50+ Absolutely fabulous Christmas mantel decorating ideas

Historical fire pits were sometimes constructed from the ground, within caves, or in the center of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made fires is present on all five inhabited continents. The disadvantage of premature indoor fire pits was that they generated toxic and/or annoying smoke inside the house.Fire pits grown into raised hearths in buildings, but ventilation smoke depended on open windows or holes in roofs. The medieval great hall typically had a centrally situated hearth, where an open fire burnt with the smoke rising to the port in the roof. Louvers were developed during the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be coated so rain and snow wouldn't enter.

Additionally during the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were devised to prevent smoke from dispersing an area and vent it outside through a ceiling or wall. These can be placed against rock walls, rather than taking up the middle of the space, and this enabled smaller rooms to be heated.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe in the 11th or 12th centuries and mostly fixed the issue of fumes, more reliably venting smoke outside. They made it feasible to give the fireplace a draft, and made it possible to put fireplaces in numerous rooms in buildings conveniently. They didn't come into general use instantly, however, since they were more expensive to build and maintain.

In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, increased the grate of the fireplace, improving the venting and airflow system. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection chamber for the fireplace that greatly improved the efficacy of fireplaces and wood stoves. He also improved the airflow by pulling air from a basement and venting out a longer place on top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox that was better at drawing the smoke up and from the construction. The shallow design improved greatly the quantity of radiant warmth projected into the space. Rumford's layout is the foundation for modern kitchens.

Rather it depended on simple designs with little unnecessary ornamentation. From the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way into the Arts and Crafts movement, where the emphasis was still placed on providing quality stone. Stone fireplaces now have been a sign of prosperity, which to a degree is still the notion today.A fireplace is a structure made from brick, stone or metal made to include a fire. Fireplaces are utilized for its relaxing ambiance that they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficacy, depending upon the plan.

Historically they have been utilized for heating a home, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses.

Related Images with 50+ Absolutely fabulous Christmas mantel decorating ideas

Evergreen Custom Residence : Fireplace Design Options — EVstudio, Architect Engineer Denver

On the exterior there is frequently a corbeled brick crown, where the casting courses of brick act as a drip course to keep rainwater from running down the outside walls. A cap, hood, or shroud functions to keep rainwater out of the exterior of the chimney; rain at the chimney is a far greater problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners compared with the standard masonry chimney, that divides up all but the rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor integrated into the crown or cap.

The EPA writes"Smoke may smell great, but it's not great for you.

Types of fireplacesManufactured fireplaces are made out of sheet metal or glass flame boxes.Electric fireplaces could be built-in replacements for either wood or gas or retrofit with log inserts or electric fireboxes.

In the United States, several states and local businesses have laws limiting these kinds of fireplaces. They need to be suitably sized to the area to be heated. Additionally, there are air quality control problems because of the quantity of moisture that they discharge in the room air, and oxygen detector and carbon dioxide sensors are security essentials. Direct vent fireplaces have been fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. They are totally sealed from the place that is heated, and vent all exhaust gasses to the outside of the structure.

How To Create An Elegant Space In A Small Living Room Decoholic

AccessoriesFor the inside, common in current Western civilizations include grates, fireguards, log boxes, andirons, bark baskets, and fire puppies, all which cradle gas and quicken burning. A grate (or fire grate) is a framework, usually of iron bars, to maintain fuel to your fire. Heavy metallic firebacks are sometimes utilized to catch and re-radiate warmth, to safeguard the rear of the fireplace, and as decoration. Fenders are low metallic frames placed before the fireplace to contain embers, soot and ashes. Other wider accessories may consist of log baskets, companion sets, coal buckets, cabinet accessories and more.

As time passes, the intent behind fireplaces has changed from one of necessity to one of interest. Early ones were fire pits than modern fireplaces. They were used for heat on cold days and nights, in addition to for cooking. They also served as a gathering place within the home. These fire pits were generally based within a room, allowing more people to gather around it.

50 Best Modern Fireplace Designs and Ideas for 2019

Adventures in Decorating: Our Simple Fall Mantel

Many flaws were found in early fireplace designs. The most renowned fireplace performers of the period were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a kind of fireplace design that has been used for generations. It was smaller, more brightly colored, with a emphasis on the quality of the materials used in their construction, instead of their size.

From the 1800s most new fireplaces were made up of two components, the surround as well as the insert. The encircle comprised of the mantlepiece and sides affirms, typically in wood, granite or marble. The fit was where the fire burnt, and was constructed of cast iron frequently backed with ornamental tiles. In addition to providing warmth, the fireplaces of the Victorian era were believed to add a cozy ambiance to homes.

Adventures in Decorating: Our Simple Fall Mantel Video

Some fireplace units include a blower which transports more of the fireplace's heat to the air via convection, resulting in a more evenly heated space and a decrease heating load. Fireplace efficiency can also be enhanced with the use of a fireback, a sheet of metal which sits behind the flame and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally made from cast iron, but can also be manufactured from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complex notion although with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficacy tests consider only the effect of heating of the air. An open fireplace isn't, and never was, designed to heat the atmosphere. The ideal method to gauge the output signal of a fireplace is if you detect you are turning the thermostat down or up.

Most older fireplaces have a comparatively low efficiency rating. Standard, contemporary, weatherproof masonry fireplaces though have an efficiency rating of 80% (legal minimum requirement for example in Salzburg/Austria). To improve efficiency, fireplaces can also be altered by adding special heavy fireboxes designed to burn much cleaner and can reach efficiencies as large as 80 percent in heating the air. These modified fireplaces are often equipped with a massive fire window, enabling an efficient heating process in two stages. During the first phase the first heat is offered through a big glass while the flame is burning. During this time the structure, constructed of refractory bricks, absorbs the heat. This warmth is then equally radiated for several hours during the second phase. Masonry fireplaces with no glass fire window just provide heat radiated from the surface. Depending on outside temperatures 1 to 2 daily firings are enough to guarantee a constant room temperature.fireplace decor