What should a provence fireplace look like? In order to find the answer to this question, we analyze the features of the style. This trend originated in France. Currently, French Provence is considered among interior designers as an interesting solution when decorating suburban mansions.
Important points
With apparent simplicity, Provence style fireplaces, photos of which are presented in the material, create a harmonious atmosphere in the room. With such a decorative design of a family hearth, it will become a true decoration of a country house.
In order for the corner fireplace in the Provence style to be not only an element of beautiful design, but also a functional source of heat, professionals should deal with its lining.
Color spectrum
The color scheme is an important nuance that helps to perfectly fit the fireplace into the space surrounding it. Artists and designers today use in their work diverse variations of the decorative and functional element in the Provence style. Living room with fireplace involves the correct selection and combination of colors. Let us dwell on this issue in more detail. In this interior style, several basic (donating) tones are distinguished.
Beige and cream colors are associated with the sand of the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. The purple hue reminds of real lavender, which is distinguished in this region as a symbol of home comfort.
The turquoise hue is the color of the sea wave. Interior designers often use it when working with furniture facades.
The living room with a Provence style fireplace in blue tones is associated with a southern cloudless sky. Specialists select textiles of bright ornament for such an interior, and the fireplace itself is usually framed in one color.
Pay attention to quality
What might a fireplace look like in an interior? In Provence style, using decorative finishes, it turns into a chic addition to the interior of a country mansion.
No matter how originally the decor item was designed, its practicality still depends on a correctly selected facing material. Professionals prefer to use natural stone. Living rooms in the Provence style with a fireplace (photo below), decorated by him, have several distinctive characteristics:
- high strength
- impressive appearance;
- environmental friendliness;
- long operational period;
- resistance to temperature extremes, high humidity.
Location options
A modern fireplace in the style of Provence, depending on the location and design, can be:
- angular;
- built-in;
- insular;
- near the wall.
Wall models
They have impressive dimensions, are located in the center of the room. A similar Provence style fireplace can be installed in a spacious room. It will become the basis of the interior, and as a complement to the home, a soft corner will appear for a complete family vacation.
Corner fireplaces
They are mounted in the corner of the room, are smaller. Such a Provence style fireplace is suitable for those country house owners who want to save on its decorative finishes. Such a model is a great solution for small rooms. You can sit next to the family hearth in a small company.
Mandatory Items
Any fireplace in the style of Provence suggests the presence of some components:
- firebox for burning wood;
- smoke collector necessary for the passage of smoke from the furnace into the exhaust pipe;
- portal decorated with decorative materials;
- chimney providing normal draft.
What materials to take
To design a fireplace with a decorative stone, certain skills will be required from the master. To create Provence, granite, limestone, small shell rock, natural marble can come up. Among fashion trends is the option of artificial boot. It has less weight, neat elements that are absolutely easy to use. If you wish, you can completely make this material at home, armed with mixtures based on silicone and pigments, as well as rubber forms.
As a bonding element for decorating a fireplace, cement is suitable. Gypsum is a bad option, as it is unstable to temperature jumps.
A good facing material for fireplaces is considered to be craftsmen and white limestone, which compares favorably with strength and refractory characteristics. During heating, it does not undergo deformation. Its weight is less than that of a natural buta, which greatly simplifies the process of processing and fixing on the surface of the portal.
The stone has a white tint, so the atmosphere in the living room will become cozy and comfortable. During operation, limestone becomes even more durable.
The marble has a pretty beautiful texture with original veins. This finishing material is most often chosen by the owners of suburban mansions for facing fireplaces. Owner reviews indicate that it is thanks to marble that the interior becomes truly luxurious and unique. Decorative plates have high strength, good heat capacity.
Natural stone can hardly be called a suitable material for decorating fireplaces, as in the event of an increase in temperature it deforms, cracks appear in the masonry. Its laying should be done only by professional masters.
Shell rock masters are called the best option for facing work, because it has an excellent ability to absorb moisture. The material first absorbs water, then it releases out. The presence of small air pores in the stone structure helps to give it optimal strength. The shell rock has intricate patterns and warm shades, so when choosing a go for a fireplace, you can count on an excellent result. Reviews of the owners of such fireplaces are only the most positive.
The trends of modern times
Among the many artificial materials that are suitable for decorating a fireplace portal, acrylic is of interest. In its production, chemicals with silicate, marble chips, crushed stone are used. Thanks to the natural dyes that are introduced into the mixture, the plates can be given any shade. When the solution is kept in molds, fragments are obtained of the desired size and configuration. To fix the artificial slabs, cement glue is used. Acrylic is not able to absorb dirt and dust, and rags can be used to clean it.
Among the artificial stones, quartz can be noted. This material has excellent technical characteristics at a low cost.
Original decor
For decorating the lower part of the fireplace in the Provence style, which has a special recess for firewood, a large boot of dark colors fixed on cement mortar is suitable. The chimney and the portal with the furnace can be faced with several concave pieces of beige limestone. In this case, the decor will make the room more comfortable and harmonious.
Fans of aristocratic sophistication can experiment in provence with a combination of natural stone and expensive wood. Subject to all safety standards, the result will exceed all expectations.
In bright and spacious living rooms it is quite possible to place an island fireplace, which will be decorated with an artificial boot. Under such stone cladding you can hide the chimney from prying eyes. A living room with such a hearth is an excellent choice for French Provence.
A wall-mounted fireplace, lined with snow-white expensive marble, is optimal for a luxurious country cottage.
Installing and decorating a real Provence fireplace is a responsible and costly undertaking. Before proceeding with direct installation, you need to choose the right place for it. For a real fireplace, it is advisable to prepare a special base so that it is securely fastened and does not bend the floors inside the building with its weight.
Reviews
The reviews of the masters indicate that when choosing a facing material, they prefer to use natural stone. For example, brick structures cause some doubts among customers regarding safety measures.
If the design of fireplaces in the Provence style is carried out using natural stone, then as a few drawbacks of this choice, judging by the reviews, we can note the high cost of the project, as well as the difficulty of working with this natural material.