Traditional fireplace ideas – How to find the perfect fireplace for your period home

Traditional fireplace ideas are a stalwart of the period home – whether cast-iron Victorian designs or the exposed brick inglenooks of humble cottages, they bring with them a sense of history, warmth and character. 

Unfortunately, many homes are not lucky enough to retain their original fireplace ideas as mid-20th-century renovation projects saw many removed in favour of more efficient gas fires. 

However,  traditional fireplace ideas have seen a revival in recent years, with homeowners reinstating originals, or installing new, antique or reproduction designs. While highly inefficient and not ideal as a sole heating method, open fires are loved for the unrivalled atmosphere they evoke.

Traditional fireplace ideas

Starting life as a simple fire pit roaring in the middle of the room, traditional fireplace ideas have always been a central part of the home. Yet, it was only with the arrival of two-storey buildings in the 12th century that the fireplace found its position against the wall, with smoke routed outside via a chimney. 

Historically the fireplace was purely functional – the only source of heat in the home, and somewhere cooking could take place. Today, ovens and central heating have diminished this role, and instead, it is the fireplace’s romantic ambience that appeals to homeowners. Although open fires are one of the less efficient heating methods, recently there has been a surge in renovators reinstating them as a cosy and welcoming way to reconnect their homes with the past.  

If you are looking to fit or reinstate a fireplace, it is vital to first check that you don’t live in a smoke control area as this will prohibit you from burning wood or coals – ask your local authority. You will also need to ensure that you know how to clean a chimney and that it is regularly checked and swept, to keep it safe and functional.

1. Embrace heritage charm with a Tudor design

The earliest surviving traditional fireplace ideas were typically built from brick and left exposed. They would house a small fire with inglenooks either side; these could range from small spaces that provided log storage ideas or larger areas with seating. This fireplace, in a 1580s house, was uncovered behind a 1930s gas fire, and is beautifully finished with a stone hearth and recessed wooden lintel.

Tudor traditional fireplace ideas can be just as at home in a grand manor house or as part of small living room fireplace ideas.

2. Go for a timeless look with a Georgian design

Similar to modern fireplace ideas, Georgian fireplaces were about making a statement, featuring generous proportions and classic motifs. Wealthy homeowners opted for marble or stone fireplace ideas, while more modest designs were of painted wood, with veining added to emulate the look. 

The rise of mantelpiece ideas saw homeowners adding decorative items to the ledge and were typically matched with ornate overmantel mirrors. Seen here is Stovax's Georgian-style cast-iron mantel in matt black with Adelaide insert and ashpan cover.

3. Channel Bridgeton-chic with a regency design

 ‘Regency fireplaces marked a high point in English design. Usually carved in marble, they are typified by lightness and refinement, often with a flat mantle shelf. Details such as S-curve corbels, the bullseye roundel and floral pateras were also popular,’ says Charlotte Freemantle, co-founder at Jamb. 

‘Being shorter than their Georgian predecessors and more disciplined in design, Regency fireplaces are perfect for small rooms living room ideas.’ 

4. Embrace authentic Victorian design with tiling

Victorian fireplaces are one of the most iconic traditional fireplace ideas – instantly recognisable for their decorative fireplace tile ideas that flank the cast-iron grate. Designs ranged from floral motifs to embossed friezes and were typically bright and eye-catching in their colour schemes. The Victorian Fireplace Store has myriad antique and reproduction designs available.

If you're concerned about efficiency, you can pair a traditional fireplace ideas with more modern wood burner ideas.

5. Celebrate the ornate nature of Victorian design

Appearing in almost every room, traditional fireplace ideas were an essential part of the Victorian home. Cast iron was the favoured grate material, as it can withstand extreme heat (up to 1,400˚C) and is compatible with both wood and coal. Slate or tiles were the popular fireplace hearth ideas.

In lower-status rooms, a modest grate would be paired with a functional, understated surround. In contrast, the main rooms – for example, living rooms and dining rooms – would be home to decorative inserts paired with marble, slate or carved wood surrounds and ornate tiling on either side of the grate.

6. Prioritise efficiency with an Edwardian fireplace

When it comes to buying a fire and fireplace, knowing the period of your home is a great starting point.

Edwardian traditional fireplace ideas prioritised heat output and lower fuel consumption. In this era, the cheeks were splayed to direct more heat into the room and grate sizes shrunk to reflect the need for less fuel. Aesthetics played a part, too, and styles drew on classical yet modest designs. Shelving became an attractive addition with space for ornaments. 

7. Create a bold focal point with an Art Nouveau design

Despite coinciding with the start of the Edwardian period, Art Nouveau fireplaces were highly stylised. These traditional fireplace ideas often featured floral embellishments with designs influenced by the natural world. They would be made from cast-iron, stone or wood. 

This Art Nouveau fireplace was a reclaimed find and originally came from a girls school in Penzance – and makes the perfect focal point in this dining room.

8. Go bold with a decorative Arts & Craft design

Born out of a backlash to the industrialisation, the Arts and Crafts movement saw designers reaching for inspiration from Tudor and medieval designs – something that is clearly seen in Arts and Crafts traditional fireplace ideas.

'Regularly constructed of brick or locally sourced stone, these were, wherever possible, large and well-rounded with an inglenook appearance. Bricks were often laid vertically, conventionally, or in a herringbone pattern, with later designs including fabulous use of tiles, like those associated with the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Tiles often showed a pastoral scene or complex floral motifs. Rockwood Pottery, who produced the early Arts and Crafts tile designs, shared a close association with William Morris, the founder of Morris & Co,' explains conservation expert Lee Bilson. 

8. Restore rather than replace

If you have an original fireplace, then look to restore rather than replace. ‘An original is a direct link to the era of the building and will have a quality of craftsmanship which is rarely found in reproductions,’ says Chris Wright, owner of P.J. Wright & Sons Fireplace Restoration. ‘Even if it looks beyond repair, seek professional advice as projects that can seem unsalvageable to the untrained eye often aren't, as evidenced by this project.’ Restoration is also more sustainable and likely to be more cost-effective than buying new.

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