With a mobile fire pit, we can extend the time spent in the garden despite the cold weather
Mobile fire pit
Archives
Tiled stove
The old tiled stove can be a real ornament of our renovated home
Citrus Christmas
Fresh citrus Christmas decoration ideas
Fireplace frame
A readily available fireplace frame can be a perfect focal point also if we don’t want to toil with a real fireplace
Fireplace inserts
Marvelous antique tiled fireplace inserts
Tinder
The weather is permanently cold, it’s time to light the fireplace. Campfire is increasingly needed during the time spent outdoors. It’s not so easy with bigger logs or in wet weather, flammable tool might be needed. This can be made DIY, even from simple materials found at home.
Pine cones are frequently gathered during touring, mainly if there is a child in the family. Attach a piece of wick to it and dip into melted wax using a clamp. Choose a color wax fit to the home, since many kinds of them can be purchased. Pine cones in different colors piled in a box will look very good near the fireplace.
Put muffin baking paper fit into the cake-tin. Fill it up to three-quarters with flammable materials, for example chopped paper or sawdust. Thrust the wick into it. Add dried color berries and pine branches to it for making it more spectacular. Pour melted wax in it and wait until it gets completely cold. Store them in a small basket or on a tray.
One of the simplest ways of making tinder is to hold thin branches, shredded papers and redolent dried herbs (e.g. lavender, rosemary) together and roll them up in a nice tissue paper or cake lace (paper too) and tie them with raffia or twine. Pay attention that the latter one shouldn’t contain any plastic. This is a bit rustic in style but the upshot will be very showy also.
Let’s recycle the toilette paper roll. Fill it with chopped cork, cram clean cotton fabric, e.g. cotton wool, in both sides, to not spill the fillings out. Wrap it in color paper like a Christmas fondant which will light very easy. This can be Christmas patterned for the perfect harmony with the feasts.
The empty egg carton is a perfect tinder-material because it is made of paper. Put cotton wool or makeup removing cotton ball in every cells of it. Fill it with sawdust, chopped paper or dry leaves. Don’t forget the wick also. Pour melted wax on it. When it gets cold, chop the carton up to have separate tinder. These can be stored even in an old metal egg basket.
An interior designer might help in this topic with more ideas.
For radiators
Radiators are not so beautiful, placing them at a not so practical location can make trouble. Of course, they can be changed to another type of heating solution. Details: https://blog.classicinteriors.hu/?p=8844&lang=en. If they have to be there, bring the most out of them.
In Hungary, radiators are placed under the windows most of the cases. The demand to use this space also can occur especially in small flats. A simple console table gives an immediate solution. Push it over the radiator and it will be a useful storage place. The whole radiator can remain open with this method. Take care of putting only heat resistant objects there in the heating season
Certain parts of one-piece, custom-made cabinets – built-in the full width of the wall with the windows – might contain the radiator. They should have densely perforated doors for letting the heat to flow. If the other parts have doors with the same design, but only with a half-cut pattern, the harmony will be more perfect.
Let’s fix a floating shelf between the radiator and the windowsill. The shelf can be placed even on consoles fixed on the wall on the two sides of the radiator also. This is a solution for using the narrow windowsill also, for example for potted plants.
If the replacement of the radiators is necessary anyhow, there will be a possibility to implement a seating bench by choosing low but longer heaters, which can be useful parts of a dining corner or a reading nook, for example.
If we would like to hide only the radiator without building, let’s paint it to the color of the wall or the furniture with the proper heat-proof paint.
If luckily there are old cast iron radiators in good condition, do not change them to modern flat ones, because cast iron provides heat more intensely. Cast iron radiators can be purchased in shops again, which can be ordered in variable colors, this way there’s no need compromise for classic style.
The things mentioned above don’t regard to convectors due to open flame! Ask for help of an interior designer for planning.
Garden fire pit
Although autumn is here, we don’t have to give up the daily relaxation in the garden. Though the air is already cooler after sunset, the patio and grass might be wet because of the more frequent rain, there are some tricks with which a pleasant atmosphere can be created.
Let’s make a fire pit near the house. Even we can build one DIY made of bricks, quarry stones, concrete etc. Complete it with an easy-cleanable garden path leading to it. If its form, color and shape fit to the house, it will be a perfect accessory which fades into the environment but it can be the integral part of the patio also.
Enough seating place will be needed around the fire pit. In the case of it is sunken in the ground, the rim can act as a bench. Cover its edge with stone or treated wood. Covered with cushions, it will be comfortable for everyone. If the fire pit is standing alone, armchairs can be put around it. Thick blankets should be put on them also beside cushions against cold. Since these can be slippery on plastic, it’s better to choose furniture made of wood or metal.
The portable fire pit is mostly made of metal, it can have open or closed firepot, in several colors and shapes. With this, it is easy to transform the summer breakfast corner to an autumn warming place. Its advantage is that it can be placed anywhere if there is enough space or where the view is beautiful.
Don’t let the autumn rain discourage us! If the wind is not blowing, we don’t have to go inside: parasols still do a good service this time also. Stand some of them above the seats and the fire. The smell of the rain and crackle of logs will be a pleasurable addition to chats.
Ask for help of an interior designer for making the outdoor cozy.
Heating
One of the essential steps during building or renovation of a property is planning or changing the heating system. Frequently the circumstances are given, for example in the case of an apartment house which has to be adapted. Let’s see a short general review.
Underfloor heating is a popular solution. It is applicable with laminated floor or tiling. Its place has to be formed in the very beginning of the works. Advantages: invisible, releases heat on a large surface and energy saving. Disadvantages: continuous foot-warmth is not healthy for men and it heightens the allergy-inclination to dust.
Radiators are given in the case of house-central heating, gas furnace and central heating, especially in apartment houses. These are placed under the windows in Hungary which makes e.g. the curtaining difficult. Decorative radiator can be bought in classic style which fits well for the general aspect and its color can be chosen from a catalogue. The sight can be more unified with a custom-made radiator cover.
Convector heating can be found in old apartment houses. There is free flame in it, so it cannot be covered. Nowadays the convectors in shops are not only functional but decorative also. Replacing it with an ethanol or electric fireplace can be a solution. Since these are placed under the windows also, the curtaining in this case is a huge problem.
Tile stove is fashionable again, both the wood-burning and gas-burning types. It could be a very special decoration element of the room. It keeps heat for a long time. Disadvantages: it requires a lot of space and its direct surroundings cannot be furnished because of the heat.
Wall-heating is a rarely applied solution. Pipes are placed inside the walls, with warm water circulating in them. Disadvantages: the location of pipes has to be carefully measured before hanging pictures, shelves, mirrors etc.
Heating-cooling air conditioners are powered by electricity. The internal unit can be placed anywhere on the wall from where the outdoor unit can be available with a proper slope. Disadvantages: it’s not economical, dries the air and there is a continuous air-flow.
Of course, there are further solutions or the combinations of the mentioned ones. Ask for help of an interior designer in time for planning the heating.
Fireplaces
The fireplace is the heart of the home, it symbolizes the stove. Maybe that’s why we are attracted so much to it. Warm coziness can be created in every flat or house by it, just the proper type has to be chosen.
Nothing is more pleasurable than the sound and sight of the flaming and crisp logs. The most important requirement of using a wood-burning fireplace is a properly ventilated chimney. The license even won’t be given without this. If our house has the required features, let’s select among the most beautiful fireplaces. However, regular revision and maintenance by a specialist is important for avoiding accidents. Disadvantages of wood-burning type: ash with dust and soot, and continuous filling of the log pile. It gives warmth in a couple of meters.
Installing gas heated fireplaces is a subject to authorization also. There are strict rules for piping and building the chimney. The flame is real but in a more regulated way. Handling it is much easier, since only a switch has to be turned for burning. There is no dusty afterwork. It warms really only in one or two meters far.
Bioethanol fireplaces can be put anywhere in any sizes. No license is needed for them because no harmful materials are produced during burning. No pipes and no chimney are needed. It has real flames which is easily controllable and can be turned off. But take care for keeping the combustion chamber clean because the coated dust could smell bad when lit. It gives minimal warmth.
Electric fireplaces are the cleanest types. They can be turned on and off with just pushing a button. It can be placed anywhere where a proper fuse-board and a meter are set. But its flame is not real and gives no warmth.
Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the fireplace in proper type and style for your home.
