With winter quite literally arriving last week, it’s time to bust out the Uggs and curl up in front of a cozy fire with a good glass of red!

We have been chatting to our good friends at Subiaco Restoration about all things fire, and have some hot (pun intended) tips to share to keep you toasty this winter.

There area quite a few different types of fireplaces out there these days but we we’ll stick to the big 3 being Wood, Gas & Electric for now…..

WOOD

I think we can all agree there is nothing quite like a wood fire. The smell, the heat and the hypnotic flickering flame gives a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation that is fairly incomparable.

Wood fires are not without their shortcomings though.

As beautiful as they are, they are an investment. Not only initially for the purchase, but for the ongoing use. Buying or chopping wood, storing the wood, lighting it, keeping it lit and then cleaning it can be a bit much for even the most ardent fire lover.

Our 2 Favourite Wood Fires

• Stûv 21 - Heralding from Belgium, I stumbled across this amazing brand at Denfair a couple of years ago. I love it for its elegant minimalist design. It offers an unimpeded view of the fire with its clever retractable glass door and zero clearance installation. It is also available in a frameless installation or can come with ready to install finishing fascias with built in wood storage!

• Gyrofocus - The worlds first suspended fireplace…as epically cool today as it was when it was created in 1968. So cool it was voted “World’s Most Beautiful Object” in the Pulchra Design Competition in Italy in 2009

GAS

Gas fireplaces…the next best thing to a wood one!
With none of the time investment of wood, they are easy to turn on when you get home, generally have a great flame pattern with or without heat (keep this in mind when looking at models as some can be decorative only and have very little heat throw) and usually have thermostat control (depending on the unit).

Meaning they are so, so easy!

Our 2 Favourite GAS Fires

• Escea - At 1m or 1.5m wide and available in single and double sided with truely frameless options and a range of fuel bed designs to choose from (driftwood, pebbles, logs etc), these gas fireplaces make a dramatic statement.

• Real Flame - With their Landscape model boasting up to a 1.6m wide design which heats up to 150m2….this is the fire for the large open plan homes we all live in today!

ELECTRIC

Electric fireplaces are the perfect solution for existing homes as they require little to no provisions to install. No flue is required…as long as you have power, you are good to go!

Because they very rarely are built in, you can take them with you when you move, or move them around the house as you wish.

Our 2 Favourite ELECTRIC Fires

• Dimplex - These are the perfect fires for the lovers of classic styling. Their complete suites are available with a mantle of your choice including marble finishes and full grates of life-size hardwood-cast logs.

• Gazco - Their “hang on the wall” fires are super easy to install and offer a contemporary landscape look without the fuss cutting into walls.

WHAT’S HOT NOW??

• Landscape fires are still, oh so popular, and always look great.

• TV’s over fireplaces…not any more! I prefer the TV off to the side for a cleaner look and to make the gorgeous fire the focal point, not the TV.

• The second point leads me to this trend alert - Tall or large square fires are becoming more and more popular. I absolutely love the scale of the Stuv wood fires…hopefully there will be a gas equivalent replicating this look available soon.