Cosy Quarters - Add a fireplace to create a homey feel

By Jaclyn Harper
November 05, 2018

 

Designer Jaclyn Harper uses an electric fireplace as a starting point to create a comfy and dramatic living room.

When it came to the re-design of our living room, I knew that I wanted something dramatic and casual at the same time. A strange dynamic, right? During the design process, I fell in love with a matte black fireplace that I saw on Pinterest and immediately added it to my vision board for the room. As you can see, the fireplace made it into the space. Really, it’s the focal point! To create the dramatic wall effect, I used matte black shiplap to clad the fireplace box. Next, I wanted to bring in some mixed metals and I was able to do that with lighting and drapery hardware. For our seating, the tufted sofas provide plenty of comfort and seating space. To keep it from feeling too formal or feminine in our living room, I added a dark camel-coloured leather armchair and accented everything with pops of blue. A crisp white coffee table was the perfect addition to the space and a sisal rug completed the cosy look.

Thinking of getting an electric fireplace? They have come a long way! To be honest, we initially contemplated going with a gas insert – that’s what we had in our last home and we really enjoyed it. But, when I stumbled across the Revillusion Fireplace by Dimplex (dimplex.com) which uses a mirage flame panel, I was sold! Here are five reasons why an electric fireplace might be a good fit for your space:

No fumes.

You don’t have to worry about gas or smoke in the home and breathing in potentially toxic fumes.

Easy to use and maintain.

No chimney to clean, no ash to sweep up, you simply turn it off and on as you wish.

Lots of design choices.

There are so many options these days from modern wall-mounts to traditional mantels and even ones built into a media console unit.

Usable all year.

Enjoy the flames without the heat or get warm and cosy by turning the heat hot.

Cost effective.

Electric fireplaces are more economical to buy and install, which makes it a great design choice.

Related readings

Tiffany Pratt’s home decor tips for a fresh new look

Decor tips to brighten your mood and your home

 

About Jaclyn Harper

Jaclyn Harper is a TV host, interior stylist and new mom living in Burlington, Ontario. You may recognize her from shows like Tiny Talent Time, Morning Live First Edition and The Shopping Channel. She has also worked behind the scenes for the Property Brother’s Show ‘Buying And Selling’. When Jaclyn’s not on TV or creating beautiful designs you’ll find her latest projects on her blog jaclynharperdesigns.com. From DIYs, design projects to life as a new mom her lifestyle blog and Youtube channel give her fans a peek into her family life.

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