Design Styles Brick Fireplaces

Classic Brick Design

• In the same style of brick laid to construct a house, the bricks of classic fireplaces are laid in a horizontal pattern and from the base up. After the first row of bricks is laid and mortared, the second layer is positioned in a pattern that staggers ends of the bricks over the centers of the brick layer below. This layout strengthens the fireplace wall construction, positioning the stress points of each brick gap over the solid body of an underlying brick. This style provides a level and uniform design element.

Vertical Brick Designs

• Turning the same bricks into a vertical orientation transforms the fireplace to a more height-accentuated appearance than a fireplace with horizontal brick orientation. When the fireplace opening has an arched shape, the vertical bricks laid above the opening tend to fan out into a striking design. The fireplace can be completely covered with vertical bricks or mixed with horizontal bricks as well. Often in mixed designs, th vertical rows surround the opening, and the rest of the fireplace face is covered with horizontal bricks.

Herringbone Style

• It is quite daring to dress a fireplace up with bricks arranged in a herringbone, or zigzag pattern. It can be done, though, starting at the bottom and positioning the bricks at a 45-degree angle from the floor. Once the first layer is set, follow its outline up the wall of the fireplace.

Brick and Stucco

• A brick and stucco fireplace design marries the hard, earth-tone, geometric lines of brick with the smooth, uniform finish of stucco. Stucco becomes a medium for incorporating color around the fireplace. Tints of many colors can transform a neutral white or off-white stucco base into a complementing décor color.

Brick and Stone

• Adding interest to the brick face of a fireplace with stone combines uniform, geometric shapes of brick with organic, free-form shapes of natural stone. Whatever the desired brick layout, random placement of stones throughout gives the fireplace dimensional character. Another option is to position the stones in a row across the base of the fireplace or in columns at each corner of the fireplace, while the rest of the fireplace is filled with brick.

Brick and Tile

• Frame the opening of the fireplace with decorative tiles, and then brick in the rest of the fireplace face. The contrasting colors and textures add visual interest to the brick fireplace.

Brick and Wood

• Soften and warm up the hard surface of a brick fireplace with wood. Install the brick around the fireplace opening, or completely cover its lower half. Flank the brick with a wood mantle unit and fireplace surround. Complete the fireplace wall above the mantle with more brick or leave it as a solid painted wall.