Fire it up
Not inclined to faff around with kindling, logs and matches? Let Escea pass you the remote.
There’s something pretty special about watching flames flicker in a fireplace on a winter’s night, but even the most dextrous among us can find wood fires tricky to start – not to mention messy to maintain. Thank goodness for gas fireplaces, then, which can serve as the centrepiece of a home while offering touch-of-a-button convenience and a clean, modern look.
Dunedin-based company Escea is at the forefront of developments in gas fireplaces. For more than 15 years, they’ve been pushing the boundaries on every level, from heat output and energy efficiency, to aesthetics and installation. Their fireplaces combine contemporary design with innovative technolog y, including Escea Smart Heat, which connects your fireplace to your home network, so you can control your fire remotely with your smartphone to ensure you always come home to a warm welcome.
Escea fires heat high-end homes around the world – like that of interior consultant Rebecca Shnider, who chose one for the living room in her family’s art deco Melbourne abode. When she and husband Braham were renovating their 1930s character home, they were intent on striking a balance between old and new, and wanted a fireplace that blended well with the rest of their décor. Escea’s sleek designs fitted the bill.
Opting to keep the fireplace surround the same colour as the walls, Rebeccca added a hearth that doubles as a shelf for the TV and décor items. “It’s a great use of space,” she says. “The TV can be hidden away underneath when it’s not in use.”
Escea gas fireplaces have zero-rated clearance, which means the interior wall stays cool enough to handle almost any surround material and electronics right above the fire. Rebecca took it a creative step further, adding a kilim rug as an extraordinary piece of art. escea.com