For a long time, the small fireplace in the bedroom was closed up.
Then I decided to open it up and build a small surround.
In the true vernacular style I have used stones from the area around the cottage.
These were stones that the earth had simply pushed out…pieces of red sandstone.
I collected up the small bits to make two piers, one for either side of the fireplace.
These piers were then built onto the larger stones used for raising up the fire grate.
On the top of the larger stones in the grate I placed a big flag stone I had sitting around by the back of the cottage.
I put this old fire insert in place.
I had this sitting out the back with plants in it for a long time!
An old piece of wood was placed atop of the stone piers to form a small, compact mantelpiece.
It was then painted the same colour as the walls to bring it all together!
As you can see, it serves the purpose well!
There is nothing quite so comforting as drifting off to sleep in front of a beautiful, open fire!
I grow over 40 varieties of herbs here at Bealtaine Cottage. These I store in glass jars in the pantry, pictured above…