Cozy Fireplace

There’s nothing I like better than sitting by our cozy fireplace, especially today as a blizzard is coming through our little seaside town. I feel this way in winter, but all year-round, as well. I’ll often have the fire on in the summer and my hubby thinks I’m crazy!

When we first moved into our home I HATED our fireplace. It had ugly dark brick, terracotta tiles lined the hearth with a dark glaze, and the inner hearth was cracked. It definitely didn’t have a cozy feel then! It actually felt more like a cave. We redid our fireplace a few years ago, see the fireplace makeover here.

Many people often think our fireplace is real but it’s a gas fire! A friend actually commented how much they wish they had a real fireplace, like ours, as they missed the crackle and smell! I had to confess that this fireplace was a ventless gas!

Do you currently hate the look of your fireplace? Read on for my cozy fireplace tips!

Pretty dark wood mantel with rough stone and a fire blazing. Dark wood mantel decorated with plants, candles and pottery.

What is a Ventless Fireplace?

A ventless fireplace uses room air for combustion and delivers 99.9% of the energy back to the room as heat energy. We opted for this type of fireplace because our chimney flue is unlined and I loved the look of the log set (I first saw it in a friend’s home and was convinced she had a real fire going! This type of fireplace is also less expensive than a gas fireplace vented box.

What log set did we choose?

We have the  Empire 24″ Charred Oak Log Set and added the ember bed kit and glowing embers. We had the fireplace professional installed by Paul Hancock. You can see how realistic they look!

Close up gas logs in fireplace

Why You’ll Love a Ventless Fireplace

  • It looks so realistic
  • A beautiful fire without the mess and time of getting a real fire going
  • It can easily be switched on and off, with a remote which we love, especially when we lose power.
  • This fireplace really heats up the whole room and the dining room.
  • The added safety features. The ventless fireplace insert comes with Oxygen Depletion Sensor, which instantly shuts off the valve if oxygen in the room drops to and unsafe level.
Fireplace with dark wood trim, faced rough stone, decorated with plants and brass candlesticks

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A Closer Look at the Components of our Fireplace

  • Original Dark Wood Mantel – from 1927 when our home was built
  • Refaced the front with Heartland Stone – Fossilized Ocean Flooring from Plymouth Quarries
  • Hearth – Blue Stone from Plymouth Quarries
  • Oven Paint – I used oven paint inside the firebox it just gives a rich look to the fire and adds depth.
  • Vintage Firescreen – I added this to make sure the dogs don’t disrupt the log set or get hurt by the fire. Similar ones can be found here, here, here and here.
Corner of a coastal living room Ship photograph on white walls. Pretty dark woodwork and dark mantel with fire roaring. Mantel decorated with plants, candles, and pottery.

Ways to Add A Cozy Fireplace Feel

  1. Our dark wood mantel is original to the house (built in 1927) but the dark wood inherently makes the room feel cozier. You could get the same look adding dark wood furniture or decor items to your white mantel.
  2. Adding plants. Due to the heat from our fireplace I’ve added faux – real plants just can’t take the heat up here. To add visual interest I’ve used different vessels. The crock is a $2.99 find from Savers!
  3. Add aged brass – we have elements of aged brass in vintage candlesticks and the fireplace screen.
  4. Candle light! I love these battery powered pillars as they’re safe.
  5. Natural elements – I often decorate with rocks we find on the beach, driftwood, shells etc. On the mantel you’ll see ghost wood I found at HomeGoods. The wood pieces are corraled in a vintage jelly mold.
Dark wood mantel with plants, vintage molds and crocks

Can you believe the crock was only $2.99? I think the faux fig was only $5 from Ikea! It really shows you can create pretty vignettes and a welcoming home on a budget.

White crock with fig next to a brass candlestick and jelly mold filled with ghost wood.

There is no peace more delightful than one’s own fireplace.

Cicero
Roaring fireplace with dark woodwork and living room with white walls and vintage sailboat photograph

A Cozy Couch by the Fire

This is my favorite spot to sit and dream. I love sitting and reading here by the fire with the dogs close by in their beds. It’s the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or a stack of design magazines. This is where I’m weathering the current storm – reading Cloud Cuckoo Land.

brown leather couch with faux fur pillows and blankets. Leather morrocan ottomans in front of  couch. Room with white walls and dark woodwork.

The faux fur throw is so warm and the ottomans provide the perfect leg support.

A living room with white walls and classic period details including built in cabinet by the fire with crystal knob

If you look closely, you’ll see Poppy’s bed by the fire and a portrait our oldest son painted of Luke and me with Poppy on the beach (placed on the marble topped cabinet).

Crackling fire with vintage brass screen infront

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Leather couch with faux fur blankets and pillows and brown morrocan pouf

More Cozy Fireplace Inspiration

I love decorating our home fireplace for different seasons. You might enjoy these posts as well:

Faux fern plant in galvanized container on dark wood mantel.

A Video Tour of Our Cozy Fireplace

Did you enjoy this post? If so, let me know! If you have any other questions please send them my way! Be sure to pin this for future reference:

Pin-able image Creating a cozy fireplace

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SJ Francis
2 years ago

I love your cozy fireplace! Isn’t it wonderful to sit by it when it is frigid outside? We actually have the same ventless gas fireplace and log set in our home and just love it. It really comes in handy when there is a power outage such as the one that occurred in Feb 2021. Heat was out but our fireplace worked on and kept us all warm and cozy! Highly recommend it. We had wood one at a time, a wood stove and a vented gas fireplace, but this beats all. No clean up! No chimney cleaning and no… Read more »

Renae
2 years ago

Your fireplace looks gorgeous! Stay warm this weekend. I bet it’s going to be so pretty outside. Hugs to you

Judy Coggins
Judy Coggins
2 years ago

Your fireplace is wonderful. I love the look of it.

I hope you continue to be cozy as I’ve seen you’re getting hammered on the cape. We’re in Auburn, just south of Worcester and it’s really blowing and piling up here. Stay safe and warm.

Debra Hubbs
Debra Hubbs
2 years ago

It’s a beautiful fireplace. I’m wondering what type of plant is that in the grey concrete planter all the way on the left? I’m on LI and we are getting a lot of snow too and it is just blowing everywhere lol.