Fireplaces & Stoves

Combine functionality with style when heating your home. Why not have a new hearth custom-made to the exact specifications of your existing design?

You won't have to worry about any gaps between your wood floor and the surround and there will be no need to replace the carpet. The reason that I bring this up is because quite often we think we are stuck with a fireplace. It seems like an immovable object, but if you want to change your wood surround for marble or your dark hearth for a light stone there's nothing stopping you. The fireplace should be the dramatic focal point of your room, so it needs to be in keeping with your chosen colour scheme and style.

Here's what I suggest. Think of your various heat sources as pieces of furniture. You wouldn't just stick any old sofa in your lounge or any old cabinet in the kitchen - they need to match the mood and the same applies to radiators, fireplaces or stoves. Because there is such a vast array of designs you can match any colour scheme and every style of home.

FIRESIDE STORIES

If you have inherited a fireplace with a dark slate surround and you want to use a white colour scheme in the room, then switch it for a design in limestone or one of the modern materials that fire manufacturers have developed that allow an amazing amount of detail to be moulded to the design. CeraliteT, for example, developed and copyrighted by Elgin & Hall in the UK, derives its base from limestone rock but is modified in a process that results in it being much sturdier than normal gypsum-based plaster fire surrounds. At the end of the handcrafted manufacturing process, the material has the qualities of a ceramic, and will 'ring' when tapped. (Which will give the party guests something to do as they lean against it with their glass of wine.) I'm not saying that the process of changing a fire is without grief. There will be a lot of mess and dust will get into nooks and crannies that you may not have thought possible to reach. However, the dramatic difference a change of fireplace can make to the room means it has to be considered. While you are considering this, call in a chimney sweep. Once a year you should have the flue swept to remove soot deposits, to clear old coal and to make sure that it isn't blocked by anything. Birds and their nests can be a problem. If your fire doesn't seem to be burning properly, get the sweep to burn a smoke pellet. This will show whether it is drawing properly and identify cracks in the flue that can be repaired.

STOVE STYLE

The Swedish know how to do stoves. Their homes often feature grand ceramic designs, tiled or left plain, which can reach from floor to ceiling and make a magnificent feature in a room. If I had a big enough living room and the money to spend, it would be something I would consider choosing.

Stoves can offer the ideal solution if you don't have a fireplace but want some kind of focal point to heat the room. They don't have to be huge or old fashioned and there are designs to run on any type of fuel. Plus you can pick a design with a builtin boiler that will run your radiators and hot water. They are certainly more stylish than the classic white box on the wall type of boiler.

Electric: Plug it in wherever you need a boost - perfect for the conservatory.
Gas: Practical if you can't bear the thought of clearing out a solid fuel design - would suit the bedroom
Wood: Make sure you have a plentiful and reliable source of wood (and only wood can be used) - fit for the kitchen.
Multifuel: Burns smokeless fuel but also wood or even peat - a rustic touch for the lounge.

WALL STORIES

If the most complementary thing you can say about your radiators is that they make somewhere useful to hang the washing, then you really need to get them changed. There is no excuse for living with the classic ugly white designs that you probably inherited with your home. In a modern setting change them for long spring-shaped designs than can run around the room just above skirting board height. Or choose one of the many contemporary shapes available: you can buy a cactus-shaped radiator these days, or if you are looking for something to go in the children's room a design shaped like a big bear. So there's really no excuse for being boring with your choice.

Radiators can also be used as features in a room. Find a design that can also function as a room divider and you combine two elements, heating and design. (That's a good principle to apply to a lot of things in your home - can something fulfil more than one purpose? For example, a screen can be decorative and hide a workstation too. A radiator cabinet can cover an ugly radiator and provide a handy shelf for keys and post in the hall.)

Given the choices in colour and design, there really is no reason why your source of heating can't be as stylish as your curtains, your furniture or your flooring.


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