How to make a Faux fireplace?

[TeresaD]

This is my first visit, I'm hoping someone knowledgeable can help me.

We've just had our old back boiler and ancient gas fire removed, and have obviously been left with a gaping hole where the fireplace was. The gas pipes have been sealed off, but our budget cannot streach to a new gas fire.

Is it possible to make a sort of fake fire insert, made of MDF or something? I just want to make it decorative, not functional, with a couple of pillar candles and pebbles. I have no idea how to do this. Is there somewhere you can buy a kit to help? Or any advice from you guys??

Thanks!

 

[breezer]

why not put a bunch of flowers in it? ( i am being serious)

or you could cut a sheet of mdf to size and secure it to the sides, but as there was a back boiler there you must leave a ventilation hole so the chimney stack can "breathe"

i find it useful at christmas, once i tied a pair of wellies to the old flue (just so you could see the bottom of the wellies) and said father Chritsmas got stuck coming down the chimney, another time left the Christmas presents there saying Father Christmas was a bit busy so he left them there

 

[Jasonb]

Just make a simple box out of MDF and paint it matt black, a couple of strips of wood accross the front will give the effect of a grate.

Jason