The living fire, tamed by the power of human intellect, became our faithful assistant even in primitive times. Later, in the period of antiquity, the rough centers of the caves gave way to copper and bronze braziers, which warmed the aristocracy of Athens and the patricians of Rome. Finally, in the Middle Ages, a fireplace appeared - a means of heating the room, along with a stove that became the main source of heat for several centuries.
The principle of operation and features
The main difference between a fireplace and domestic stoves is the principle of heat transfer. If in the stove most of the heat transfer occurs due to the passage of hot products of combustion of fuel through the branched channels of the chimney, the main source of heat from a classic fireplace is directly the hearth. The dwelling is heated to a greater extent due to the heating of objects located near the hearth, while the chimney practically does not fulfill the role of a heat exchanger.
The chimney revolution took place with the widespread use of electric heating devices. Already in the 70s, the production of electric fireplaces began - devices that produce heating by means of air heating elements, which were tubes of a material with low electrical conductivity. As a result, after connecting the current, the material was heated, and gave off heat to the air. The first electric fires suffered from frequent failure of heating elements and low quality imitation of live fire, which did not allow them to be widely used in the interior. With the introduction of closed ceramic heating elements, which had been functioning for decades without any particular problems, the problem of the reliability of an electric fireplace was solved. And the spread of 3D technology has solved the question of the naturalness of imitation of a living flame.
Views by location
Wall mounted
Separate the design and location. Options for placing a fireplace in the rooms of the house just four. The room can be decorated with a classic wall, neat built-in, practical corner or spectacular island fireplaces. Let us examine the features of each of them. The wall fireplace is the most classical option. Such fireplaces were built in the rich houses of our country before the ubiquitous steam heating. With proper manufacturing, it has a good heating efficiency, and it looks stylish. The disadvantages of this design are also present. First of all, it is necessary to take into account - the wall fireplace requires space. Of course, if we are talking about a spacious cottage in which a fireplace room is arranged, there will be no problems with the place. But a standard apartment or a small private house is not the best place for such a design. The way out is in the device option, half recessed into the wall. The portal in this design stands only on the width of the palm and does not require space.
Corner and island
The corner fireplace occupies no less space, but its location allows it to be arranged in fairly modest rooms. In addition, the corner of the room is not often used to place furniture. Another plus of this design is the relative ease of manufacture.
An island fireplace is the most impractical option. It requires a large room, it cannot be installed in many rooms - for example, a bedroom with a similar design is difficult to imagine, and a kitchen with an installed island hearth must be truly huge in size, otherwise it will be inconvenient and unsafe to move around. The main advantage of this option is the original design of the fireplace, which is able to revive even a very dull interior.
Built and suspended
The built-in, and even more suspended fireplace is a real baby compared to the other types of these heaters. After all, the modern wall version appeared only when progress made it possible not only to create a safe and reliable electric heater, but also to simulate the effect of a living flame with a sufficient degree of reliability.
And the device, hung on the wall, came into use recently. There are many advantages to this option. Fireplace can be placed as you like, it does not require much space, and therefore is the only feasible solution for a city apartment. Small hanging fireplaces can be placed even in a compact kitchen. With proper installation, the electric fire is absolutely fire safe, and usually costs less than its wood or even gas counterparts.
Electrofireplace living room design
Even in a relatively small living room you can build a modern fireplace. An electric fireplace in the interior of a small living room will make it even more comfortable, while adding luxury and chic to even the simplest room. There are two main design options. The first option, which is more suitable for modern interiors and small rooms - laconic minimalism. The fireplace is built into the same wall on which the TV is located, usually just below it. Thus, the attention of a person in a room is scattered between several details that stand out clearly on the white walls. In a small room where every meter of space is important, such an arrangement would be preferable.
In the second case, we follow the classical path - the fireplace is the center of the room, the focus of attention of everyone entering it. In this embodiment, it is worth adding a fireside portal or select the entire wall on which it is located. This can be an imitation of brickwork, a combination of colors (for example, beige-venga is very well combined, white is Ceylon eben), or wall decoration with natural stone. Such an arrangement of the fireplace is suitable in the case of an interior with ethnic notes, as well as in a classical style - with its heavy furniture, lush carpets and natural colors of the furniture. And the elaborate wooden portal, repeating the texture of the sofa next to it, will perfectly fit into the Empire style interiors.
Portal styles
Classic
Portal design in general - the most important element of the device fireplace. If the dimensions of the furnace, the design features of the chimney and other technical characteristics do not affect the design of the room, then the portal forms the style of both the hearth and the entire interior. Regardless of what material and method of manufacture were chosen for the portal, there are 4 main styles of design:
- Classic;
- Country music;
- High tech;
- Bionics.
The classic portal is always U-shaped. In this case, the firebox is left open, only occasionally being separated from the room with the help of a door - and usually not completely transparent, but equipped with forged elements. Such a portal is characterized by strict and massive forms, the traditional above-the-shelf regiment is obligatory. The materials of the portal are exclusively natural. Preference is given to marble, natural stone, aged wood of valuable breeds. Elements of cast iron, such as a classic lattice, are appropriate and even necessary. Even if the portal decorates a modern modular electric fireplace, it would be appropriate to place cast-iron fireplace tools - a spatula, a poker, and tongs there. Of course, made made of metal, better - by forging.
Country or HighTech?
Country style, also called rustic (folk), has a D-shaped portal. The portal is appropriate for wall or corner fireplaces, and is suitable for a room decorated in the style of Provence or ethno-country. Portal materials are selected less expensive. The coquina, a sandy stone, or imitation will fit. The peculiarity of the portal in country style is the obligatory presence of a special niche for drying firewood. Firewood can itself become an original element of the design of the room.
HighTech is a minimalist style, popular in the seventies and nineties of the last century. The rapid forms, the abundance of unpainted metal, chrome and silver elements - this is the difference between these portals. It is allowed to use stone, but - hewn and polished to a plastic sheen.
Bionics and tiles
Bionics - a new direction of design delights. Characteristic style - following the natural principles. Like nature, the portal in the style of bionics avoids right angles, frozen forms and constancy. The feeling of movement, fluidity, irregular, but smooth outlines - these are the features of the bio-portal. It is necessary to choose a tree and plastic imitating a tree. The colors are selected soft and natural.
The fifth, common in our country style, conventionally called tile. This is an adaptation of the traditional methods of finishing the Russian stove with the help of brown or white - blue unbaked tiles to match the Western fashion for fireplaces.
Making portals yourself
If the laying of the fireplace - the lot exclusively and only professional stove, to issue a fireplace portal on the forces of each. The affordable method is the creation of imitation masonry. For this purpose, a finishing brick is purchased, one side of which resembles a stone, and a special mortar that can withstand high temperatures.
We lay the foundation of the portal on the foundation of the fireplace - this is a fire safety requirement. First, the lower part of the vaults are laid. Further the arch is laid out, and the following reception is widespread - the design is put up completely, but the brick on the place of flight is not fixed by solution. Thanks to this, you can quickly and even lay out even a complex structure.
After the mortar has dried, the portal is freed from the loose supporting brick. If the portal of a wood-burning fireplace is laid out in this way, a trial, drying kindling is needed, maintaining moderate fire in the hearth for 4-6 hours. If an electric fireplace is used, create conditions for the solution to dry - the optimum temperature in the room at moderate humidity.
Electrofireplace in an interior - a way to make furniture of the room stylish and to create an additional cosiness. After all, the house, according to the proverb, begins with the hearth.
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