If your property was built over 50 years ago (believe it or not, central heating didn't become commonplace in UK homes until the 1970s), chances are that you have at least one chimney breast in a reception room, be it to host a traditional fireplace or a more ‘modern’ gas or electric heater. And if you live in a period property, you probably still have one in every room!
Whilst you may think these chimney breasts are just a waste of space, creating unnecessary recesses either side of the fireplace where no standalone furniture will fit properly, I see these alcoves as a fantastic way of adding character and depth to a space. You only need to look at newly built properties to understand how flat and empty walls can leave a space feel unpersonal and undefined. You see, fireplaces, whether still in use or redundant but dressed with a simple mantelpiece, create an immediate focal point in a space. In fact, in a recent lounge design for a new build house, I specified a mocked chimney breast, made of stud, to combine a media wall and electric stove, giving the room that much needed focal point.
So how can you make the most of alcoves? Using standard furniture generally means not utilising the recesses to their full potential and given the walls will not always (if ever!) be completely square, the only way to go is bespoke. Now, I hear you, bespoke sounds expensive, right? But in reality, a lot of today’s carpentry work is done with MDF panels, which can be easily cut into place and then painted/sprayed and adorned with wooden trims or other surface coverings, to match the exact look you’re after. The options are endless, each result unique and it can be achieved at a much more affordable cost compared to traditional joinery work.
Here is the room we're working with. A typical front room with bay window and chimney breast in the centre.
I’ve sketched 3 options to give you a starting point but really, the solutions are infinite and should be tailored to your own needs. All 3 involve little work for a skilled carpenter or DIY enthusiast.
Option 1 – Arches!
Arches add form to a space and visually draw attention to the height of your room, making it look more spacious. Curves introduce an organic element to the space, connecting it to nature. Arches help break our typically rectilinear spaces and deliver interest and contrast.
Here, MDF panels are used to create symmetrical arches in the alcoves, which are used for storage with a mixture of cupboards and shelves. The panels can be adorned with fluted or reeded wood. You could check the photo gallery at https://thesurface.studio/ for inspiration.
The cornice is run alongside the arches, to provide one continuous line and add more depth to the recesses.
Option 2 – Panelling
Panelling has seen a huge resurgence in recent years. It is a great way of adding texture and interest to a space and help cover less than perfect surfaces. Here it is used to make the chimney breast disappear and create the illusion of a flat wall, whilst using the alcoves as storage.
This is a good option to create a more modern look. The fireplace can be replaced with a large piece of art to create a more contemporary focal point.
Option 3 – Home office and reading nook
Many of us now spend more time working from home and sometimes a desk has to be accommodated in a living space. Alcoves provide a perfect opportunity to create a home office that is a bit more separate to the rest of the room and can even be hidden behind doors at the end of the day. Here fluted glass was used so that when closed, the doors don’t create too harsh a surface to look at.
Another great way to use an alcove is as a reading nook. Here a bench with storage underneath (great for children toys for example) is built from MDF panels.
Wallpapering the back of the alcoves help define the spaces and create depth.
I hope this has given you food for thought. I find sketching the easiest way to experiment with and visualise my ideas. I would recommend you always draw to scale and if you haven’t downloaded it already my guide to Space Planning will give you some useful tips.
As I said, options are endless and each situation unique so if you need someone to take a look at your plans and discuss options, I’m here to help. My Designer on Call service is ideal for this type of project.
Until next time,
Delphine
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