Decorating
Warm Up Any Room with a Fireplace
By
Mar 20, 2006, 22:57

(ARA) - What’s hot for your home? A second fireplace installed anywhere in the house.

Traditionally, homes have been built with one wood-burning fireplace in the living or family room. Now, there is such a wide variety of styles and sizes available, that the idea of adding a second fireplace in another room of the house is spreading like wildfire -- whether you’re choosing a fireplace for ambiance or supplementary heat.

The most popular location for adding a second fireplace is the master bedroom, but the bathroom and the kitchen are also benefiting from the ambience and architectural addition of a fireplace. And while most existing primary fireplaces in the home are wood burning, many homeowners are opting for gas or electric for the secondary location. Wood burning fireplaces, as well as some gas models, will require venting to the outdoors. Other gas fireplaces are vent free, and electric ones get plugged in like any other appliance.

The master bedroom tends to offer the most flexibility, because of its size – there’s usually enough space to run a venting system, or enough wall space against which to place an electric hearth.

But it seems to be the smaller areas in which homeowners are getting most creative. One new trend is to install a flickering electric fireplace in the bathroom. Some are being mounted in the wall above a bathtub to create a luxurious and relaxing spa feeling. Others are being installed at floor level, which is very popular among those who want to take the chill from tile floors. These beautifully designed, room-warming fireplaces turn a “ho-hum” bathroom into a “wow” bathroom.

Another option is adding a fireplace to the kitchen – it’s an easy way to create a cozy feeling in the room where most family and friends tend to gather. Consider having a small fireplace mounted in place of a kitchen cabinet, or in a corner cabinet. Or, if you have a large kitchen, add an oversized fireplace and set an overstuffed sofa or a few chairs in front of it so there is a warm, soft place to take a break. If you already have natural gas running into your kitchen, it’s a cinch to run it to a fireplace!

Consider a two-for-one fireplace. A see-through fireplace can be installed to be part of two different rooms, thereby spreading heat and beauty for the price of one. They can be installed in the wall like a traditional fireplace, or can be used to create an architectural divider between two rooms.

Regardless of where you put one, there is a fireplace for almost every budget. Electric fireplaces start at around $300, and are becoming popular because they can be moved from one room to the next if desired. The cost of gas and wood burning fireplaces varies widely depending on size, materials, mantels, and other options.

A second fireplace is an indulgence that every homeowner should enjoy! Courtesy of ARA Content

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