The traditional fireplace design can give both a warm feeling, and a décor enhancing focal point to any living space. While wooden and marble slab surrounds are more than capable of achieving this affect, fireplace tile can produce many space augmenting designs.
Classic Tile Designs
One of the most classic and iconic looks in fireplace design is produced by the use of Delft tiles. With their monochromatic color scheme, and simple, hand painted designs. Delft tiles have been used to enrich formal living spaces for centuries. Available in classic blue and white, as well as multi-color, these tiles can compliment a range of styles with their illustrations of ships, flowers, animals, children and landscapes.
Other traditional tile designs include the use of Arts and Crafts style tiles. These thick, deco tiles have a warm, grounding affect on the space around them. Available in many saturated colors, and relief designs, these tiles work well in family rooms and other less formal spaces.
Marble tiles can be used to give an elegant look to a fireplace surround without the expense of using whole slabs. Accent the tiles with a decorative, marble border around the firebox. Be sure if using marble, to take colors from the more subtle veins for wall and accent colors for a complimentary look.
Repeating Patterns
Another very traditional look in fireplace designs is to use tiles which link together to form a pattern or design. Use etched limestone or travertine for a subtle, matte look that will compliment the space, while remaining in the background. For a more visible affect, use ceramic relief tiles which will show light and shadow when the firebox is in use. Opt for an old world wash of color over the tiles; the color will darken and pool in the grooves of the tile, while lightening over the rest. This will help provide additional depth to the design.
Mixing Materials
For extra interest and design, try mixing materials together. Use tumbled marble as the field tile, and accent with handmade ceramic tiles for color and variation. Try using the ceramic tiles at regular intervals around the surround, spacing them every few marble tiles. Or run two borders of ceramic tile, one around the firebox, and the other on the outer edge of the surround, while tumbled marble fills in the center.
For a brighter affect, try using art tiles in a border around the firebox, using either a honed limestone, or travertine as the field behind them. For small pops of color, try cutting 2” art tiles into the corners of larger field tiles if the amount of space on the surround permits.
Be sure to take colors for the fireplace surround from others already in use in the room. Try painting walls a subtle version of a color in the fireplace surround for a seamless look. If using repeating designs, or decorative tiles, look for designs that may already be in place in the room, or are complimented by those already in place. Try to avoid having too busy a surround in a room already filled with pattern and color.
If using a great deal of decorative tiles, be sure to keep the hearth simple by using large format tiles, or a single slab of material. Keep the entire design of the room in mind while designing the fireplace, and create an area to be enjoyed by friends and family for years to come.
Sarabeth Asaff - Sarabeth Asaff is a freelance writer and artist with a passion for cooking and good food. Growing up in the kitchen of her Lebanese ...
