Getting fired up: Richard Miller shares why glass front fireplaces are in vogue

Caring for the planet

Richard notes that as 6-star homes become popular and new energy efficiency ratings come into play, fireplace designs will adapt and evolve to deliver environmentally conscious options such as sealed closed glass fireplaces.

These lead to high efficiency due to a fuel combustion chamber inside the fireplace, which ensures there is no smell, moisture or gas to contend with. Previously, open air fireplaces sucked air from within the room up, creating a cold draft from the outside vent before any warmth.

Previously, open air fireplaces sucked air from within the room up, creating a cold draft from the outside vent before any warmth. Then, because the fire needs more air from the room to continue running, the newly created warm air is stolen to go back into the fire as well.

Closed glass options instead use their internal combustion system to heat the room faster and with greater energy efficiency. There could be significant financial savings to be enjoyed from this, since the average New Zealand family spends around $2,000 per annum on electricity while gas and other fuels are on top of this, according to the government’s Smarter Homes resource.

Fundamentals of a fireplace

“The core reasons to have a fireplace are positive and based on human emotion,” says Richard. “The fireplace draws people together, is a place to gather, provides a level of comfort and warmth and becomes a point of focus in interior design.”

Ultimately, these positive perks are at the ‘hearth’ of the issue. If you’re interested in browsing a diverse, contemporary range of glass fireplaces as well as the rustic charms of open fire wooden fireplaces, explore the collection online at Stoke.

In April a Stoke destination store will be opening in Auckland displaying the best in both gas and wood fires. As well as stocking New Zealand made Escea gas fireplaces, Stoke will be introducing high-end European woodfire brand Spatherm to the market.