How To Choose A Fireplace For Your Home

When it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing quite like relaxing around a warm, cosy fire. A fabulous fireplace also creates a natural focal point in a room, drawing people together for those special moments of connection and conversation. Wood-burning and gas log fires are the most popular options, providing both efficient home heating and the charm of a flickering flame. Considering putting in a new fireplace? Houzz spoke with the experts are Barbeques Galore to learn about the latest looks and what to consider when it comes to selecting the right style.

The Benefits Of A Wood-Burning Fire

It’s not just the warmth that makes a wood fire so enticing – it’s the smell, the sound and the beauty of the flickering flame. A log-burning fire is so cosy, it’s almost impossible to tear yourself away from. And with gas prices on the rise, a wood fire can be an economical and sustainable choice. It’s also sure to be an appealing option if you live in a regional or rural area and don’t have a natural gas supply, but do have ready access to logs. “A wood fireplace can heat a whole home, and it adds a wonderfully cosy feel to a room,” says the Barbeques Galore home heating category manager. “Today’s models are cleaner-burning and more efficient than wood heaters of yesteryear, which means they consume less energy to heat your home and produce fewer emissions.” The Clean Air freestanding wood fires, available at selected Barbeques Galore stores, are a standout range that’s well worth considering. These environmentally friendly wood fires extract more heat than a traditional fire while being cleaner-burning, producing fewer emissions and having longer burn times, so you can enjoy a warmer and healthier home.

A Fashion For Freestanding

Classic freestanding wood fires are back in the spotlight, with growing numbers of designers and architects selecting them for both classic and contemporary homes. It’s easy to see the appeal; not only do they create a striking focal point, but freestanding wood fires are straightforward to install and require very little structural work, plus they are powerful enough to warm large areas. Radiant wood fires emit heat from all sides and can warm spaces of up to 180 square metres, making them ideal for generously sized rooms, lofts or areas with high ceilings. Convection wood heaters offer powerful and efficient whole-home heating. They emit warm air from a cavity in the top of the unit which is circulated throughout an area of up to 320 square metres in size. There’s a vast range of stylish convection-style wood fires on offer today; you’ll find shapes to suit different home styles, including ones with fashionably curvy lines, such as the Austwood range of freestanding fires at Barbeques Galore, which sit beautifully within contemporary and coastal homes, and models with crisp, pared-back lines to complement minimalist, modern architecture.

Built-in & Pedestal Styles

For a more streamlined look, consider a built-in or pedestal fireplace. You’ll find no shortage of wood-burning and gas styles on offer; take your pick from sleek, linear built-in models and zero-clearance styles that can be installed within a joinery wall for a seamless look. n wood-burning fires, pedestal styles are fast gaining traction – these models elevate the flame above floor level and feature a pedestal or bench. Bench models often double as log storage, creating an appealing and practical feature in a room. Many of the latest built-in and pedestal models allow you to enjoy a better view too; large landscape doors on models such as the Norseman Aura freestanding wood fire at Barbeques Galore give you an optimal view of the flickering flame while you relax by the fire.

Why To Choose Gas

For convenient and efficient heating, a gas fire is hard to beat. It allows you to simply turn on the heat at the touch of a button and easily control the temperature – all with zero mess and fuss. “Gas fires are easy to use, energy-efficient and have long warranties, plus their minimalist design means they suit homes of every style,” says the Barbeques Galore home heating category manager. “The flame effects are also far more realistic than they used to be.” New-generation gas fires are smarter than ever; the Valour Inspire range of gas log fires at Barbeques Galore, for example, comes with a remote control for easy operation, and offers flexible flueing so they can be installed in homes with a variety of different layouts. The Valor Inspire fires are energy efficient too; they feature a self-modulating system that uses less energy to warm your home than previous models, and a design that eliminates heat loss and unwanted drafts so you can enjoy a cosy indoor climate without a huge power bill.

What To Consider When Choosing A Fire

To ensure that your new fire delivers the looks and warmth you’re after, there are few things you should think about before making your selection. “First consider the size of the area you want to heat so can choose a fire of the right size,” says Barbeques Galore’s home heating category manager. Gas fireplaces, for example, range in size from around 600 millimetres wide to about 3,300 millimetres wide. The bigger the room, the bigger the unit you’ll need. Think too about how you’ll be using the fire; do you want to enjoy the crackle and flicker of a wood-burning fire or would you prefer the convenience of gas? Do you want a built-in style or would a freestanding style in the middle or corner of the room work better? “Chances are you’ll be living with your fireplace for many years, so it’s also important to factor in the room’s decor when choosing between the different styles,” he says. Fuel type is another key consideration; if you’re after a gas fire, you’ll need a natural gas supply. If you want a wood fire, you’ll want ready access to logs. Some councils have regulations around wood fires, so you may need to check on this too. Answering these questions will help narrow down your options, making it quicker and easier to choose a style you’ll love for years to come.

It’s important to make all your ideas known to your builder at the start of the design stage, that way nothing will get missed our become to complicated later on. Also look into the standard inclusions of a builder to your aren’t caught out by extras. At Hurst Homes we pride ourselves on providing no hidden extras, and full turn-key homes for our clients. That’s why shower niches and custom joinery comes standard in all of our builds. Just another reason why we are considered Wagga’s Best Builder. If you’re interested in building in the Wagga area contact us today on 0438 692 962 for a preliminary estimate on your dream home.

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