In the past, the heart of the home was the fireplace, which provided a place for families to cook and the warmth that kept them comfortable. Although the necessity of a fireplace has diminished over the years, many home owners still find this amenity adds an irreplaceable look and comforting feel to a home.
With the interior installation of a fireplace comes the exterior addition of a chimney. For home builders and designers who must provide this exterior feature to get the interior design element of the fireplace, there are three key chimney guidelines to consider: setting, style and simplicity. Regardless of the chimney’s material, a simple and traditional design with small detailing can go a long way toward beautifying a home. Most importantly, the style of the chimney should mirror that of the house. While chimneys are functional in nature, they cannot be designed as an afterthought. Because they are the last punctuation mark before a house meets the sky, chimneys must have visual appeal. Here are some pointers to successfully design a chimney that is both functional and fashionable.
- Do: Match chimney material to the home’s exterior.
- Don’t: Ignore the style and materials of the home’s overall exterior.
- Do: Add simple details to create a clean and classical feel for the chimney.
- Don’t: Add excessive detail, which can take away from the home’s traditional feel.
- Do: Include a cap at the top of the chimney
- Don’t: Leave off a capped top, causing a chimney to appear decapitated and unfinished.
- Do: When needed, stray away from the classic brick chimney to better match the rest of the house.
- Don’t: Use a material that does not match with the home’s original design style, therefore causing the chimney to seem out of place.
- Do: Design the chimney flue to equal three-quarters of the of the chimney base’s width.
- Don’t: Include low and steep slope transitions; instead, aim for a minimum of a 40-degree angle or match the angle of the roof slope.