Uxbridge Gazette

FIND YOUR HEARTH’S DESIRE

LOG, GAS OR BIOFUEL? FREESTANDI­NG, WALL-MOUNTED OR FLOATING? LUKE RIX-STANDING LOOKS AT MODERN FIREPLACE OPTIONS

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THE traditiona­l fireplace has been having a distinctly modern makeover of late.

More than mere sources of heat, fireplaces provide a visual focus for a room with a mixture of light, colour and movement.

Cosy has always been the classic fire feeling, but many contempora­ry flames boast bolder, more artistic designs that fit well with contempora­ry interiors.

And whether you’re looking for an ultra-modern fireplace or just an updated twist on an old-fashioned one, there’s a diverse range of products and heating methods out there to indulge your fiery fancies.

Here, we take a look at some of the key points to consider...

FUEL OPTIONS: PROS AND CONS

ALL but a sliver of human history has been dominated by one kind of fuel: Wood. Wrought out of stone or brick, a classic wood fire is dreamy, romantic – and a right pain in the behind to clean and maintain. Soot clogs the lungs, ash scorches the brickwork, and a good portion of heat is lost up the chimney.

Would-be lumberjack­s aside, you’ll also have to buy your own logs and then go through the unenviable task of igniting them. Throw in a smattering of environmen­tal concerns, and it’s no wonder that modern homes have been moving away from wood-burners.

Most domestic fireplaces now tend towards one of three fuels: Gas, electricit­y, or ethanol. Gas fireplaces have long been the market-leader – an instant, authentic flame that’s cleaner than a sooty real fire – but generally require expert installati­on, annual check-ups and a fixed flue.

In the 1980s, electric fires became fashionabl­e, as cheap, easy-to-install alternativ­es to gas. They can’t hold a candle to gas for raw heat, but won points for convenienc­e and cleanlines­s. Their biggest drawback is simple: It’s not real fire.

A relatively new entrant, ethanol fireplaces are ventless units that run on denatured alcohol, producing no pollutants beside negligible quantities of CO2. “The UK market has been around for the last decade or so,” says a spokespers­on from biofire company, Imaginfire­s (imaginfire­s.co.uk), “but it’s only really got going over the last couple of years.”

They can’t lay claim to the warmest blaze – and are sold as a secondary heat source only – but they burn with superb energyeffi­ciency and have a flare for the dramatic. Ethanol doesn’t roar or crackle like a wood fire on a cold winter evening, but the flames dance and flicker attractive­ly, sustained by biofuel poured straight into the burner.

A STYLE FEATURE

WITH the substance sorted, you can now turn your attention to style. Once a stationary object, confined to a square metre or so below the chimney, fireplaces have now found their way into almost every part of your living room.

Some protrude from the wall; some rise up through the floor; some hang precarious­ly from the ceiling. There are even fireplaces that can be controlled remotely through an app on your smartphone, and that can change the colour of their flames at will.

Though they may not pack the most punch, ethanol fireplaces lead the pack in flexibilit­y when it comes to styling a room. Needing neither chimney nor plug socket, freestandi­ng units can be re-positioned at will, while initial installati­on takes around 10-15 minutes. Weather-permitting, they can even be taken outside, providing light, heat and atmosphere for an evening on the patio.

For those wishing to channel a wood burner’s old-world charm, ethanol fireplaces can fit snugly into the hearth of any country house, or be made up as traditiona­l, standalone stoves. As Imaginfire­s notes: “A lot of our fireplaces look like wood-burners and they’re free-standing too, so they’re easy to set up and move around.”

For the more modernmind­ed, fireplaces can now be installed in all kinds of cubist structures, while a popular option involves inserting your fireplace into a frame hanging on the wall. Fireplace or wall-mounted television: From a distance it can be impossible to tell.

NEW TWISTS ON OLD MODELS

NOT to be outdone, the usually chimney-bound gas fire has been working overtime to keep up with modern trends. Consumers who know where to look can now purchase ‘ventless’ gas fires, units with low emissions that can burn in any corner of your home.

Ventless gas fires can work well for those hunting a heat-centric unit with a more traditiona­l aesthetic, but the low-level emissions they do release flow straight into your living room. Designs are strictly regulated – but make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is in good order, just in case.

Ordinary gas fires have been evolving too: “We recently launched The Elemental Range,” says Paul Chesney, managing director of leading fireplace supplier, Chesneys (chesneys.co.uk). “We’ve taken five of our most popular designs, reduced the size and altered the design to make them appeal to those with less space.” They don’t come cheap, but many Chesneys fireplaces are made with luxurious limestone or marble.

Even wood burners are returning to the fold, with the upcoming Ecodesign Ready initiative laying down a new set of regulation­s that should limit environmen­tal impact. “Wood-burning stoves remain popular,” says Paul, “and can be highly effective barbecues, with capacity for grilling, roasting, baking, wok-frying and steaming.”

THE FINEST FLAMES

IMAGINFIRE­S sells ethanol units for £120-£700, while limestone models from Chesneys start at around £1,600 – but for customers seeking the very finest flames, this is the tip of a swiftly melting iceberg.

Those looking for more from their fire can buy a ‘multimedia’ fireplace – an electric fire built into an entertainm­ent unit that can include anything from a CD rack to a widescreen TV and BOSE sound system.

And at the very pinnacle of high-end, you will find the experiment­al designs of American company Heat & Glo (heatnglo. com).

The ‘infinity flame’ design on its Solaris Fireplace is more art installati­on than hearth: It uses lighting effects to create a thin line of fire that hangs suspended in mid-air, before retreating backwards into the wall.

It also briefly marketed the ground-breaking, if wildly overpriced, Aqueon Fireplace, which, for a cool £50,000, produced a sustainabl­e flame by separating hydrogen – making fire from water.

Filled with increasing­ly inventive designs, and facing down pending environmen­tal regulation, the fireplace industry will surely be trailblazi­ng for some time to come.

 ??  ?? Hot favourite: A statement fireplace can provide both warmth and a dramatic focal point for your lounge
Hot favourite: A statement fireplace can provide both warmth and a dramatic focal point for your lounge
 ??  ?? Above L-R: Horizontal fires are an eye-catching choice; Right: the Burford fireplace, RRP £799.99, from imaginfire­s. co.uk
Above L-R: Horizontal fires are an eye-catching choice; Right: the Burford fireplace, RRP £799.99, from imaginfire­s. co.uk
 ??  ?? Below:Marlow white wall-mounted fireplace, RRP £549.99, from imaginfire­s. co.uk.
Below:Marlow white wall-mounted fireplace, RRP £549.99, from imaginfire­s. co.uk.
 ??  ?? Chesneys Clandon carved limestone fireplace, £2,200
Chesneys Clandon carved limestone fireplace, £2,200
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 ??  ?? HEAT 600 fireplace, £2,574, Chesneys Above: Arlington wall-mounted fireplace, RRP £399.99, from imaginfire­s.co.uk Above: Beaumont fireplace, £1,800, Chesneys
HEAT 600 fireplace, £2,574, Chesneys Above: Arlington wall-mounted fireplace, RRP £399.99, from imaginfire­s.co.uk Above: Beaumont fireplace, £1,800, Chesneys
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