Stove Recess & Hearth

[wobs]

We are looking to get two new slate fire surrounds installed (they are Victorian/Edwardian), as the existing fireplaces are past their best and not original. The two we have to install are both black, with gold detailing and red marble effect.

We are looking at getting stoves in both (different rooms), and so need to decide what to use for the hearth and recess.

The hearth: thinking black quarry tiles (148mm*148mm), although am open to using limestone tiles (600*400mm). The limestone is a kind of brushed (for want of a better word).

The recess is what I am wondering what would look best. Aside from the obvious need for a non-flammable material, what would look best given the surrounds, and that we don't want black, as the stoves would disappear.

Either: Plain fireproof boarding in either white/cream or red, or ceramic tiles of some sort.

If I went for the former, it would be easier of course, but would tiles look better? As someone who often over thinks these things, and sometimes lack the vision, I would like opinions on this. Google hasn't been much help in ideas thus far.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hi there wobs!

It's a bit hard without piccies, but I think, broadly, there are two ways to go with fireplace design.

1. Put back what was there, and if you have no clue, a Viccy fireplace or fireplace for the age of the house with era-appropriate tiles or marble.

2. Install a wood burning stove, which is entirely contemporary. These look nice with contemporary surrounds an insets so I would want to use whatever I'd used on the hearth up the sides of the inset as well. Why not use slate for the whole lot? It's smart and practical.


Personally I think a wood burning stove and Victoriana tiles or Delft tiles a weird clash.
If you love tiles and want to introduce a pop of colour then pick something contemporary. But I think slate is better and keep colour for other parts of the room!
Good luck! These choices are never easy!

 

[paulc]

If you love tiles and want to introduce a pop of colour then pick something contemporary. But I think slate is better and keep colour for other parts of the room!

Not forgetting that slate comes in a variety of colours - From (almost) black, dark grey, and green. occasionally, you'll find slate with veining of other colours.

To throw another idea in to the pot. Polished (lime) plaster can make quite an impact and opens up the possibility of just about any colour that takes your fancy.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I have a picture from "Victorians at home" by Susan Lasdun, of a stove in place of a fireplace which is surrounded by tiles and has a tiled hearth if you're interested in how this situation would have been resolved around the turn of the century. I'm not sure it has a surround though as it is actually in front of where the opening would be. I'll try and dig out the picture. I have thought about the scenario you describe too. In the end I went for a pretty standard Victorian style insert as I won't use it very often. I think it is hard to make stove look nice.

 

[88v8]

A stove in a small fireplace can look silly.
And what suits a Georgian townhouse with period decor, can look overwrought in a cottage.

Pictures. We need pictures! Of the stove and surround and fireplace and context.

Is the stove your primary heat source... in which case it needs to have yea output and will be of yea size.... or is it an add-on? In which case you have more scope to suit the size to the surround.
Old stove or new? If it's an add-on you don't have to bother about efficiency. There are some lovely antique enamelled stoves which would set beautifully against Art Nouveau tiles.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/252634008876?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=pla-75952154106&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9061007&device=c&campaignid=207297426&crdt=0

and
http://www.stovefinders.com/

Or the king of more modern stoves
http://www.stovespares.co.uk/Esse-Dragon-multi-fuel-stove-spare-parts.html

Slate... polished slate scratches easily. Just an observation.

Ivor

 

[wobs]

Hi there wobs!

It's a bit hard without piccies, but I think, broadly, there are two ways to go with fireplace design.

1. Put back what was there, and if you have no clue, a Viccy fireplace or fireplace for the age of the house with era-appropriate tiles or marble.

2. Install a wood burning stove, which is entirely contemporary. These look nice with contemporary surrounds an insets so I would want to use whatever I'd used on the hearth up the sides of the inset as well. Why not use slate for the whole lot? It's smart and practical.


Personally I think a wood burning stove and Victoriana tiles or Delft tiles a weird clash.
If you love tiles and want to introduce a pop of colour then pick something contemporary. But I think slate is better and keep colour for other parts of the room!
Good luck! These choices are never easy!

TBH, there's not much to take pics of, as we still have the old fire places in currently (I'll try to get some pics up though). Its a 1900s terraced house, and I know it used to have two slate fireplaces, as we still have the mantel shelves in the garden (grrr). I found much of the bits in even more bits, with painted marble effects etc. The slate surrounds I have to install are about as close as I'm going to get to that. Its painted black, with some nice detailing in. The opening of the surrounds will be 36" * 36". The surrounds are fairly standard size (about 10" wide at each side).

For what was on the hearth - I have no idea, but thought black quarry tiles would be hard wearing, and might be close to appropriate. Black limestone with a texture was the alternative, as it is already has imperfections, and matches the colour of the surrounds.

Its tempting to use polished stone, but as it would have a working fire (stoves), they do not fair well in these instances.

I appreciate that stoves are a modern thing, and so I am aiming to get as a traditional look as possible. My main aims are:
A design that is practical (it will last)
A design that will not look dated in 15-20 years, so something that is as in-keeping with the period of the house as possible.

Thinking a plain liner will be the way forward for the recess.

Lime plaster: Sounds tricky! Wouldn't that take some time to dry before we could use the stoves? Would lime plaster stand up to stove use so close?

 

[plasticpigeon]

Here is the picture I was talking about, it may not be the effect you are going for, but it is period. I have what sounds like a very similar house and have put back a fireplace with slate surround as I also found smashed up bits both as backfill when I cleared the opening and also in the garden.

 

[noj]

A possible option

http://salamanderstoves.com/the-hobbit-stove/

The reclaim/repro fireplace of your choice and a small enough stove

 

[paulc]

Lime plaster: Sounds tricky! Wouldn't that take some time to dry before we could use the stoves? Would lime plaster stand up to stove use so close?

I have an inset (cassette) stove that was installed at the beginning of the year. Lime plaster right up to the stove its self. I was using the stove within weeks of the wall being plastered (a lime skim over a HAC cement screed) and it seems to be holding up quite well. There are a couple of hairline cracks, but you have to get a magnifying glass out to see them.

 

[wobs]

Finally have had time to upload some pics.
First up the is the current situation.

This will be ripped out and opened up for the stove.
Below is a close up of one of the surrounds waiting to be fitted:


Lime plaster is an interesting idea. Although I will have to check whether it will be suitable near a stove.

Fitting will now occur in January as Father Christmas doesn't want to see a building site.

 

[livias]

Lime plaster is fine near a stove once it is set. But that takes a while so don't use it if you want to light the store the next weekend