Brick Fireplaces: Warmth and Comfort

Fireplaces were used extensively in the past as practical solutions to warm homes during frosty winter days or chilly and moist autumn times. Often occupying the whole width of a room, fireplaces were made of stone or brick and often had ornate mantelpieces framing them in front. Beautiful carvings and imaginatively shaped screens added beauty to the comfort of being close to the fire.

Nostalgia and a Quaint Beauty

Idyllic as we may see them nowadays, brick fireplaces did not spring from peoples pursuit of beautiful ornamentations. Instead, brick fireplaces served the practical purpose of heating the home, or at least part of it, in the absence of easier means of creating caloric comfort: with such solutions as gas or electricity being unavailable, people had to use these massive stone gapes in order to protect them from the cold and humidity.

But the soothing warmth that brick fireplaces brought made them a favorite place for the family to gather, so brick fireplaces soon came to host various objects that were dear to the family, such as paintings and other ornamental articles. It was a short step from here to associating brick fireplaces with the preservation of old rustic treasures; many depictions of the traditional countryside include the image of a brick fireplace, harking back to times when people had to endure natures harshness and simple joys were so much more profoundly enjoyed.

A Sentimental and Architectural Unity

The double meaning of "hearth", as the floor of the brick fireplace and the more general idea of home or native place, can be easily explained. The central position of the brick fireplace in the house was both literal and figurative. Not only was the brick fireplace the place where members of the family gathered, but it was also architecturally an element of the house, usually included in the construction plan before the building started. There had to be a carefully calculated relation between the surface and volume of a room and those of the brick fireplace. The amount of heat as well as the prevention of the hazards associated with fire, smoke and suit relied heavily on these calculations.

A Thing of the Past?

As time went by and the world evolved, brick fireplaces became more of an ornament than a practical necessity. With the wider availability of newer and more efficient ways of heating the home, many houses no longer included brick fireplaces in their design. Others, however, couldn't part with the old hearth so easily. Today, the brick fireplace is no longer a necessity, but it nevertheless symbolizes the idea of a cozy home.

Home page

Learn About Mantles
Your information source about mantle types.

Types Of Fireplaces
List of different types of fireplaces.

Different Types Of Fireplace Accessories
List of the different types of accessories available.

Where to buy
A trusted store where you can buy fireplace accessories.

Disclaimers
Our contact and privacy information.