Have you had a fire in your fireplace yet this year? We have a couple times in the morning just to take the chill off, but by afternoon we’re still needing the a/c, so no evenings by the hearth yet. It won’t be long, though.
I’m so glad we have a fireplace in this house, and I’m happy that it’s gas. While there is absolutely nothing like a crackling wood fire, it is so much easier and cleaner just to flip the switch, which means we enjoy it more often than we would otherwise.
Of the eleven homes we have lived in, only four have had fireplaces. Five if you count this monstrosity. It was totally fake. The stone was fake, and the fire was a piece of red cellophane with a lightbulb behind it. Craig tore this whole thing out before we moved into this house (Parade of Homes #8).
This one was wood-burning, and we never really did get the hang of building a good fire. Plus, I think we were supposed to clean it out more often or something, because after a while it had a kind of sour ashy smell (Parade of Homes #7).
This one was gas, but it had a really narrow mantel and a faux marble (meaning plastic) surround which I didn’t like too much (Parade of Homes #9).
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One of the fun things about having a fireplace is decorating the mantel, particularly for Christmas.
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But what if your fireplace doesn’t have a mantel, like this one (Parade #6)? Or if you don’t have a fireplace at all?
I’ve seen lots of creative ideas around blogland, like decorating the top of an armoire or a ledge shelf. Or you could always do this…remember those cardboard Christmas fireplaces?
There are other options, though. If you have a nekked fireplace, like my red and green one (what was I thinking?) you could order a mantel, or even a whole surround. One place with lots of options is FireplaceMantels123. This one would have looked quite nice on the fireplace in question.
If you don’t have a fireplace at all, they sell those too. I love the Mayfair gel burning one. It’s petite, only 34” high, and it reminds me of the little ones you sometimes see when House Hunters is in England. Right now it’s only $249.99 and there’s free shipping until Oct. 31.
Wouldn’t it be romantic in a bedroom? Maybe I should start dropping Christmas hints…
This post was sponsored by FireplaceMantels123. I received compensation for providing their link. My opinions are my own.
8 comments:
Your mantel display from last year is gorgeous! We moved into our house last fall and our first project was redoing the fireplace. It took us over 6 months, but I'm so excited to finally be able to use it this year!
what a wonderful array of fireplaces you've known
alas I don't have one but know I would love it if I did. Beautiful post
11 homes??? whew! better you then me. We just built a home and have been in it for 4months now. we moved in June and I am honestly telling you the first night I had a fire.........with windows open!! LOL We came from a home with a wood fireplace and said we would never live without one again but the one I have now it GAS! Absolutely love the switch on and switch off!!!! LOVE a fireplace!!!
Oh Holly I love the idea of a fireplace in the bedroom!!!! Now THAT is cozy and romantic!!! We don't have a fireplace in this house and the living room is way too small to find a wall for one. That is on my wish list for our next house though. In the meantime...I'll just enjoy pictures of all of yours! :)
Have a great day!
We have a fireplace in the living room, and we use it almost nonstop in the winter. My husband (with his many jobs) also sells firewood, so he's pretty much obsessed with wood burning, lol. I love the idea of having one in the bedroom.
I love your Christmas decorations for both 2008 and 2009, I believe it was?
And I'm loving the Christmas pic with the kid (I'm assuming yours, lol) so excited in front of Christmas presents. Too cute.
Like you I have no idea what people do without a mantle? I think I've always had one too?? But I haven't had that many homes either :)
That white fireplace is divine!!! Oh, how I wish we had a fireplace of our own. :( With a mantel, of course. ;) I do use the top of our TV armoire, and I hang our Christmas stockings up the stairway. :)
I have one of the faux fireplaces with the cellophane paper...lol. I never use it but I love having a mantle to decorate for various seasons. At Christmas I put crystal lights in the fake logs to kinda dress it up a big. Great post.
Somewhere there's a very similar picture of my husband in front of one of those cardboard fireplaces. . . in the late 60's rather than the early 70's, but the fireplace looks just the same!
This is a great post. I hadn't seen your parade of homes--what a great idea! I thought we had moved a lot (10 times in 25 years), but looks like you've got me beat!
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