A fireplace is the stage on which a room performs. It brings architecture, history and personality and if you’re lucky, a little warmth too. From ornate carved stone to antiques rescued from reclamation yards, fireplaces help tell a room’s story. We think of them as one of a room’s greatest works of art: the bones of a space and a natural gathering point for colour, texture and collections. Join us as we share some of our favourite fireplace dos and don’ts.
DO use antiques
There is something wonderfully romantic about sitting beside a fire with a good book or glass of wine. An antique fireplace instantly gives a room a sense of history, particularly when it comes with a few signs of age and character.
At Charlotte Street Hotel, the beautifully weathered stone mantel has a slightly charred quality, as though it has been warming rooms for centuries.
DO accessorise
A fireplace is the perfect place to have fun. Dress it with collections, curiosities and unexpected treasures.
Think beyond the mantel, too. If your fire is decorative, turn the hearth into a little stage for flowers, sculptures, logs or even a puppet theatre.
DON’T be afraid of smoke and mirrors
No fireplace? No problem. In several of our hotels, we have built fireplaces where there were none before. Painting the inside black and adding a faux fire can create the feeling that it has always belonged there.
DO consider scale
A fireplace should suit the proportions of the room. High ceilings call for height, while smaller spaces often benefit from something simpler. Let the architecture be your guide.
DO make it the focal point
Arrange furniture, lighting and artwork around the fireplace to create balance. It is the star of the show, so give it a good supporting cast.
DON’T forget to listen to the room
Every room has a personality. A romantic panelled library might call for something ornate, while a colourful, energetic room may need something simpler and more restrained.
DO embrace imperfection
Don’t make everything too perfect. Mix old and new, polished and weathered, precious and playful. The best fireplaces feel collected rather than decorated.
After all, a fireplace shouldn’t simply warm a room. It should warm the story of it.