With the colder seasons comes more time spent indoors curled up around a fire. But you can’t curl up around just any old fireplace. It’s got to be beautiful, contemporary, and throw off lots of heat. A big part of all of that is the material used to surround the fireplace. There are a number of options to choose from and we’ve made a list of some to give you ideas for ways to make your fireplace your favorite spot in the house.
1. STEEL
One of the most popular fireplace surround materials. Steel comes in many different finishes so it can fit with many interiors. A steel fireplace surround often gives a modern, industrial feel to a room.
Designed by Bates Masi Architects. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Beyond Homes and BBLOC. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Ralph Germann architects. Photography by Lionel Henriod. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Cecconi Simone. Photography by Joy von Tiedemann Photography. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Marina Breves. Photography by Domus Nova. See more photos of this home, here.
2. WOOD
A less obvious choice for a fireplace surround, considering what you burn, is wood. When building your fireplace, as long as the body is built properly a wood surround won’t be a problem, although you should check your local building codes to see if it’s allowed.
Designed by NONNA designprojects. Photography by David Zarzoso. See more photos of this, here.
Designed by Brandt Design Group. Photography by Tucker English.
Designed by Vibe Design Group. Photography by Robert Hamer. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Pleysier Perkins. Photography by Dianna Snape.
3. CONCRETE
Concrete as a fireplace surround, with clean lines and natural finishes, brings a contemporary feel to an interior and heats up the space as it retains the heat thrown off by the fire. It’s a resilient material making it ideal for fireplaces and the wide number of colors and textures creates a unique design element in your space.
Designed by Onix Architects. Photography by Peter de Kan. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Bruns Architecture. Photography by Tricia Shay Photography. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Anthony Concrete Design.
4. STONE
Stone fireplace surrounds add a rustic charm to a modern interior. They add texture and heat up along with the fire. The stones help to radiate the heat, warming up the interior faster and keeping it warmer longer. It can surround your fireplace in a number of different ways and styles making for a wide range of looks and finishes.
Designed by OYO architects. Photography by Cafeine. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by HPSA. Photography by Dietmar Hammerschmid.
Designed by Giovanni D’Ambrosio Architecture. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Snook Architects. Photography by Andy Haslam. See more photos of this home, here.
5. BRICK
A more traditional fireplace surround, brick can also be used in modern interiors to create a warm and stylish feel. Bricks come in many colors and sizes and can be arranged in different patterns to create a variety of looks that all add texture and warmth to a space.
Designed by Robson Rak. Photography by Lisa Cohen. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by C.F. Møller. Photography by Julian Weyer. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by InForm. Photography by Derek Swalwell. See more photos of this home, here.
Designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects. Photography Josh Partee. See more photos of this home, here.
6. TILE
Tile is a great way to create a unique fireplace surround. It comes in endless materials, colors, sizes, and textures, meaning it can be used in any interior. It can also be a way to achieve looks that are more expensive when built right in. A solid marble fireplace surround, for example, would be much more expensive than a fireplace surrounded by marble tiles.