When Jenny and Tim started building their first home, their dream fireplace was the starting point for the entire house design. A few years prior, the couple had spotted a double sided fireplace in a magazine, and they knew that at some point they had to have it. "We never wanted to jeopardise having our double sided gas fire," says Jenny, "We had our heart set on this right from the beginning and thought that if we are building then this is our priority."

Paul McStay Builders helped create a spacious building with an open plan flow in the centre of the house. The double sided fireplace sits between the lounge and the dining areas and offers a view between the two rooms. "We changed other things in the [building] plans so we could still have the wall and fireplace," explains Jenny. "We were always adamant that this was never going to change."

Jenny, alongside Naomi from Frobisher Interiors, chose a chocolate tone for the wooden floors to give warmth to the smart monochrome kitchen created by Sockburn Joinery, and cream walls in the kitchen and dining areas to further soften the welcoming space. Warm grey shades in the lounge give a depth and cosiness to the room and frame the centrepiece — the gas fireplace — which can be enjoyed from both sides of the wall.

The homeowners had strict specifications for their fireplace; it needed to sit at ground level, be double sided, heat the multiple rooms in the home, be efficient and offer a soothing ambience.

They chose an Escea DX1500, which ticked all their boxes and at its size, fitted perfectly into their feature wall. "The length was a drawcard," explains Jenny. "Plus the ducting to heat other parts of the house". Using Escea's Multiroom Technology, the DX1500 transfers heat to other areas of the house through air ducts. The couple installed ducts in the lounge, the dining room and the hallway outside their daughters' bedroom. "It's perfect and is a great heat," explains Jenny. "We haven't used our heat pump at all."

The DX1500's Zero Clearance rating means it does not overheat the walls, so the use of creative wall coverings is definitely an option. Jenny and Naomi decided they wanted a bold pattern to frame the fireplace and dress up the wall. They decided on a warm, woodgrain wallpaper on the kitchen side and added an ornate mirror. Using a tone from this wallpaper, a deep grey, they painted the lounge side 'Masala Grey'.

After months of construction, the couple are overjoyed with their finished home, and as expected their favourite part of the house is the fireplace. "It's the highlight for us!" laughs Jenny. "We can't stop looking at it. We just love it and how it has all come together, we're still pinching ourselves!"