Heating up designs with wood, gas and electric fireplace options for award-winning projects
Written by
13 August 2024
•
4 min read
In a recent interview with Mitch Gregory, Co-Director of Haus Collective, ArchiPro delves into the world of fireplaces, focusing on the latest innovations such as Kalfire.
This new electric fireplace, designed in the Netherlands, offers a highly realistic alternative to traditional gas fireplaces.
Founded by industry professionals, including luxury home builders, fire and stone professionals and interior designers, Haus Collective seeks to fill the gap in the market for high-quality design products at affordable prices.
New electric fireplaces
Introducing the Kalfire, a significant advancement in fireplace technology. "The Kalfire is probably the most realistic electric fireplace on the market, Mr Gregory explains, “It almost mimics gas in its realistic flame effect. It's a holographic system with a top-down display." Mr Gregory adds that electric fireplaces allow for easy installation without gas lines or flues, making them a versatile option for various architectural designs.
The Kalfire offers multiple flame patterns and sound effects like crackling, providing an authentic fireplace experience and adding ambience to any room. "I walked into a booth in America last March and thought it was a gas fireplace. That's how realistic it is," says Mr Gregory.
Kalfire electric fireplace creates a welcome ambience with the flicker of firelight, the glowing ember bed, the sparks, the smoke and the hypnotising dynamic flame play. The sound of crackling wood and the warmth of a real fireplace complete the realistic atmosphere.
“The technology projects images onto real media, such as faux timber, enhancing the 3D effect and overall realism of the fireplace,” Mr Gregory adds.
“Kalfire has just been installed in our showroom. It is the ideal product for the high-end apartment and townhouse market.” Although Kalfire is relatively new, having been initially introduced to the European market and available in Australia since October, with installations underway in high-end projects.
The best wood and gas fireplaces QLD
Imbocco, Camp Hill
Gregory highlights other popular fireplace options, including wood and gas fireplaces, in addition to the benefits of electric. For instance, Haus Collective’s Ortal gas fireplace was featured in a recent high-end project, for which the builders won a Master Builders Queensland award in 2023. Imbocco Camp Hill exemplifies the luxurious appeal of gas fireplaces in modern home design.
“We’ve been working closely with Innovative Build and Design Group for several years, and every single project they complete is unsurpassed in quality and design with an exacting eye for detail,” says Mr Gregory.
Jacaranda House, Brisbane
Another notable project in Brisbane, Queensland, features an entertainer’s dream with a grand outdoor wood fireplace. Jacaranda House showcases wood fireplaces' timeless charm and functionality, particularly in high-end residential designs.
"Wood fireplaces are still popular among clients, even in Queensland," says Mr Gregory. “An outdoor woodfire is an ideal design addition to the patio or backyard.”
“We were so proud to be involved in this stunning project, which has won two awards from Master Builders Queensland: "House of the Year 2023" and "Individual Home over $3 million 2023," says Mr Gregory. Built by Corella Construction, Haus Collective customised the stone cladding blend to match perfectly with external marble tiles and paint colours.
“Combining the owner's vision for an entertainers’ dream backyard, our stone products and Jetmaster Universal 1250 outdoor wood fireplace, alongside the unequalled building expertise of Corella, you can see why this house won House of Year,” Mr Gregory adds.
The growing demand for fireplaces in modern home design
According to Mr Gregory, the demand for fireplaces, especially in high-end property markets, is rising. "This year, we've certainly seen an uptick for us with some massive projects coming," he says. This trend is driven by architects and designers who appreciate the aesthetic and functional benefits of fireplaces in modern homes.
The Haus Collective showroom in Hamilton, Brisbane, reflects this high-end focus. Described as more of a gallery than a traditional retail space, it showcases a range of premium fireplace options in an architecturally designed environment. "We've tried to be different to everybody else that does what we do," Mr Gregory explained, highlighting their commitment to quality and customer experience. “We display our products to create a visual and interactive experience for specifiers and their clients.”
The world of fireplaces is evolving, with advances like European-designed Kalfire hitting the Australian market. Whether innovative electric options for the ease of plug-and-play installation or wood and gas fireplaces for high-end residential projects. As demand grows, particularly among architects and designers, the future of fireplaces is ablaze with options to suit every taste, space and design brief.
View Kalfire and other collections at the Haus Collective showroom or on ArchiPro today.