Decorating
Best of the Week: Modern Fireplaces for a Cosy, Comforting Home
A room aglow with firelight is irresistible on a cold winter's night – can you tell we're fans of fireplaces?
The chilly season is upon us and, although there are plenty of places in the world with far more extreme winters than ours, the cooler months in Australia and New Zealand are still a time to follow nature’s lead and turn inwards for rest and reflection. Lighting a fire makes a home instantly more welcoming and turns a cold winter’s day into an opportunity to cosy up, bask in the warmth of the flames, and do nothing much at all.
Take a look at some our favourite fireplaces on Houzz and be inspired to add or upgrade a fireplace at your house… you’ll be sure to enjoy many fond fireside moments in the years to come.
Take a look at some our favourite fireplaces on Houzz and be inspired to add or upgrade a fireplace at your house… you’ll be sure to enjoy many fond fireside moments in the years to come.
2. Architect: Herbst Architects
Location: Auckland, NZ
Why we love it: The room’s warm brown and orange tones glow gloriously in the firelight. The wall behind the fireplace is clad in black/brown stained, rough-sawn irregular battens to symbolise the bark of the surrounding pohutukawa trees.
Location: Auckland, NZ
Why we love it: The room’s warm brown and orange tones glow gloriously in the firelight. The wall behind the fireplace is clad in black/brown stained, rough-sawn irregular battens to symbolise the bark of the surrounding pohutukawa trees.
3. Architect: MAKE Architecture
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The indoor-outdoor fireplace design brings warmth and ambience to the interior living area and outdoor space – and it’s especially brilliant when entertaining.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The indoor-outdoor fireplace design brings warmth and ambience to the interior living area and outdoor space – and it’s especially brilliant when entertaining.
4. Architect: Schulberg Demkiw Architects
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The open-glass fireplace connects the living room with the study in this house. The side facing the living room is open, while the double-gazed back faces the study to limit drafts and noise transference.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The open-glass fireplace connects the living room with the study in this house. The side facing the living room is open, while the double-gazed back faces the study to limit drafts and noise transference.
5. Interior designer: Camilla Molders Design
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The bluestone hearth and chimneybreast make this fireplace all the more cosy – and the grey interior colour palette sets off the bluestone beautifully.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The bluestone hearth and chimneybreast make this fireplace all the more cosy – and the grey interior colour palette sets off the bluestone beautifully.
6. Architect: Noxon Giffen
Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Why we love it: This 360-degree Mezzofocus fireplace steals the show in this modern farmhouse, and there’s room enough for everyone to sit around it.
Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Why we love it: This 360-degree Mezzofocus fireplace steals the show in this modern farmhouse, and there’s room enough for everyone to sit around it.
7. Architect: Moloney Architects
Location: Invermay, Victoria
Why we love it: The novel foundation beneath this Chiminees Phillipe fireplace doubles as a handy place to store wood…
Location: Invermay, Victoria
Why we love it: The novel foundation beneath this Chiminees Phillipe fireplace doubles as a handy place to store wood…
… and the glass sides allow heat to radiate out in every direction. Just what this house needs to make the most of its impressive solar-passive credentials.
8. Architect: D’Cruz Design Group Sydney Interior Designers
Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: The tiled chimneybreast adds texture and interest to become a standout feature in the room.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: The tiled chimneybreast adds texture and interest to become a standout feature in the room.
9. Architect: Charissa Snijders Architect
Location: Waiheke Island, NZ
Why we love it: The waxed plywood walls and ceilings gleam in the firelight when the sun goes down. By day, the wood stove adds character – lit or not.
Location: Waiheke Island, NZ
Why we love it: The waxed plywood walls and ceilings gleam in the firelight when the sun goes down. By day, the wood stove adds character – lit or not.
10. Architect: Robert Mills Architects and Interior Designers
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The sleek fireplace fits in nicely with a minimalist interior and doesn’t encroach on the space.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The sleek fireplace fits in nicely with a minimalist interior and doesn’t encroach on the space.
11. Architect: Moloney Architects
Location: Ballarat, Victoria
Why we love it: A fireplace doesn’t need to be big to make an impact. This family room is surely the place to be whenever the fire’s going.
Location: Ballarat, Victoria
Why we love it: A fireplace doesn’t need to be big to make an impact. This family room is surely the place to be whenever the fire’s going.
12. Architect: Richard Cole Architecture
Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: A two-way fireplace warms up both the living and dining areas, and separates them into two more intimate zones.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: A two-way fireplace warms up both the living and dining areas, and separates them into two more intimate zones.
13. Architect: Guild Architects
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A reimagined wood stove and a fabulous wall-mounted wood storage system work wonderfully in this contemporary setting.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A reimagined wood stove and a fabulous wall-mounted wood storage system work wonderfully in this contemporary setting.
14. Architect: mckimm residential design
Location: Brighton, Victoria
Why we love it: The tiles surrounding the gas fireplace tie in beautifully with the colour and materials palette in this daring family home, and we love the fireplace’s elongated form.
Location: Brighton, Victoria
Why we love it: The tiles surrounding the gas fireplace tie in beautifully with the colour and materials palette in this daring family home, and we love the fireplace’s elongated form.
15. Stone supplier: Gitani Stone
Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Who would have thought a fireplace could be integrated into the kitchen island?
Your say
Which ‘best of’ spaces would you like us to show off in this series? Tell us about what you’re most interested in seeing next – contemporary exteriors, global design, amazing kitchens? Your wish is our command.
More
Best of the week: winter-ready homes
Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Who would have thought a fireplace could be integrated into the kitchen island?
Your say
Which ‘best of’ spaces would you like us to show off in this series? Tell us about what you’re most interested in seeing next – contemporary exteriors, global design, amazing kitchens? Your wish is our command.
More
Best of the week: winter-ready homes
Location: Geelong, Victoria
Why we love it: Suspending a fireplace from the ceiling makes complete sense when there’s an abundance of windows and few solid walls, and it warms up cool coastal views when it’s icy outside.