Welcome to FireGargoyle.com, home of the Gargoyle Fireplace, also known as the evilplace. Here you can find illustrated step by step instructions on how to replicate this cool alternative fireplace decoration style. Use the options on the right to navigate the site.

How to build a gargoyle's nest in your fireplace

So you're interested in adding a little creepyness to one of your living areas? You're in luck then, that's exactly what this page was made for. Let's get started!

The fireplace

(Left) Here is the fireplace we will be working with for this project. As you can see it is just a regular old brick fireplace. Unfortunately there is an inoperable gas line jutting out of the brickwork which will mean a little extra work (Below)

Materials: 1 string of christmas lights, 1 old gargoyle, 1 bundle of firewood, some rocks, a log-rack, and a cage.

Gargoyles can usually be found at ceramic and plaster shops for around $20. Pull out your phone book and call a few, you'll find one. If you can only find unfinished gargoyles do a search on "dry brushing". It's a very simple technique for applying paint to raised areas of sculptures to achieve a shadowy look, it works well on rocks and things that you want to look like stone. This is how I painted the gargoyle above. This one is made of plaster and got cracked up over the course of a few moves. For this purpose though, it will work great. Gargoyle bulldogs look the best in my opinion.

The Steps

1. Clean the soot out of the fireplace and gather the rack and rocks if you need them. I will need to use the rocks because of that huge, poorly installed gas line jutting out of the brickwork.

2. Strategically place the rocks in the fireplace to support the rack and provide an even surface for setting the gargoyle on.

3. Now is the time to plug in your lights and make sure they are all intact and working before you lay them in the fireplace. Also double check the rack and rocks because any movement could break a bulb.

4. Place them in the fireplace. When doing this step place the majority of the bulbs around the outer-most edges of the fireplace so the light will reflect off of the walls. You don't need to be too exact yet, just get them in there. We will fine tune this once the gargoyle is in place.

5. Time for the gargoyle! Be very careful with this part, I crushed a few bulbs putting it in the first time. Best to keep the bulbs out of the way until the gargoyle has been placed and then arrange them into more permanant positions.

6. Grab your bundle of firewood and lay out the logs to get an idea of which ones you are going to put where. Think of it as an aesthetics puzzle.

7. There we are, the logs hide the lights well and fit in with the theme. Rocks work well too if you want something that is not flammable.

8. Now is the time to turn down the lights and arrange the string of christmas lights to provide the best effect.

9. Once everthing is perfect, go ahead and replace the guard (If you're using one).
That's it, you're done!

Pretty cool, eh?

If you decide to give this a go, please send me your comments and pictures,
I'll add them to the site. Send them to: