Choosing the perfect fireplace is only half the battle. Like a painting without a frame, a beautiful fire without a fully considered fireplace surround can look incomplete. A well-designed surround is your opportunity to let your personal style shine through.
First things first, you may be asking yourself: what is a fireplace surround?
A fireplace surround is an architectural element(s) that quite literally surrounds your fireplace adding aesthetic style and safety to your installation. In this article we will look at three styles of fireplace surrounds: Traditional, Minimalist, and Contemporary.
Traditional
Picture a stone hearth, the mantle is lined with family photos, and large flames are dancing to the sound of Christmas carols. Many of us have a nostalgic memory of a fireplace similar to this (or at least you saw one on TV!). Perhaps you love the look of a traditional hearth but want to take advantage of the ease and efficiency of a gas fireplace. Look no further!
Trisore 100H by Element4
Humanity has been building beautiful things out of stone even longer than we’ve been building fires. The designer for this project decided to combine the ageless beauty of natural stone with a modern three-sided gas fireplace for a cozy feel in this luxury Northwoods cabin.
Trisore 100H: Contemporary 3-sided gas fireplace by Element4 (With Safety Screen)
Gas Stones by European Home
Gas Stones is a great product because it can be easily placed in an existing wood-burning fireplace cavity. DYI idea: add a crown molding mantle and a coat of white paint over your old bricks to give your space a new clean take on traditional.
Gas Stones: Modern log-set alternative by European Home
Modore 75H by Element4
With an uninterrupted viewing area, realistic log set, and the use of anti-reflective glass, this modern gas fireplace is the perfect fit for a traditional surround. Here a simple white mantle is added to give the surround a touch of added elegance.
Modore 75H: Modern gas fireplace by Element4
Minimalist
Minimalism was an artistic and architectural movement born in the 1950s but it has persisted in interior design because of the inherent beauty and sense of calm this style evokes. Like all things in life, with fireplace surrounds, sometimes less is more.
G Series by European Home
Subtle grays and whites make for the perfect minimalist surround for this customizable gas burner.
G Series: Linear gas burner by European Home
Modore 240 by Element4
This 8’ long linear gas fireplace creates a dramatic horizontal, hole-in-the-wall effect. Equilibrium is achieved by two symmetric black panels running vertically on either side.
Modore 240: 8 foot linear gas fireplace by Element4
Contemporary
Contemporary design is always changing, however the design of today no doubt draws from the clean lines of minimalism and ads in lush materials and textures to create truly dynamic spaces. With the development of new materials, the possibilities for your fireplace surround are endless. Just take a look at these three contemporary examples.
Lucius 140 by Element4
In this urban loft, raw materials like brick and exposed metal give the space a contemporary industrial feel. This modern peninsula fireplace is surrounded by panels that may look like patina aged steel but are actually printed ceramic tiles.
Lucius 140 Room Divider: Peninsula-style modern gas fireplace by Element4
Vision by Gavin Scott
Vision is the only example on this list that comes with its own optional surround. These surrounds are available in many different colors and materials. It is pictured here with a clean and contemporary stainless finish which transitions nicely into a muted grey stone wall tile.
Vision Gas Fireplace by European Home
Bidore 95 by European Home
These textured tiles are sure to turn some heads. The choice of a geometric pattern is particularly interesting when paired next to something as organic and natural as fire.
Bidore 95: Corner style gas fireplace by Element 4
Posted by: Cory John Ploessl
Cory is the Marketing Manager for European Home. He has an MFA in Sculpture from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. He writes about fireplace and modern design on the European Home Blog.
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