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A traditional fireplace doesn’t mean you need a traditional room. I actually think a cast iron fireplace can look even better when it is surrounded by cleaner, more modern furniture and finishes. It gives the fireplace more presence and lets it become the main feature of the room.
When people talk about a traditional fireplace, they normally mean a cast iron insert with a separate surround, or a traditional cast iron combination fireplace.
Both can work perfectly well in a modern home.
Traditional fireplaces can work particularly well in modern interiors, especially when the surrounding décor is kept simple. Our range of cast iron fireplaces includes traditional designs that can be paired with both classic and more contemporary room schemes. For me, the important thing is not the age of the property. It is whether the fireplace works with the rest of the room.
One of the things customers sometimes worry about is whether a traditional fireplace is right for their property. Personally, I wouldn’t get too caught up in that. I always think you should go with the fireplace you actually like rather than trying to match everything to the date your house was built.
A fireplace and the furniture around it make a huge difference to the overall feel of a room. You can have a modern house and still use a traditional cast iron fireplace without the whole room suddenly looking old fashioned.
If I was putting a traditional fireplace into a modern room, matt black cast iron would be one of my first choices. The black gives you a really good contrast against lighter walls and surrounds, but it also works well with deeper colours.
It is one of those finishes that seems to complement almost anything, which makes it much easier to use in a modern room. You still get all the traditional detail of the cast iron, but the matt black finish keeps it looking clean and strong rather than overly decorative.
Wood and marble are probably the materials I naturally associate most with traditional fireplaces. Both work very well, but limestone shouldn’t be overlooked.
Limestone is often used for cleaner and more modern mantel designs, but it works really well around a traditional cast iron insert too. The softer natural colour gives a nice contrast against the black cast iron without making the whole fireplace feel too heavy.
Marble gives a slightly smarter finish, while wood brings more warmth.
I wouldn’t choose the surround simply because it is classed as traditional. I would choose the one that works best with the room.
The main thing I would avoid in a modern room is adding too much detail. A traditional cast iron fireplace already has plenty of character, so you don’t need lots of other competing elements around it.
I would normally stay clear of heavily tiled inserts and busy tile patterns in a very modern room. They can work well in the right setting, but once you combine decorative cast iron, patterned tiles and a detailed surround, it can start to feel too busy. A simpler combination is usually easier to get right.
A black cast iron insert with a fairly plain marble, limestone or wooden surround gives you the traditional look without overdoing it.
The way you style the room afterwards matters just as much. If you’ve chosen a traditional fireplace because you like the detail, there is no need to cover the mantel with lots of accessories. Keep the decoration fairly minimal and let the fireplace stand out.
A couple of simple pieces on the shelf will normally work better than filling it with ornaments, candles and other decorations. Modern furniture, simple artwork and cleaner wall colours can then sit around it without competing for attention.
For me, a good traditional fireplace sets almost any room off.
You don’t necessarily need an existing chimney to create a traditional-looking fireplace either. There are ways of creating the look using electric or bioethanol fires with suitable flat-wall fireplace combinations.
If that’s your situation, our guide to having a traditional-looking fireplace without a chimney explains the different options in more detail.
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