I read a lot of blogs. In fact, so many blogs that I recently cancelled cable and don’t seem to care. Of all of these blogs only my real favorites make it to the Blogroll here. I’ve done a little housekeeping over there. Some bloggers have moved on to greener pastures (Stucco Bungalow, If your reading this, I’m dying to see whatever happened to your bathroom!) so they have been removed. To fill their places I’ve added some newer favorites.
Speaking of other Blogs…
I’ve mentioned before the false fireplace in the living room that I made to replace the original that was once in there. I like it, its fine… but I wish it was real.
The last couple weeks have been bitter cold and I’ve been using a space heater to take the chill out of the corners of the house. As you know, I read a lot of blogs and I’ve noticed a lot of people going to the next step with their fake fireplaces. They have done such a great job with it, managing to walk on the better side of a thin line of really cool and tacky.
The most recent of these has been over at A Country Farmhouse. Let’s just start of by saying everything Trina and her husband do is very tasteful and this fireplace is no exception.
When you look closer you can see she used an electic insert
Which she then covered with an antique screen to complete the total illusion, quite effectively in my opinion. If you have a chance, check out the entire renovation of her guest house.
Another impressive fake fireplace that I spied was at Just So Lovely. In her basement another electric insert was used to create a similar fireplace.
Her blog has a very descriptive and helpful step by step tutorial that anyone follow.
It’s true that you could go purchase one of these pre-built at the hardware store, but I think the look is much more convincing when you have the ability to build your mantle to the correct proportion and with a style that is appropriate to your home.
One more blog that has done something similar to this, although without the electric insert is The Hunted Interior. Kristen made this really great example in a fashion much like the others but used the area that would be a firebox to fill with log slices.
How cool is that?
So if I do venture down the electric inset path its going to create the where do I put my TV drama that always accompanies a room with a fireplace. Let me propose a possible solution. If I nix the side chair and suitcase end table I can create a built-in bookcase to the side of the fireplace. Then I can mount the TV inside with a swing arm mount like this one. This will allow me push the tv in and out of the shelf when in and out of use. In the attic are the original doors to the mantle bookcase that used to be here and I can use those to add to the front of the bookcase, hiding the entire operation.
Something like this without the bench to the right:
Or maybe… I just save my pennies and get a gas inset put in and be done with this nonsense.
Ittybittybungalow 
I SO BALDY want a real fireplace. I just don’t think I can squeeze one in anywhere. Call me a romantic but I just want to sit in my chestnut paneled library with a persian carpet in a leather wingback with a glass of something that tastes better than scotch and be hypnotized by a fire. I’m not sure an electric one would do it for me. Trina’s looks great though.
You could get rid of your television. I ecycled mine a few years ago and don’t miss it. If there’s something I want to see, chances are it’s available on the show’s website.
As someone with asthma type stuff, I beg anyone considering a wood burning fireplace to load it up with pollution control stuff for the sake of their neighbors. I think that’s now mandatory in California for fireplaces in new construction.
Ah, Karen Anne you are much stronger than I ditching your tv entirely!
I really like the idea of the built-in mantle bookcase, especially since you have the original doors from it. The swing-arm mount for the tv is a great idea. I have a little electric heater in my front parlor that puts out a fair amount of heat, but An Urban Cottage is right that the fake flames just aren’t the same as the real ones. They are kinda pretty though.
I couldn’t agree more about the fake fire aspect. I think I need to just wait till my second house, or just put a gas insert on the long term project list right after finish the attic.