Fireplace is the main element of any home. For a long time, apartment owners could only sigh, looking at photographs in glossy magazines. But that's in the past now.
Electric fireplaces
It's no secret that apartments are now heated with modern heating equipment. Here fireplaces do not stand up to any competition. However, the aesthetic aspect plays an almost decisive role when choosing an additional heating device.
Almost always, the fireplace dominates the interior, regardless of whether it is full-fledged or electric, or just a candle portal. Accordingly, the design should be distinguished by solidity, fundamentality.
Modern fireplaces are a means to create coziness in a room. They create an atmosphere of relaxation and are conducive to unhurried family conversations. Today, the consumer is presented with a huge selection of electric fireplaces. You can also choose the design for them. Moreover, you can make a portal for an electric fireplace with your own hands. And it won't take much time or money. Finishing is possible in any style, suitable forinterior design.
These types of heaters are most in demand today. They consist of an electric furnace of a converter or radiant type with a power of not more than two kilowatts and a portal. Electric fireplaces do not require a chimney and can be used as a decoration in any home that has electricity.
Making a portal
First you need to decide on its placement - in the corner or near the wall. Based on this, they select the configuration and purchase the materials from which the portal for the electric fireplace will be mounted with their own hands. It is acceptable to use drywall with guides, wood, MDF (chipboard), plywood, parquet boards, even unnecessary pieces of furniture. Materials can be combined as you like - it all depends on the capabilities and imagination of the master.
The portal and the electric fireplace should match in style with each other and organically fit into the overall design of the room. You should also consider the size of the room - a large structure in a small living room will look ridiculous, and a small structure will be lost in large mansions.
Begin to work after the electric fireplace itself has already been purchased. Although manufacturers indicate the exact dimensions of the device, there are also technological holes that need free air access. In addition, it is impossible to predict which part of the scenery will become an obstacle during work. If everything is foreseen in advance, then the portal for the electric fireplace with your own hands can be made withouttripping over every little thing. When you decide on the sizes and materials, you should get to work.
Corner fireplace
Heaters of this shape are more suitable for city apartments. They have a number of advantages. The corner portal for an electric fireplace can be seen from anywhere in the room. It is not necessary to place all the furniture taking into account the main landmark (fireplace), as is the case with the wall option. It is enough to place two armchairs near it - and a cozy zone for confidential communication and contemplation is ready.
The corner portal for an electric fireplace can be made of brick, wood or drywall and a profile.
Gypsum board portal
This is the most popular option. First, a sketch is drawn on the wall. Before making a portal for an electric fireplace with your own hands, the drawing outlines the base and attachment points of the frame. The base in the intended area is made of timber or profile. Guide racks are attached to it, their number inside the frame is dictated by the shape of the heater.
The drywall electric fireplace portal must be equipped with electrical wiring if it is far from the outlet. At the stage of manufacturing a complex frame, the main thing is to place a heater in it in time. When using a simple box-shaped structure, the base can be assembled on the floor, and then attached to the wall with self-tapping screws. Rigid fixation can protect the portal from possible mechanical impacts.
When the base and frame are ready, theysheathed with plasterboard. Details are cut out on paper so that they fit exactly on the frame. After assembling the structure, it is necessary to seal the joints with putty, prime, paint and glue decorative moldings. It is desirable to strengthen the corners of the fireplace with perforated corners for plastering. If necessary, fasten heat-resistant sheets to the inner surfaces of the firebox. Before finishing, the caps of the self-tapping screws are puttied.
You can finish the portal under the electric fireplace with your own hands and in other ways. There are plenty of options.
Budget decorative trim
Portals for electric fireplaces can be simply painted. This is the most economical way. To do this, the surface of drywall after puttying is carefully polished with fine-grained sandpaper to achieve maximum alignment. Then stained.
An economical solution is also pasting the portal with a self-adhesive film. It is glued to a leveled primer. The film can be with imitation of wood, natural stone or tiles.
Traditional fireplace decorations
Gypsum plasterboard cladding made of artificial stone looks spectacular and solid. It is fixed with an adhesive mixture, having previously drawn a laying pattern.
Decorative plasters, such as Venetian, imitate natural stone and are sold dry. Finishing this type is best left to a professional if there is no personal experience in its application.
Covering fireplaces with ceramic tiles of different colorsand a pattern that repeats natural materials - wood, stone. When sticking it on drywall, a reinforcing mesh is used for plaster and primer.
The decoration also uses polyurethane stucco, which is easily attached with mounting glue, and then painted in the desired color - white, silver, bronze, etc.
Expensive lining
Antique tiles are considered the most noble finish. But for drywall, they can be heavy. Therefore, you can use a lightweight version - a tile in a similar style, for example, Gzhel painting or malachite with gold.
The tapestry fabric finish looks noble and expensive.
Wooden portal for electric fireplace
It is somewhat more difficult to make portals for electric fireplaces from wood. But they will look more impressive. To enhance the effect, noble wood is used, such as oak or cedar.
When constructing a wooden portal, one should not forget about the combustibility of the material and observe the distance between the heater and structural elements. The wood must be covered with acrylic heat-resistant varnish in order to protect it from external factors.
To avoid deformation and drying out, you need to use wood glue made synthetically without adding water. When moisture gets into a wooden structure, cracks and deformation of parts may occur. In addition, the wood must be of the same species and well dried.
Making portals for electric fireplaces will be easier from MDF, chipboard and plywood. The frame is made of a wooden block, the podium is sheathed with plywood for cladding (for example, stone for liquid nails), the tabletop can be made of solid pine.
The finishing of the wooden portal should be elegant and concise, using metal and glass elements for this.
Firetop
Any homemade portal for an electric fireplace should be crowned with a mantelpiece. Books, figurines, candlesticks, shells, flower vases are placed on it. You can use the shelf to display small collections.
In the New Year and Christmas holidays, it will serve as an additional decoration of the house. With hanging socks with gifts, balloons and garlands, the portal will delight both hosts and guests.
Optional accessories
If a fireplace has already been built, even if not a real one, then the surroundings should be in full. For example, the floor in front of the podium can be laid out with artificial stone. Do not ignore the grate or the screen, the woodcutter, the poker and the shovel.
The woodshed is designed to store firewood next to the fireplace. Since fuel is not needed for an electric fireplace, a large firewood rack is not needed. A portable version with a handle for several logs will be quite enough. But they must be real. Although, if the size of the room allows, then you can also purchase a stationary woodcutter. They are forged and stamped, respectively, and differ in price.
Any fireplace will decorate the screen. An electric fireplace does not scatter sparks, sofire-resistant glass is not considered. The screen can be forged with beautiful patterns and swirls in modern or classic style. Instead of such a lattice, you can use a screen-screen made of brocade or fabric embroidered with rhinestones like precious stones, metal or other material.
The regular fireplace set also includes a poker, whisk, pike, tongs and an ash pan. They are hung on the side wall of the portal or on a special servitor stand, which is more acceptable for a plasterboard portal. Such sets will emphasize the style of the interior and add chic to its design.
