Fake Fireplaces: A Great Frame without the Flame
AUGUST 20, 2009
Where some see a non-working fireplace, others see a gift of space.
There are plenty of things you can do with the square inches that come with that cute fake fireplace. The room-décor factor is perhaps the most familiar. While everyone's seen candles in the "hearth," a cool white seaside scene is a bit more unexpected, and it's a great spot for a bit of green. Other possible fake-fireplace inhabitants: TVs, stereos, fish tanks, pet beds, and mini art galleries. But storage is something everyone needs more of—and so are wine and books (photo by Holly Allen).
You can even keep the spirit of the hearth alive with its more modern descendant by installing a range as one clever Brooklynite did. And while the irony of this is not lost, you may have another fireplace that actually works. Its non-working cousin becomes the perfect spot to stack a cord or two of wood. If you'd rather keep the fireplace fantasy alive, screens are a classic addition. You can even go a step further by adding a heat factor: Electric fireplaces offer toasty warmth with zero maintenance. And if you can't even fake it, you can make a decorative fireplace on your favorite wall.
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