Mock Fireplace

Some weeks (months ?) ago I blogged that we were interested in getting some bespoke stone fire surrounds made to make the most of the chimney breasts that we have in our two big rooms.
I have not really mentioned it again, but we have been quietly doing some research and visiting local masons to try and decide what we want.

We have got as far as drawing up some scale diagrams and even have some estimates in, though minds have been changed a few times, as is usual with us.

Not surprisingly this is not a cheap undertaking and Jan and I are very nervous about making a major decision on the basis of an A4 pencil drawn diagram. We are both a little lacking in artistic imagination and design flare !

What we are not lacking in, though, is the ability to make stuff out of scraps (and I don't just mean my cooking !). Consequently I have built a mock up of the proposed fireplace for the basement, using two 8' by 4' compressed wood boards left behind by the builders, two cardboard boxes and a handful of plasterboard screws.

We think it looks rather good :


The "real" thing will be slightly more intricate with a flaired out top to the over-mantle and probably a wider hearth. We will either line the chimney reveal with more stone, or use heat resistant plaster (presumably with heat resistant paint too). My choice is the former, Jan's is the latter.......