How to Add a New Fireplace to Your Home

We’ve been in our new (old) 1891 home for a little over a year. One of the first things I knew I would do when we found the house was turn the dining room into a family room. The house actually has a great open layout and the “dining room” was open to the kitchen, which made it the perfect spot for an adjoining family room!

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Make a Room Cozy by Adding an Electric Fireplace

One thing that our new family room needed was a focal point and a fireplace. We love to be cozy in the winter and a fireplace is a must for that (in my opinion). So I started researching how hard it would be to add a fireplace.

Gas Fireplaces Versus Electric Fireplaces

I’ve had gas fireplaces in our past few homes. So the first thing I started researching was what kind of fireplace to build. As I was researching fireplace options I soon found out that adding an electric fireplace would be much easier than installing a gas one. For starters you need to vent a gas fireplace. And since there is a bathroom behind the wall I wanted to put the fireplace on, it would have been difficult to vent it out of that wall. Plus, the walls in our home are super thick with plaster walls and lathe inside of that.

Electric Fireplaces Don’t Need to be Vented Through the Wall

One nice thing about installing an electric fireplace is that they don’t have to be vented. They’re basically cosmetic with no venting, smoke-free, zero emissions and require NO chimney! Don’t fret about needing a fireplace that heats your home. Electric fireplaces can still warm you up and help heat your home. You just need to pick out an electric fireplace that meets your needs.

Research Electric Fireplaces

As you are researching electric fireplaces, think about how you will use the unit and the size of the space you’re heating. Forced fan fireplaces are best for areas around 400 square feet, while infrared quartz units are best suited for rooms around 1,000 square feet. The maximum size for any heater to work efficiently is about 1,500 square feet.

Electric Fireplace Features to Consider

Electric fireplaces have come really far in the past couple decades. They are almost hard to spot compared to traditional fireplaces. There are a few special features that you might want to consider as you decide what type of electric fireplace is best for your home. Here are a few special features you might want to consider:

• Safety Shutoff Switch
• Realistic 3-D Flame
• Multiple Heat Settings
• Automatic Temperature Control
• Different Flame Brightnesses
• Multiple Flame Colors
• Flame Sounds (yes it’s a thing haha)
• Heating Timers
• Remote Control

Freestanding Electric Fireplaces Versus Electric Fireplace Inserts

As you are considering an electric fireplace, research the fireplaces that you can buy that are freestanding. The pros of buying a freestanding fireplace is that you don’t really have to do anything. Just plug it in or have an electrician come and hardwire it into your electrical system. So easy! The cons (at least for me) is that I think most units are very short and/or very small. They don’t look like a built-in fireplace to me. But don’t get me wrong, there are some really pretty freestanding fireplaces you can buy. Here are a few of my favorites:

Classic Wood Fireplace with Adjustable Flame and Remote

Grey Media Cabinet with Electric Fireplace

Marble Tile Fireplace with Voice Enabled Control

Electric Fireplace with Bookcases

Electric Fireplace with Brick Surround and Adjustable Thermostat

Black Fireplace with Shelves and Timer

White Shutter Fireplace with Timer

Freestanding Electric Fireplaces are Versatile

Freestanding fireplaces are excellent if you are renting or will be in your home for a short time. You can take your freestanding fireplace with you when you move. Freestanding electric fireplaces are also great if you think you might want to move your fireplace around. Simply unplug it and move it to a different room or wall.

Hardwired Electric Fireplaces Versus Plugin Fireplaces

When you are researching electric fireplaces be sure to see what kind of power supply are included. Electric fireplaces come in two different power supplies — 120 volt and 240 volt. A 240 volt requires a separate line and an electrician to install, they also produce more heat. 120 volt fireplaces can be plugged into a standard outlet.

Research Electric Fireplace BTU Ratings

Research how many watts/BTUs per hour each electric fireplace gives off. On average, all standard units produce 4600 BTUs per hour. Built-in models which can be hardwired for 240V can produce up to 8900 BTUs. Infrared heaters produce about 5200 BTUs per hour. The higher the BTU rating, the higher the heating capacity. Most United States power outlets are 120 volts and are rated at 15 amps. The standard ratio of watts to square foot heated is 10 watts to 1 square foot. Using this ratio of 1:10, you will get an idea of how much space the electric fireplace you are considering will be able to heat.

This is the Electric Fireplace We Used

Valuxhome Electric Fireplace Insert

This is the electric fireplace insert we used and built our planked wall around. There are a few reasons we went with this insert:

• Vent-free – easiest type of insert needs no venting.
• Two Heat Options — 750w and 1500w
• Timer – can be programmed to run for different time periods and it has an automatic shut off in case it’s accidentally left on.
• Remote Control
• Different Flame Levels
• Different Flame Colors
• It does have a speaker and crackling sounds (that wasn’t really a deciding factor just a feature)
• Quiet Blower — We have another fireplace with a blower and it’s so loud. This one is very quiet which is nice when you are watching tv or having a conversation.
• Realistic – the unit is all glass and metal, no plastic. It was the most realistic electric insert I found.
• Good Ratings — I did a ton of research and read thousands of reviews. This model and company gets good reviews. This unit has 4.7 our of 5 stars with more than 800 reviews.
• Different Sizes — This insert comes in a bunch of different sizes and shapes. I got the 36 inch model because I wanted a large insert because of the scale of the wall we were building it into.

How to Make Your Electric Fireplace Insert Look Built In

Once you have decided to build a surround for your electric fireplace, how do you make it look like it’s always been there? If you are adding a new fireplace to your home you want it to fit in and look like it goes with the rest of your home. Take that into consideration. Add a mantel and surround that match your home’s aesthetic.

Adding a Full Wall Fireplace Surround

We decided to make a full-length wall fireplace surround. When we were remodeling the kitchen we planked the upper part of the wall with 10-inch wide planked plywood that we painted white. We continued that wall over to the fireplace wall since it was on the same side of the room.

How to Build a Planked Full-Length Fireplace Surround

Thanks for my friend at Frank Smith Renovations, he took my plans and turned them into reality. I will share the full build plans with you on the next post in this series and link it here.

Behind the Scenes 1891 Home Details

Come connect with me on Instagram @tatertotsandjello where I share all of the behind-the-scenes details and moments of our remodel! We are right in the middle of our 1891 apartment we are building on the main floor and it’s so exciting!!

Stay tuned for the full details and plans our fireplace. I will be posting it this week!

More Fireplace Ideas

10 Fabulous Fireplace Before and Afters

10 Unpainted Fireplace Makeovers

Have a Beautiful Day!

xoxo

The post How to Add a New Electric Fireplace to Your Home appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.

DIY Wood Snowflake Art

Add Scandinavian charm to your home by creating giant snowflake art canvases. Create one or a series. I created four and hung them in a square above our sofa.

Create Snowflake Art to Match Your Home

I created bright and colorful art to match our holiday tree this year. I used shades of pink, green, blue and red. But the beauty of this idea is you can make the snowflake art any color you want.

Scandinavian Simple Art

Scandinavian style is simple with clean lines. I created some Scandinavian Snowflake Ornaments a couple of years ago and they were one of my favorite crafts I have ever made. So this year I thought it would be fun to create art for our home that mirrored those ornaments, but on a larger scale.

Copycat Pottery Barn Snowflake Art

Pottery Barn sells snowflake art that I thought was perfect. However, the $349 price tag was too high for me. Plus I wanted to create a more colorful project. So I took the Pottery Barn idea and created an easy way to recreate it for a fraction of the price.

How to Make Scandinavian Snowflake Art

Here’s the tutorial. There is some cutting involved. We used a compound miter saw. If you don’t have access to a miter saw you can make the edges of the dowels straight, the joints will just have a gap.

Materials Needed to Make Scandinavian Snowflake Art

These measurements are for ONE canvas

• Dowels (4 — 36″ length 1/2 inch circumference)
• Canvases
• Paint
• Hot Glue
• Miter Saw

Directions to Make Scandinavian Snowflake Art

Paint the Canvas

Paint the canvas the color you want for the background.

Make Dowel CUTS —

• 1.- 16.5 inches (both ends are straight edges)
• 4 – 8 inches (1 straight edge, 1 mitered 45-degrees edge)
• 24 – 2 inches (1 straight edge, 1 mitered 45-degrees edge)

Cutting NOTES — cutting the mitered edges is a little tricky. Cut the longest length (8 inches) first. Then cut the 7-inch dowels. Make the straight edges. Take one of the ends and make the 45-degrees cut, Then cut the 2 inch pieces. Start with a long length of dowel. Start with the mitered edge as the first cut. Then alternate cutting one straight edge, one mitered edge as you cut the length of the dowel. DO NOT cut too close to the blade. This is very dangerous. You need more dowel than you will use for the project because you can’t cut the whole length of the dowel because it is too dangerous. Cut the length of dowel down until you have about 6 inches left, then start with a new dowel.

Glue the Dowels

Glue the Longest Dowel

Now it’s time to glue the dowels onto the canvas. Start with the longest length of dowel (8-inch). Place it on the canvas at an angle or straight up and down on the canvas. You can use hot glue or E6000.

Glue Two 2-inch Dowels

Now glue two of the two inch dowels together, with the mitered edge s together forming an 90-degree angle. You will use those to determine the angles on the canvas.

Glue the Four 7-Inch Dowels

Use the 2-inch dowel pair you just glued to make sure the angles between each of the larger pieces are even. Once you are sure of the placement, glue those dowels down. Now you will have the main part of the snowflake.

Glue the Remaining Five pairs of Dowels

Now glue the other 10 2-inch pieces together, forming 5 dowels that make 90-degree angles. Then glue those in between the longer dowels in the center of the snowflake.

Add the Remaining Twelve 2-Inch Dowels

Glue the 2-inch pieces of dowel at the ends of each snowflake, with the angled edges at the base of the snowflake pieces.

Hang Up Your Scandinavian Snowflake Art

Now you can hang up your art! Or create more snowflake art if you want!

More Scandinavian Ideas

Scandinavian Baking Soda Ornaments

Scandinavian Printable Tags

Bright Scandinavian Ornament Wreath

Share YOUR ideas with me on Instagram @tatertotsandjello!

Have a Beautiful Day!

The post DIY Wood Snowflake Art appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.

Bring Color to Your Cottage or Farmhouse Home

I love color, especially during the Summer. Bright hues just make life feel happier. I added some colorful elements to my cottage home and I am sharing the simple ideas with you today!

A Colorful Life Home Tour

I am super excited to be joining Jennifer @DimplesandTangles in her Colorful Home Tour today! Welcome if you are stopping by from Our Fifth House. Carmel is one of my favorite designers and I LOVE her home!

Colorful Front Porch

Welcome to our home! Come right up onto our front porch and have a seat. We hung this swing this Spring and it’s our favorite place to sit and watch the world go by!

Overall this side of the porch is pretty neutral. I brought a little color in with some blooming plants.

Succulent Ladder

Our succulents are having a wonderful summer being outside. I bought this ladder (it was already this awesome shade of turquoise) and added succulents from inside our home.

Bright Boho Rug

The style aesthetic of our avenues homes is boho cottage. I love a simple cottage look but I put a spin on cottage with some bright colorful boho elements, like this bright rug!

Boho Cottage Kitchen

Come into our home. We have a little entryway room and through the door is our kitchen. We are in the middle of renovating it and so excited for the changes already!

Pink Summer Dining Nook

One of the first things we did when we moved in was planked this middle wall and made a dining nook by swagging a light fixture over so it would hang over our dining table against the kitchen wall. We also made an extra long wooden bench that sits against the wall and layered pink and white pillows over the bench.

Add a Bright Table Runner

If you want to bring color instantly into your home a table runner is a great way to do it. I ordered this bright pink runner for color, the buffalo check keeps in the cottage theme.

Tiered Table Centerpiece

To center our bright summer table, I layered some pink flowers along with some elements I already had. A “Home Sweet Home” sign. Then I brought the “home” theme into the centerpiece with some metal and wooden homes that I have collected. I also added some homes to the shelves behind the table!

Kitchen Summer Updates

I added some color in my kitchen with a BRIGHT kitchen runner. It’s outdoor/indoor so it really has held up great!

I also added a pink and white tasseled kitchen towel and some flowers!

Boho Cottage Summer Mantel

We planked our family and room and added a fireplace this spring. I LOVE decorating this mantel. We brought the white planking across the kitchen and into the family room and I love the simplicity of the planks.

I added color to our mantel with a saying from my Pebbles Hey! Hello! line and a simple banner that I created using a piece of the sentiment paper from the line (it’s at JoAnn Stores right now!)

Boho Farmhouse Coffee Table Centerpiece

I LOVE sparkly disco balls. They remind me of the roller rink in junior high. I had a few balls from Christmas but I decided that disco balls can be year-round decor! I love they way they sparkle in the summer sun! I think they add an unexpected, whimsical element to our bright family room.

Colorful Summer Rug and Pillows

A bright run is such an easy way to bring a colorful element into your cottage or farmhouse home.I added this hot pink and orange rug and I LOVE how happy it looks. The trick to adding such a colorful rug is to make it the focal point of the room. If you have too many colorful items they can clash with each other and make your cottage or farmhouse room look chaotic. I brought in some pillows with the same hues that match the rug.

Adding Summer Color to Your Bedroom

We have a pretty traditional rug in our bedroom. I paired it with an upholstered bench with hot pink buffalo check fabric. I love a crisp white bed for summer. I found sheets at Costco for $15 and they are so soft! A white duvet completes the white sheets and makes a neutral canvas to bring ANY color into the room.

I used some bright pink pillows that coordinate with the bench fabric. And a fluffy pink pom pom throw!

Color in the Backyard

Our backyard is also pretty neutral. I love plants and brought color into the space with potted flowers. I love the hanging flower shelves that we added to the backyard this spring. I also spray painted our pots in the spring. I have a tutorial on how to do that — how to spray paint resin pots.

The previous owners left these pots and I love how hot pink spray paint completely changed the look for just a few dollars!

Add Flowers Inside for Color

Bringing flowers inside is an easy way to add color to any area inside your home. There’s nothing like having fresh flowers to brighten anyone’s mood. I also bring color in using “faux” flowers. These pink peonies are so pretty and you can’t tell they are not real unless you really look.

More Colorful Summer Home Ideas

Be sure to head over to Camilia @Effortless Style to see the her gorgeous home! And click on the other links to see ALL of the homes in this fun COLORFUL home tour!

Tag me on Instagram at @tatertotsandjello and show me YOUR projets!!!

Have a COLORFUL day!

xoxo

Pin Colorful Boho Cottage Ideas for Later!

The post Ways to Bring Color to Your Cottage or Farmhouse Home appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.

Hi! Thanks for stopping by! Today I am sharing some fun summer cottage ideas with a little bohemian twist as part of Krista The Happy Housie’s Seasonal Simplicity Tour! Welcome if you are stopping by from All Things With Purpose!! Sarah is just amazing. I love seeing her RV transformations and home ideas!

Cottage Summer Ideas with a Boho Twist

It’s our first summer at our new #1891AvenuesCottage home. We love our new (old) home so much. We are right in the middle of our renovation. The kitchen is about half way done. We built a new fireplace and planked the walls. Added new subway tile, took out the old tile and cabinets and added some little shelves around a new planked hood. The vision I have for our home is to honor it’s history with some turn-of-the-century cottage style but update it to today’s style with a twist of modern, bohemian details!

Bright Bohemian Succulent Porch

One of the first projects I tackled was creating a bright summer porch! The idea came together when I found a vintage turquoise ladder. I LOVED it!! I brought it home and decided it would be the perfect place for plants! I set it up on our porch. The turquoise color went wonderfully with a throw rug that I had in our home’s previous bathroom. I gathered the succulents in our home, put them on the ladder rungs and our plants are SO happy outside!

Bohemian Cottage Swing

I decorated our new porch swing too. It’s our favorite place to sit and watch the neighborhood activities. I added a little table so that we have a place to put our drinks and snacks. I also love working here outside in the warm summer mornings!

Simple Summer Cottage Mantel

Our family room used to be the previous owner’s dining room. I loved how it flowed into the kitchen and decided to turn the room into a family room. We built a fireplace on one wall and brought the planking from the kitchen into that room to tie the two spaced together. Thanks to Frank of Frank Smith Renovations for making my planking dreams come true!

I love how simple the planking looks but it also give the room lots of visual interest.I kept the mantel simple for Summer.

Boho Egg Chair

I’ve had so many questions about my Egg Chair! I have one inside and one outside. They are so comfy! Here’s a link to the egg chair!

I added a scalloped mirror, some fresh hydrangeas. At the base of the hearth I added a couple ceramic bird houses and a disco ball. I love the way the light reflects off of the ball when the sun hits it in the afternoons!

Ways to Bring Summer Home Details

I love color, especially for Summer! And I think bright colors go well with cottage style as well as bohemian! To refresh the family room for Summer, I added a new rug that matched pillows I already had. I rearranged the chairs in the room, moving the egg chair over by the fireplace and the smaller chair over to the other side of the room. The fern was on our porch and I love the natural VERY summery element it brings into the room.

Kitchen Shelf Styling

In the kitchen I added a few little summer elements to our shelves.

Fresh flowers on a couple of the shelves and a potted flowering plant at the center of the stove.

Yes, I move it when we cook haha. I just love a bright pretty element to go along with our cutting board on display there.

Summer Dining Nook Update

To update the dining nook for Summer I added a little centerpiece with a vintage crate. Fresh peaches in the center are a favorite of my kids and it’s an easy place to keep them so the kids can grab them as a snack.

Boho Cottage Dining Table Centerpiece

I added candles to the sides of the crate and a faux vine and flowers around the crate. Super simple!

Summer Sayings with Letter Boards

I have a thing for letter boards. I try to update the boards for different seasons and holidays. I asked my kids what words make them think of summer and added those words to the letter board in the family room.

And I created a summer saying for the letter board in our office. I LOVE “golden hour”, especially in our new Avenues neighborhood. The light is amazing at golden hour (dusk). I love taking photos of all of the giant trees and historic home at that time. It’s gorgeous!

1891 Avenues Cottage Remodel

Thanks for stopping by and seeing our simple summer ideas! We are right in the middle of our HUGE remodel. I would love to have you follow along with us on Instagram at @tatertotsandjello, where I share behind-the-scenes projects and all about our Salt Lake City Avenues historic neighborhood and homes!

Next Stop on the Summer Tour

Be sure to hop over to Lucy at Craftberry Bush tomorrow to see her gorgeous home! Lucy is an amazing designer and artist! And be sure to see ALL of the amazing summer ideas by clicking on the links below to go over to each site!

This week, some of my blogging friends and I are sharing our summer home tours.  Just click on the links below the images to be taken to see their full posts.

Sharing with me today....
Wednesday

Setting for Four
Clean & Scentsible
Life is a Party

My Sweet Savannah
All Things With Purpose
Tatertots & Jello
And sharing the rest of this week...
Monday

The Happy Housie
Maison de Pax
Cuckoo for Design

Modern Glam
My 100 Year Old Home
Inspiration for Moms
Tuesday

Sincerely, Marie Designs
Cassie Bustamante
Life is Better at Home

Lemon Thistle 
Grace in My Space
Maison de Cinq
Thursday
Craftberry Bush
Finding Silver Pennies
The Tattered Pew
Rambling Renovators 
Zevy Joy
Two Twenty One
Friday
She Gave it a Go
Taryn Whiteaker
Rooms FOR Rent
This is Simplicite
Dans le Lakehouse
Amber Tysl

30 Inspiring Summer Tours

Pin these Summer Ideas for Later!

Have a lovely day!

xoxo

The post Boho Cottage Summer Home Tour appeared first on Tatertots and Jello.