Cozy Vibes Uncovered - Fireplaces

Cozy Basement Fireplace

Where do you see yourself when you picture the coziest spots in your home? The fireplace stands out to many as a warm, inviting central hub. This feature adds charm; it fosters connection and comfort, transforming your living space into a sanctuary. In this post, we will see the design and installation of a DIY fireplace.

Nothing compares to the warmth of a flickering fire on a chilly night. Whether it's a traditional wood-burning fireplace, a sleek gas version, or even an electric one that gives you that ambience you are craving. Fireplaces serve as the heart of the home, offering warmth and comfort while anchoring the room as a striking focal point.

Designing A Fireplace

Designing a cozy fireplace area involves more than just the fire itself; it's about enhancing the surrounding space for maximum comfort and style. A well-thought-out fireplace becomes the heart of the room, drawing people in and anchoring the design. To achieve this, I focus on four key design elements that guide every decision: function, scale, style, and color. Each plays a vital role in creating a balanced and inviting atmosphere that complements the overall aesthetic of the home.

Function

The function consists of multiple roles. Fireplaces can be electrical, gas, or traditional logs. It depends on where it is in your home and your personal preference as to which you choose. Is your fireplace going to be a source of heat, especially in the cold winter months, a design seating for seat placement and focal point in the room, or a lighting source with the glow of fire or even candles inserted in the hearth? The function in this design is for architectural design by giving a focal point to the room and a base for seating placement. The insert I used is electrical and gives off ambience in different colors, a beautiful lighting source, and a small blower for a little bit of heat. It will not heat the room, but it will be nice to have the added heat in the winter months.

Scale

The first design element is scale. Scale is a design element that can make or break a space. Fireplaces are no exception. An undersized fireplace can feel lost in a large room, while an oversized one can overpower everything around it. Achieving the right balance ensures the fireplace becomes a natural focal point—inviting, proportionate, and harmonious with the architecture and furnishings of the space.

When designing the fireplace for this basement, the first thing on my mind was scale. This basement has high ceilings, base cabinets, and floating shelves (I added a faux wood finish). The large wall between the two had an exterior wall-hanging fireplace that did not improve the aesthetic. It was basic, and honestly, no one ever used the fireplace box because it was not very inviting. This room needed a large fireplace to ground the room, as well as extremely long floating shelves and built-in base cabinets that surround it. A small fireplace in this space would be lost.

Style

Second is the style of your fireplace. Do you prefer a sleek, modern look or a rustic, traditional design? Selecting the right materials is key. For instance, natural stone can evoke elegance, while classic brick adds warmth. One item that many homeowners skip is the style of their home. Your homestyle sets the tone for many design choices in your home. A modern fireplace made of only tile, without a mantel, in a colonial home doesn't fit the exterior aesthetic and flow of the interior.

I chose a sleek, slightly modern style with a speakeasy look for this basement fireplace. This basement is designed to mimic a speakeasy whiskey bar with a cigar lounge feel. The walls are painted dark chocolate black to bring this massive room in and make it feel cozy. The selected artwork features detailed whiskey distillery blueprints printed on antique-style paper, paired with handcrafted whiskey barrel rounds that were specially commissioned for the space.

Color

Color choices can uplift your space or make it warm and cozy. A bright white mantel can be uplifting, while dark-stained wood introduces a dramatic touch. According to design experts, the right style can increase your home's value by up to 10%.

When selecting the color scheme for this fireplace, I drew inspiration from the room’s overall design direction and the existing shelving, which had been beautifully faux-painted to mimic wood. (More on that in an upcoming post!) The space originally felt quite flat, with walls painted in a standard gray—yes, we all remember the long reign of gray tones.

Another aspect of color is the stone or tile surround that will flank the firebox. There are so many options. A stone surround is warm and inviting, and depending on its color, it can feel very sleek and modern or more traditional. A tile, like white and gray marble, can bring that upscale look, or you can use a pattern tile, or even brick. This can give your fireplace a more English Cottage look.

Considering each aesthetic factor, the color of paint the wall, the artwork, the theme, and the general feeling I was trying to portray in the room, the warm tone of wood and the masculine black soap stone with beautiful veining would fit the bill. The warm wood tone of the faux paint technique around the fireplace would bring the floating shelves and the fireplace into harmony.

This new fireplace is so inviting—it makes me want to host a little evening get-together with friends, enjoy some drinks and small bites, and soak in the cozy ambiance.