insideKENT Magazine Issue 81 - December 2018 | Page 114

INTERIORS
A COSY CHRISTMAS cont.
A PROFESSIONAL TOUCH
Karen Robinson OF RUBY RED INTERIORS IS AN EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO GORGEOUS INTERIOR
DESIGNS AND KNOWING JUST WHAT TO USE TO MAKE A ROOM LOOK EXTRA SPECIAL. WE SPOKE TO
KAREN ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT FIREPLACES ARE IN MAKING A HOUSE INTO A HOME, AND JUST HOW
SHE MIGHT USE THEM IN HER OWN DESIGNS.
When did fireplaces become ornamental as
well as practical?
Before the 16th century, most fireplaces were
very wide in order to accommodate large logs
and spits for cooking; back then this was the
only source of cooking and heating. It was
not until the early 16th century that the
chimneystack and flue were introduced,
which gave rise to enclosed fireplaces. The
fire surround was made popular in Italy during
the renaissance era and underwent various
style incarnations, reflecting Jacobean excess;
then 17th-century classicism followed by
baroque and then rococo styles. The style
reverted to classicism when the Adams
brothers designed a fireplace using marble.
This style started a trend which continues to
this day, turning the fireplace from something
which was once solely a practical and
necessary feature in a room into both a
practical and ornamental centrepiece.
What different styles of fireplaces can you
have in a home, and what works best?
Generally, the style of fireplace you choose
works best when it complements the age of
the property. For example, an ornate surround
and mantelpiece fits perfectly in a Victorian,
Edwardian or Georgian property. However, if
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done well, a modern décor with a clean-lined,
contemporary fireplace within a period
property can also be very effective.
There is a large array of fireplaces on the
market. If you do not have a chimney then an
open fire is not an option, but there are other
options out there, which, if you have or can
install a flue, means you can still enjoy a fire
with actual flames. Gas fires have come a long
way since their inception and can be used in
both modern and traditional settings, while
electric fires can be fitted virtually anywhere
with a power source, but tend to work best in
contemporary settings.
Bioethanol fires (which use fuel derived from
the fermentation of crops) and gel fires (which
use bioethanol with additives) are the relative
new kids on the block and add new
dimensions to the fireplace. Specialists in
fireplace installations will be able to give the
purchaser all the guidance and information
they need.
How do you like to incorporate fireplaces
into your designs?
A fireplace will instantly become the focal
point of any room. Your eye is immediately
drawn to a fireplace when you enter a room,
whether it is pleasing to the eye or not, so
making sure it looks fantastic is paramount.
The surround needs to be sympathetic to the
design of the overall scheme and if ornate,
what ‘dresses’ the mantelpiece is very
important. The mantelpiece showcases your
treasured possessions so make sure that they
are not only of interest and a talking point but
are also displayed impeccably. It’s important
not to overload the mantelpiece; they are most
effective when only a few objects are placed
on them.
What rooms can have a fireplace apart from
the living room?
In period properties, fireplaces can often be
found in not only living rooms, but also dining
rooms, hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms.
Before the advent of central heating, they were
the only source of heat so most areas in the
house would have one. During the 60s and
70s, fireplaces became undesirable and were
seen as old-fashioned and the vast majority
of them were either ripped out of period
properties or covered over. Thankfully, today,
the fireplace has regained its rightful place as
a sought-after feature and are now cherished
by homeowners and property developers alike.