Desig House: Fireplace ideas

It's not just the heat that makes an indoor fire so enticing - the smell, the sound, the warm soft light; it is almost impossible to replicate the atmosphere conjured by a real, roaring log fire.

Ever since us humans learnt that living indoors was preferable to the outside, we've cultivated ways to bring that most primal of elements in with us. And cultivate we did, with fireplaces evolving for centuries at the forefront of technology and design, their decoration becoming increasingly elaborate, their materials more luxurious. The carved fireplaces to be found in grand historical houses are often mind bogglingly impressive in their scale and opulence.

Now of course, in the age of central heating, their functionality is no longer a necessity, leaving us free to enjoy their decorative beauty and the important architectural focal point that their presence lends to a room. Even if it is no longer in use, a fireplace gives an instant jolt of character.

But it isn't just fireplaces we're talking about. Wood-burning stoves can be a pure delight, and relatively easy and inexpensive to install. And the modern fireplace is something altogether more paired back, often not even requiring fire at all. Come and cosy up with these ideas.

Annabel's Christmas Living Room