So You Want a Fireplace?
From convenient gas and emissions-friendly ethanol to the romance of an open flame, here's what's hot in fireplaces
With the temperature dropping, thoughts are naturally turning to finding ways to keep warm. For cosy appeal – and a natural focal point in a room – a fireplace is hard to beat. But with so many different styles and fuel types on offer, it’s important to consider your needs carefully before you buy.
Here’s what you need to know about the main styles on offer.
Here’s what you need to know about the main styles on offer.
To install a gas fireplace, you will need access to natural or LPG bottled gas (you can use both, but the running costs of LPG will be higher). In areas where timber fuel is not readily available and you have access to natural gas, running costs for gas are considerably cheaper than log-burning fires.
Flame sizes and appearances vary between gas models, so it’s important to look closely at the fireplace when it’s switched on before you buy. “When choosing a gas fire, don’t just focus on energy efficiency – consider the look of the flame too,” says James Kearsley, national sales and wholesale manager at Jetmaster Fireplaces.
Find a specialist near you to install your dream fireplace
Flame sizes and appearances vary between gas models, so it’s important to look closely at the fireplace when it’s switched on before you buy. “When choosing a gas fire, don’t just focus on energy efficiency – consider the look of the flame too,” says James Kearsley, national sales and wholesale manager at Jetmaster Fireplaces.
Find a specialist near you to install your dream fireplace
Wood-burning fireplace
If you’re more interested in a cosy atmosphere than heat output, an open, wood-burning fireplace might be for you – after all, when it comes to ambience, the flickering flame of an open fire is hard to beat (plus there’s nothing better for roasting marshmallows).
If you’re considering an open fireplace, you’ll want ready access to logs. You’ll need to be prepared to do a little work too, says Savige; “Preparing and lighting a wood fire can be a hassle, as can wood storage. A wood-burning fire will also need to be cleaned and maintained regularly.”
It’s also a good idea to check with your local council to see if there are any regulations regarding wood-burning fires in your area.
If you’re more interested in a cosy atmosphere than heat output, an open, wood-burning fireplace might be for you – after all, when it comes to ambience, the flickering flame of an open fire is hard to beat (plus there’s nothing better for roasting marshmallows).
If you’re considering an open fireplace, you’ll want ready access to logs. You’ll need to be prepared to do a little work too, says Savige; “Preparing and lighting a wood fire can be a hassle, as can wood storage. A wood-burning fire will also need to be cleaned and maintained regularly.”
It’s also a good idea to check with your local council to see if there are any regulations regarding wood-burning fires in your area.
Slow-combustion heaters
Traditional slow-combustion heaters are back in the spotlight in 2019, with a range of designs ranging from traditional, country-style stoves to sleek and contemporary ones.
Slow-combustion heaters don’t just offer good looks, they provide great heating too. “A closed stove or fireplace provides more efficient and longer-lasting warmth – and more control over heat output – than an open fire,” says Simon Guyon, managing director at Oblica Fireplaces. A slow-combustion heater can be used to warm everything from a single room to a whole home.
Keep Cosy This Winter: A Buyer’s Guide to Heaters
Traditional slow-combustion heaters are back in the spotlight in 2019, with a range of designs ranging from traditional, country-style stoves to sleek and contemporary ones.
Slow-combustion heaters don’t just offer good looks, they provide great heating too. “A closed stove or fireplace provides more efficient and longer-lasting warmth – and more control over heat output – than an open fire,” says Simon Guyon, managing director at Oblica Fireplaces. A slow-combustion heater can be used to warm everything from a single room to a whole home.
Keep Cosy This Winter: A Buyer’s Guide to Heaters
Pod-style fireplaces
A sculptural, pod-stye fireplace that hangs from the ceiling tops many renovators’ wish lists in 2019, and it’s easy to see why. These wood-burning fires make a bold statement in a room and blur the lines between function and art. “Suspended fireplaces are really trending at the moment,” says interior designer Jasmine McClelland of Jasmine McClelland Design. “They come in lots of cool shapes and give a really contemporary feel to a space. They can often swivel too, giving you lots of flexibility.”
So where exactly can you install a pod-style fireplace? “Anywhere you like,” says Guyon. “We’ve installed them in bedrooms, open-plan kitchens, meditation rooms, outdoors and more.”
It’s a good idea to position them away from high-traffic zones, advises renovation and design expert Naomi Findlay. “It’s really important to choose an appropriate location for a hanging fireplace, especially if you have kids and pets. They can be a safety hazard – think collisions and burns.”
A sculptural, pod-stye fireplace that hangs from the ceiling tops many renovators’ wish lists in 2019, and it’s easy to see why. These wood-burning fires make a bold statement in a room and blur the lines between function and art. “Suspended fireplaces are really trending at the moment,” says interior designer Jasmine McClelland of Jasmine McClelland Design. “They come in lots of cool shapes and give a really contemporary feel to a space. They can often swivel too, giving you lots of flexibility.”
So where exactly can you install a pod-style fireplace? “Anywhere you like,” says Guyon. “We’ve installed them in bedrooms, open-plan kitchens, meditation rooms, outdoors and more.”
It’s a good idea to position them away from high-traffic zones, advises renovation and design expert Naomi Findlay. “It’s really important to choose an appropriate location for a hanging fireplace, especially if you have kids and pets. They can be a safety hazard – think collisions and burns.”
Electric fireplaces
Love the idea of a fireplace, but need something that doesn’t require a flue, which you can take with you when you move? An electric fireplace will give you the look of a real flame in a plug-in-and-go unit that can be moved from room to room.
“Electric heaters are available in a number of different formats, including wall-panel heaters, log or pebble flame-effect and smoke-effect fires in mantel suites,” says Jeff Collins, national commercial sales manager at Glen Dimplex Australia. They come in a range of different shapes and sizes to suit different room types, and some come with added features such as bluetooth speakers so you can even stream music.
Many electric fireplaces provide impressive heating too. “Some models up to 2,400 watts will heat large rooms up to 35 square metres,” says Collins.
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
Love the idea of a fireplace, but need something that doesn’t require a flue, which you can take with you when you move? An electric fireplace will give you the look of a real flame in a plug-in-and-go unit that can be moved from room to room.
“Electric heaters are available in a number of different formats, including wall-panel heaters, log or pebble flame-effect and smoke-effect fires in mantel suites,” says Jeff Collins, national commercial sales manager at Glen Dimplex Australia. They come in a range of different shapes and sizes to suit different room types, and some come with added features such as bluetooth speakers so you can even stream music.
Many electric fireplaces provide impressive heating too. “Some models up to 2,400 watts will heat large rooms up to 35 square metres,” says Collins.
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
Image by EcoSmart Fire
Eco-friendly ethanol fireplaces
For a more environmentally friendly option from a carbon-emissions perspective, consider an ethanol fireplace, which uses bottled fuel made from plant by-products. Ethanol fireplaces don’t need a flue, don’t produce smoke or ash, and can be installed just about anywhere you like – from the end of a kitchen island to inside a wall of built-in joinery.
The heating potential of larger models is impressive too, says Stephane Thomas, creator of EcoSmart Fire. “Many people assume that ethanol is a flame without heat, but the reality is that ethanol is an incredibly efficient heat source, because all the heat generated through combustion stays in the room as it doesn’t have to be flued. EcoSmart Fires’ XL Series of burners can heat rooms between 50 and 60 square metres.”
Eco-friendly ethanol fireplaces
For a more environmentally friendly option from a carbon-emissions perspective, consider an ethanol fireplace, which uses bottled fuel made from plant by-products. Ethanol fireplaces don’t need a flue, don’t produce smoke or ash, and can be installed just about anywhere you like – from the end of a kitchen island to inside a wall of built-in joinery.
The heating potential of larger models is impressive too, says Stephane Thomas, creator of EcoSmart Fire. “Many people assume that ethanol is a flame without heat, but the reality is that ethanol is an incredibly efficient heat source, because all the heat generated through combustion stays in the room as it doesn’t have to be flued. EcoSmart Fires’ XL Series of burners can heat rooms between 50 and 60 square metres.”
Image by EnviroHeat
Wood-pellet heaters
Another earth-friendly option to consider is a wood-pellet heater. Pellets are made from a mix of sawdust and agricultural waste. They’re energy-efficient, offer powerful heating (from a single room to a whole home), and produce about five percent of the smoke emissions of a typical log burner.
You typically buy wood pellets in 15-kilogram bags, which cost between $10 and $15. The average user would go through around 50 bags of pellets per year, according to Amos Bruce, sales manager at EnviroHeat Australia.
Alternative Ideas for Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Wood-pellet heaters
Another earth-friendly option to consider is a wood-pellet heater. Pellets are made from a mix of sawdust and agricultural waste. They’re energy-efficient, offer powerful heating (from a single room to a whole home), and produce about five percent of the smoke emissions of a typical log burner.
You typically buy wood pellets in 15-kilogram bags, which cost between $10 and $15. The average user would go through around 50 bags of pellets per year, according to Amos Bruce, sales manager at EnviroHeat Australia.
Alternative Ideas for Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Your turn
Is a fireplace on your winter wish list? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more design ideas? Don’t miss Picture Perfect: 25 Marvellous Mantelpieces
Is a fireplace on your winter wish list? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more design ideas? Don’t miss Picture Perfect: 25 Marvellous Mantelpieces
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If you’re looking for a fireplace that offers minimal mess and fuss, a gas style might be just the ticket. Gas fireplaces don’t produce smoke or ash, and come loaded with convenient features, including remote-control operation, timer and thermostat control (so you can set your desired temperature and switch-on time). Some styles even come wifi-connected, so you can flick on the heating from your smart phone or tablet and step inside to a cosy home.
“There’s a trend towards long, slim and sleek styles in gas fires with no mantel,” says Don Savige, creative director at Schots Home Emporium. “When buying a traditional-style gas fire, most people are opting for white-painted mantels nowadays.”
Gas fires need to be flued, although recent technology means that flues can now run up, down and sideways, allowing them to be installed in most property types, whether you’re in a house, apartment or townhouse.