The arrival of cooler weather inevitably means spending more time indoors. As the air turns cooler, it’s clear summer is on it’s way out and there’s nothing quite as comfortable as curling up beside a roaring fire with a blanket, a cup of tea, a good book or your favourite device. 

Despite our warmer climate, the inclusion of fireplaces in Australian homes is becoming more common as more of us turn to fireplaces to heat our homes in winter. With a myriad of economical and efficient fireplace options to choose from, complementing your fireplace with custom cabinetry makes sense from both an aesthetic and functional point of view. 

A fireplace and custom cabinetry combination makes a stunning focal point for any home. It offers practical storage, character and visual warmth. To create visual impact, use custom cabinetry to maximise the fireplace as a centrepiece, and provide functional storage.

Here, we reveal the secrets to designing the perfect cabinetry solution for your fireplace to create a cosy winter haven for your living space that’s beautiful, inviting and practical.

The team at Balnei & Colina. 

 

 

Image credit: Elms Interior Design

Include open shelving

Open shelves are a practical, and simple way to gain storage. In narrow fireplace nooks, they work well to fill up what would otherwise be considered dead space. Ending them at mantel height is a good way to blend the look of lower cabinets with the fireplace.

Image credit: BMac Interiors LLC

 

Image credit: Lauren Leonard Interiors

Determine your storage  

There is no such thing as too much storage. Installing custom cabinetry around your fireplace will instantly add stylish elegance but also provide a designated place for home items like board games, books, albums, photos and your favourite home decor. You can incorporate both open shelving and closed cabinetry to display books, art or collectibles.

When creating and designing custom cabinetry to surround your fireplace, it’s important to consider what you want to store and how you want to store it. Like most design decisions you need to balance functional and aesthetic requirements, so it’s important to start with working out what type of storage requirements you need.

Before you create custom fireplace built-ins, you should evaluate the rest of your home storage as well. That might help you decide how much storage to add, whether it's floor-to-ceiling units or a simple, low bookcase or bench.

Design Tip: Drawers allow for easy access to items and are a great place to store extra throws or even warm fuzzy slippers.

 

Image credit: Bespoke Fireplace Designs

Recessed or flush cabinetry?

Stepping back your cabinetry will offer some visual relief, particularly useful in a small room.

Many fireplace built-ins are stepped back by several inches to accommodate the depth of the fireplace while providing usable storage. Others are constructed on the same plane as the fireplace.

Image credit: Barbara Genda Designs

 

Photo by: Stephanie Buchman

Locate your fireplace

Where your fireplace is positioned will influence your cabinetry design. There are no hard and fast rules: create a design to work in with your home style and your specific storage requirements. Contemporary built-ins might work well off-centre, particularly for more modern minimalist designs. For more traditional homes a symmetrical built-ins on both sides of the fireplace maybe more appropriate.

Image credit: Liz Prater Design

 

Image credit: PreBuilt

Opt for seating 

It’s always handy to have additional seating in your living area particularly when entertaining. If your fireplace hearth has an elevated base at low-seating height, you might consider extending that to both sides and adding low shelves or drawers that include storage and allow for additional seating.

Image credit: D'Cruz Design Group

 

Image credit: Raven Inside Interior Design

Mix and match

Opting for a mix of closed cabinetry and open shelving will give you the choice to display the things you want and to keep others stored away and out of sight. An elevated base and open shelves work well together, particularly with fireplaces that are centred on a short wall. It's a look that's often seen in traditional or cottage-style homes and can give a space visual balance.

Image credit: Dreamcast Design

 

 

Image credit: Bespoke Fireplace Design UK

Cohesive Look

Whatever fireplace cabinetry design you decide, use your home and your fireplace for cues to select materials and details. It’s important that the entire space blends with your remaining home and reflects your personal style. Repeating detailed design elements such as materials, finishes or moulding in your fireplace cabinetry from elsewhere in the room, is a good way to ensure the overall space remains cohesive.

 

Image credit: Heatmaster

Image credit: AD Design Develop

 

 

Image credit: Studio McGee

Safety First 

Always keep safety top of your mind when designing and installing fireplace cabinetry. Fireplace instructions installation manuals, local building standards and codes of practice specify materials and required dimensions to maintain non-combustibility and to ensure your entertainment centre (including television and music centre) is not impacted. 

Design Tip: It’s also possible to enjoy the look and feel of a real fire without the installation issues of a standard fireplace with flue or pipe connections. Companies such as EcoSmart Fire have a range of easy-to-install fireplace models which use clean burning bioethanol. The fuel is stored inside an easy to fill container and doesn’t require any flue or piping to remove fumes. 

No matter what type of cabinetry solution you’re after - modern to traditional or something in between the professionals at Balnei & Colina will help transform your living area into a beautiful haven that’s both practical and elegant. 

 

Still unsure how to create a custom cabinetry solution for your home? Leave it to the experts. For more information about our cabinetry design and renovation service or to book a design consultation, call 1300 450 320 or send us an email.

If you’re looking for further inspiration and ideas for your next renovation, sign-up to our newsletter or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest design trends.

 

Image credit: Highbury Homes