What Should I Put in My Nonfunctioning Fireplace?
We asked three designers.
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“What Goes Here?” is a new column in which readers with design conundrums write in about what to put in a specific spot in their home. We then share the questions with three interior designers, who present us with product ideas.
For this, our inaugural edition of “What Goes Here?,” we set out to solve a conundrum for Aude White, a formerNew Yorkcolleague of ours who works in communications. She asks: “I’m wondering what I can put inside a fireplace that isn’t useable as a fireplace in an apartment where I’m not allowed to burn candles.”
Here’s exactly what she’s looking for: “I love color in my living space and try to make sure there are bright pops of color in every room. I have a deep appreciation for things that are a little kitschy and campy, so each room has one thing in it that’s a little ridiculous. I also love painted flowers and black ink on white paper, so those are recurring themes throughout my house.” She also doesn’t need an extra heat source, so a standalone heater is unnecessary.
To figure it out, we asked three interior designers to weigh in. Should it be storage? Sculpture? Something unexpected? Each designer offered a distinct solution for the same awkward space. Below, you’ll see their recommendations. Take a guess at which one Aude went with — then we’ll reveal what’s actually sitting in her fireplace now.
Expert 1: Frances Merrill of Reath Design proposes fireplace screens.
Even though the fireplace doesn’t work, White can pretend it does by placing a screen in front of it. “Chimney boards are painted decorative panels that were first popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries,” saysFrances Merrill, founder ofReath Design, a Los Angeles–based interior-design firm. “They were used to cover a fireplace in the warmer months. With Aude’s love of painted flowers and tolerance for kitsch, these seem like a perfect fit. If she is interested in something a little more offbeat — even creepier! — there are also ‘dummy boards’ from the same era, featuring lifelike figures and serving the same purpose (though they are less summery).”
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More options from Merrill:
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"This one is like having an enormous bunch of tulips all year round."
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"This one feels a little more kitschy, fruit in place of flowers."
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"Hydrangeas in a basket! Perfect for a summery, New England-y room."
Our budget versions:
Expert 2: Sally Breer suggests a small lamp.
Sally Breer, founder ofSally Breer World, a Los Angeles– and Hudson Valley–based design studio, recommended this tiny Zara Home lamp. “It’s a cordless rechargeable spot, which is nice to be able to put anywhere without worrying about chasing a cord. The simplicity of it lets whatever art or mirror you want to lean in the opening be the moment. It’s also reminiscent of ’50s stilnovo spots. An ageless feel,” she says.
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More options from Breer:
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"Love the wink of a grotto in a fireplace, and just great glowing light from the plexi."
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"Something more sculptural and less 'lamp' is this lamp that's a little freakier and more playful."
Our budget versions:
Expert 3: Colin King went sculptural.
“A nonworking fireplace is really just an opportunity for something unexpectedly wonderful,” saysColin King, a New York–based stylist, designer, andcreative director. “I love this cast tulip vase because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. And the shape feels whimsical and sculptural at the same time, almost like a tiny stage set for branches or nothing at all. It gives the hearth that layered, lived-in feeling that makes a room seem loved instead of decorated, turning an empty firebox into a real focal point, romantic and slightly grand but still relaxed.”
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[Editor’s note: The tulip vase above doesn’t ship until mid-August, but this oval urn is available immediately.]
More options from King:
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"It has a surreal quality, which makes it feel playful and a bit magical inside the hearth."
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"I also love the idea of a garden finial, which would look sculptural and quietly elegant there."
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"Or lean into the idea of a small indoor garden by placing a climbing plant inside."
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WhichObjectShouldAudePick?
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Aude’s final thoughts: “Despite the fact that my wardrobe is entirely black-and-white, when it comes to my living space, I like a fair amount of whimsy and pops of color, and this fire screen has both. I also love flowers, but my cats are absolute savages who will chew up any piece of plant life that enters our home, so my apartment is full of paper, fabric, painted, and dried flowers. I like that this fire screen fits in seamlessly with this decorative theme I have going. The fireplace screen may be too wide to actually sit inside the fireplace, but I think it will block it off in a fun and elegant way.”
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
