in bars.
• Mobile products, equipped with their own small portal, which have a fire chamber with imitation of fire and wheels for ease of movement.
• Kaminokomplekty, installed in the wall, with a large weight and considerable size. Portals mounted in the wall, which can be made of MDF with a coating of veneer, as well as plaster, natural or artificial stone, are used to install such models.

All these types of electric fireplaces successfully cope with the tasks assigned to them. They radiate heat, light and create the illusion of a real living flame. The most realistic are devices with built-in steam generator. The vapor, which is cold and is formed from the effects of ultrasound on the water, is illuminated by halogen lamps, creating a very realistic effect of fire and smoke, which is always unique.

In realism with such fireplaces can argue models with a liquid crystal screen or a 3D effect that can not be distinguished from real fireplaces even at very close distances.

In the case when we are talking about the models being installed and fixed in the wall, they have mantels that can be decorated in the traditional way. Owners can do this with their own hands. For this, candles, mirrors, garlands, photo frames, that is, everything that is usually placed on the shelf of a traditional fireplace, will be useful.

This type of fireplace combines the seemingly incompatible elements: the presence of fire and the absence of smoke and soot. In the case of installing such a smokeless device in the living room, the owners can enjoy the game of the living flame, not bothering with the preparation of firewood, coal cleaning, coordination of the chimney.

Fireplaces do not require a chimney at all., they can work autonomously, have a wide variety of shapes or sizes, their design is similar to a vase or mini-basket, which can be easily transferred from place to place. And at the same time, the fire that burns in the biofireplace is the real thing.

The secret of such a mobile focus lies in the fuel used in biofireplaces. It is denatured ethanol, which, when burned, decomposes into carbon dioxide and water vapor, generating heat.Thus, biofireplace not only shines, but also heats, it should be taken into account when creating interiors with its use.

Since the combustion process is accompanied by the absorption of oxygen, it is recommended to keep the vent window open when the bio fireplace is lit. In some cases, it is simply necessary, as users notice a pungent odor that occurs when certain types of biofuels are burning. The architects recommend designing the hood in those rooms where it is planned to install an alcohol fireplace, or use them outdoors, for example, on a loggia.

You can install biofireplace in the kitchen or in another room, equipped with a supply and exhaust ventilation system, then the smells will not become an obstacle for enjoying open fire. There are also alternative models of bio fireplaces that work on gel fuel, this device does not emit an odor, however, from time to time it needs to be cleaned from carbon.

Despite the drawbacks that distinguish a bio fireplace, it can be called a recent design trend.

The following varieties are produced:

• Small portable models designed for desktop installation.
• Stationary embedded models that can be of different size and geometry.

According to the type of ignition, there are mechanical and automatic biofireplaces, some super-modern products can be controlled even with the help of a smartphone. Automation is able to regulate the intensity of burning, turn the device on and off without exposing the owner to the danger of burns.

Equipping the interior with a biofireplace, it is either installed on a table or a pedestal, or embedded in walls, partitions and shelves. In most cases, these are modern interiors, executed in a strict and laconic style: minimalism, industrial loft, techno, gothic, hi-tech, modern style. There is no additional decor for a biofireplace, as this device is self-sufficient and is able to revive the most minimalist environment.

Fireplaces running on fuels such as gas, of course, require mandatory arrangement of the chimney and the availability of a source of a constant flow of fresh air into the room.All this casts doubt on the possibility of installing such a fireplace in a city apartment if it is not on the top floor and the house is not equipped with separate ventilation ducts.

By type of installation gas fireplaces can be:

• Classic (built-in), which have a refractory firebox installed in the portal of brick or stone, having a connection to the chimney.
• Floor-standing, representing a decoratively decorated furnace-chamber, for the installation of which a specially prepared fireproof base and chimney is provided.
• Wall-mounted, which are fixed with brackets in a suspended state, such fireplaces have a chimney pipe that simultaneously performs a decorative role, which looks particularly futuristic in modern industrial interiors.

All versions of gas fireplaces have several modes of combustion., which allows both to use them for purely decorative purposes, and to apply for space heating.The most impressive and realistic looking classic models. When installing such a fireplace, it is possible to maintain a balance between the presence of living fire in the room and the cleanliness that is ensured by the absence of firewood or coal.

Designer supply built-in gas fireplace is no different from the design of a classic wood-burning fireplace. Beautiful interior ideas can be realized by setting a sofa, table and chairs near the burning hearth and thus setting up an area for tea drinking. Since any fireplace becomes the center of the room, based on its appearance, designers advise to select furniture and decorative elements.

A real wood burning fireplace in a modern apartment is almost a fantastic picture, however, it can be realized. This can be done if you buy a chimney in the project of a building when buying an apartment under construction, or purchase a house in the house with an unused chimney. These are often houses of Stalinist construction, however, upon obtaining a permit, an examination of the supporting structures is carried out for strength, because the fireplace has a very significant weight, and its installation can cause damage to the building as a whole.

Coordinating the installation of such a fireplace is a whole saga, which, if successful, will bring incomparable pleasure from owning a source of living fire in the living room, as well as significantly increase the cost of an apartment, turning it from a typical into a luxurious one.

Thanks to the installation of this fireplace, apartment owners have a lot of interesting design solutions. When you make a portal in a classic style, the presence of stucco on the ceiling, moldings on the walls, various curbs can become a natural extension. Doors from solid wood, wooden furniture and crystal lamps will help to emphasize the luxurious atmosphere.

The location of the fireplace depends on its design and type. Large built-in fireplaces can be either wall-mounted or corner, regardless of whether they are active or have a purely decorative function.By placing such a fireplace in the corner of the room, you can save space, while at the same time zoning the room by allocating a small fireplace area, convenient for relaxing and contemplating.

In the case when the built-in fireplace is installed in the center of the wall, it is also customary to arrange upholstered furniture around it, having a tea or coffee table in the center. In most cases, such an arrangement of fireplaces is considered a classic, but recently there have been new trends in the supply of this architectural element.

To install a fireplace in the apartment, erect partitions with holes, in which behind the heat-resistant glass have a spectacular fireplace, running on alcohol fuel. Such a partition is often lined with stone, brick or tile, turning into an element separating the territory of the kitchen and living room in the apartment. You can admire such an element of decor from two rooms at the same time.

In the case when it comes to wall-mounted electric fire, it can be hung not only on the wall of the hall, but also placed in the bedroom. Due to the presence of an unheated operation mode, such a model can also serve as a night light.

A hanging gas fireplace will be appropriate in a studio apartment, furnished in a loft style, or in the minimalist interior of a bachelor "den", and the location in any of the rooms, from the office to the bedroom or bathroom, can be successful.

Living fire is the main decoration of the fireplace, one of its functions is to create decorative lighting in the room. Therefore, in the room where the fireplace is installed, it is necessary to provide sources of directional light that will not compete with the flickering flares of fire.

Undesirable presence of powerful and bright lighting with a chandelier, the ideal option would be a combined lighting of the fireplace area. These can be spots, a floor lamp with a shade, sconces on the walls or a small table lamp. This approach will create a comfortable environment for movement in the room, while retaining the mysterious twilight.

If the fireplace has a marble portal, it will be very effective to have classic-style lamps near it.For decoration of a light fireplace, lamps made of multicolored Murano glass are suitable. For a futuristic fireplace in the form of an elongated pencil case, cylinders-lamps, which are made in pearl-white plastic, will become a beautiful frame.

However, since the living room is not only a fireplace area, but also a territory for joint spending time of all family members, the need for full lighting of this room also has a place to be. Therefore, the ideal would be the arrangement of adjustable lighting with the ability to switch from common to local.

The fireplace will decorate any apartment, be it a spacious apartment or small room, you just need to be able to choose the option that is appropriate in each case.

When designing an apartment in a building of an old building, equipped with chimneys, you can plan a wood-burning fireplace, made, for example, of refractory concrete. This unexpected solution will be ideal for creating a modern interior and will not cause significant damage to the owners wallet. Since concrete has considerable weight, the architects propose a trick by completing the upper part of the gypsum-fiber construction, then covering the entire fireplace with a homogeneous plaster mix.

In the design of the room you can apply a modern interior solution., to create an open space kitchen-dining room with a large number of modular storage systems and household appliances necessary for a comfortable life. A voluminous monumental concrete fireplace will not look inappropriate in a minimalist interior, on the contrary, it will emphasize the conciseness of the solution, and its strict straight lines will continue the geometry of the cabinets.

For those who like classic romanticism, wood, gas or fake fireplace can be issued in a hunting style. Having added a wrought-iron chandelier to the chain, a stuffed deer, antique carpet and leather armchairs, the fireplace area can be turned into a corner of Victorian England and impress guests with subtle taste. The original design of the fireplace with a stone hearth is accentuated by wooden panels in the wall cladding and luxurious doors. For ease of care, this interior can be decorated using modern materials. For example, wooden tile effectively imitates stone and panels from solid wood, it is unpretentious in operation and has a reasonable price.

It looks interesting placement of the fireplace as a separator between the areas of the room one-room studio apartments. For example, in the case when you need to separate the kitchen from the dining room, you can build a partition, which is built biofireplace or electric fireplace. This option will allow you to combine convenience, functionality and aesthetics: it will be convenient to watch the fire and bask in that case, being in both rooms. It is possible to decorate a dividing fireplace wall with the help of porcelain stoneware, marble or ceramic tile. In some cases, a curtain of refractory material is used. This is convenient when the fireplace separates, for example, a bedroom and a living room. For greater realism, you can put pebbles or stone fragments on a biofireplace pallet in order to surround the fire with a decent frame.

If the owners have a desire to see a royal-style fireplace, they can order a portal from a stone with large masonry. It is desirable that the adjacent wall had a similar design, in this case, you can use modern materials that successfully replace the natural stone and create the effect of the Middle Ages. Such a fireplace will be successfully combined with both antique furniture and modern soft "smart" sofas, it will be appropriate in any interior.

On how to arrange a fireplace in the interior of Feng Shui, see the following video.