Fireplace design: which type it’s better for me?

Winter has arrived, and it is precisely at this time of year that we always remember the fireplaces and everything they can contribute to a home. These have evolved from its primitive function to being an icon of interior design.

Choosing a type or design of fireplaces that is consistent with our decorative style is essential for the integration of this is gradual and natural.

Clearly, the interiors of houses with fireplaces always give a plus, as they decorate, are useful and give us a familiar feeling.

As we are going to review in this post about fireplace design, today in the market we have two main types of fireplaces, regardless of what material they work for. These are rustic fireplaces or wood burning fireplaces and integrated fireplaces, which are usually gas or ethanol.

The fireplaces have always been closely linked to the concept of home or home. In fact, the term “home” comes from the Latin “focus”, from which the word “fire” derives. Thus, we see that since the origins of Western culture, housing has always had a halo of light from a living flame, usually located in the center of the home.

However, over the years, this relationship has changed and the needs for light and heat have been replaced by other simpler solutions. Despite this, the hypnotic and relaxing effect of the fire will continue to please us, which is why it continues to be an important element in interior design, especially in winter, as an object of design and decoration.

We talk about the classic fireplace design with their basic operation based on physical laws. Historical because they are present in many stages of our human evolution, almost as many as those that make us discover fire. These have a high capacity to generate heat and heat a complete room.

The slow combustion of firewood is an attraction that makes any room worth its salt, but also requires other needs such as:

-It needs a smoke outlet.
-A large amount of waste is generated (ash).
-It requires a specific space to store the firewood.
-It is difficult to regulate the temperature of the fire.
-Special care must be taken with a chimney, since it is necessary to feed the fire frequently and monitor it to avoid accidents.
-The energy efficiency is low because much of the heat is lost by the draft

In interior design, these types of chimneys are very common in Europe, although in the peninsula they are also found, they are not as common in our homes as in those of Western Europe.

-This type of chimney has a series of characteristics among which it stands out:

-It needs a smoke outlet.
-They do not generate waste.
-They do not generate fumes.
-They are efficient.
-They take up little space.

-The ignition is immediate (even with remote control).
-You can regulate the temperature.
-They need a shot of a smaller size than the wood fireplaces and, therefore, the difficulty of the installation work decreases.
-It is mandatory to have a gas installation in the building or home.
-The price of a gas fireplace is ten times that of a traditional wood-burning fireplace.
-The effect of fire flames is static and equal. While there are fans that can be installed to give them a more realistic effect.

The third option on fireplace design has become very fashionable in interior design studios are ethanol fireplaces. The fuel that these chimneys use, ethanol or bioethanol, is a fuel that is obtained from the fermentation of sugars (materials rich in carbohydrates), hence the emissions of these chimneys are clean since it is obtained in an organic way .

Among the main features of this type of chimneys are:

-It needs a smoke outlet.
-The energy efficiency is quite high compared to other chimneys.

-There are many ethanol fireplaces in the market, of all types, sizes and shapes.
-The effect of the flames of fire in movement is real.
-Bioethanol is sold in specific establishments and its price is high.
-The average cost of a 1.5-liter medium chimney keeps the flames lit for 5 hours. Its prolonged use throughout the winter would lead to the continuous purchase of bioethanol to cover the needs of the deposit.

It is important to emphasize that any type of chimney that is installed in a house needs a smoke outlet. Both traditional fireplaces, gas or ethanol fireplaces require a shot to expel the elements emanating from them.

While it is true that ethanol does not generate ash or smoke, it exudes a strong smell and heat, so it is necessary to have a smoke outlet to ensure the evacuation of this type of system.