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A fireplace is going to be an expensive item, so, if for no other reason, you need to make sure that what you end up with is REALLY what you want. It’s not something you’re going to change every few years!  I shall go briefly through the kinds of fireplaces that are generally available, and show you what we can offer.

I’m talking mainstream fireplaces now.  There are many outlets that will do the weird and wonderful but in catering for the general buying public we like to offer something that will complement the average lounge.  We do have a few “odd” ones too!

Most people think of a fireplace as consisting a hearth, back panel and a mantel. The fire can be electric, gas, solid fuel or bio-ethanol, or just be a hole where you put a few candles.  You might think that the “solution” would be easy to find, until you start looking at what is available.

Links to various manufacturers and /or suppliers web sites are provided at the end of this article. The sheer volume of products precludes them from being displayed within these pages but we are able to supply items from all the featured catalogues.

So what are the basic options?

Let’s start with a Marble Hearth and Back Panel, with a Mantel.

I say “marble” but you could be looking equally at granite, limestone, slate, a “man-made” micro marble, or even a composite material.  There are literally hundreds of different types of true marble, and a large number of man-made micro marbles, so you really need to see samples before going too far towards a purchase.  We can show you a selection of the more popular types when ordering a fireplace which has an option on the material used to make it.  Not all fireplaces have such an option.

But don’t think you need to use the same stone for the hearth and back panel.  For example, a granite hearth with a contrasting micro marble back panel can look very effective.

And then there’s the mantel. A vast selection of mantels is available to suit all budgets. We deal mostly in solid wood, quality mantels, with an option of a made to measure service. These are mostly supplied by OER, an established manufacturer with multiple award winning designs.

If a timber mantel is not to your liking, then you’ll be looking at marble, limestone, or composites.  Many mantels come as a set with the hearth and back panel but not exclusively so. The Gallery Collection has a number of mantels that could be used with, for example, cast iron inserts. 

We can supply a number of standard fireplaces in varying materials along with a bespoke service for a selection of stone/marble fireplaces.

Cast Iron Fireplaces:

The Gallery Collection has a large range of cast fireplaces to choose from. You could be looking at Arched Inserts, Combinations, Tiled Inserts or Facias.  Most are suitable for use with either gas or solid fuel and come in varying finishes: all black, hi-lighted, half polished and polished. The Inserts and Facias are designed to be used with a mantel of some description, while the Combinations have a built in mantel.  There is a large range of tiles to suit the Tiled Inserts to go with most colour schemes.

The Modern Look

If you are looking for a more modern style then you may like to consider a simple hearth and back panel. With this arrangement the back panel is fitted directly to the wall and has polished edges (with or without a fancy cut: bevelled or ogee). This can look very effective with a quality gas fire.

And finally, you may want the chicest of looks, with a hole-in-the-wall fireplace. Again, these are available with gas or solid fuel fires, and electric for that matter. These fireplaces can be simply a fire fitted directly into, or onto, the wall, or maybe with a back panel to add some width and another dimension. 

So you see, the choice is many and varied! The traditional hearth, back panel and mantel is still the most popular style, catering for many different “ages” of both house and purchaser. By combining different materials the “look” can be quite unique….. the choice is yours.