Whether you have a client thinking of getting a wood fireplace installed in the near future or a client wanting to spruce up their existing appliance and the room it’s in, get inspired by this year’s trends.

Wood fireplaces tend to become the focal point of a room, and even of a home as they bring people together. In the cold winter months and on chilly evenings, it is often around the fire that people gather to create lasting memories. It is therefore important that this appliance fit into the décor, while also suiting the lifestyle and meeting the needs of the home’s occupants.

Wood-burning fireplaces evoke warmth and elegance.

Setting up a fireplace area lets you create a focal point in the room. The goal is to fashion a cosy, comfortable and inviting atmosphere. The latest trend is natural colours and materials, like a wood beam for the mantle-piece, stone cladding or steel. While very popular, wood cladding is not recommended for this project, as most fireplace manufacturers require non-combustible materials within a certain radius of the appliance. However, for a similar effect, you could also opt for concrete that looks like wood — there are products available with very realistic finishes, for a safe version of the look you had in mind. You could also make attractive log holders an integral part of the decor.

The important thing is to think minimalistic. Pick one element as the main focus. It could be the fireplace, a painting, a sculpture or something else. You can beautify a fireplace area with a few decorative items, preferably in understated colours that call to mind natural materials like cotton and linen. For an uncluttered haven, pare down options to only a few key objects. As for the overall colour scheme, the current trend is tone-on-tone (different shades of the same colour).

There are several combinations you can choose from to create a cozy cocoon. Select an original mantle-piece and decorative items that will showcase the play of the flames, exuding warmth and relaxation in the spirit of this year’s trends.

Wood-burning fireplaces create a relaxed and refined mood, sleek, modern-looking wood freestanding fireplaces are becoming popular and their minimalism complements all styles of decor. Select an appliance model and decor that best reflects the client's personality to add a one-of-a-kind touch to the home. The Stûv 30 freestanding range of fires from The Fireplace are designed to be positioned anywhere in the room. The Stûv 30 features a rotating cylindrical drum with three independent doors that allow for three different burning modes, a truly innovative feature and the Stûv 30 Compact One is clean air approved specifically for NZ.

One thing is certain, wood-burning fires have become a design element, holding pride of place in a home’s gathering spaces. Beautiful, functional and timeless, modern wood fireplaces adapt to the activities of the house’s occupants. Some offer a variety of fire views while others are marvels of architectural design. The Stûv 21, a perfect pairing of architecture and fire come in a range of single- and double-sided inbuilt models and are manufactured to blend into the décor, the fire becomes the centre of attraction.

These modern fireplace models also feature a retractable window that can be raised or lowered for an open or closed fire. The Stûv 21-clads are turnkey wood fireplaces that do not need to be built into a wall and do not require any special finishing. Thanks to their steel casing, they are as simple to install as a freestanding fire. The architectural cladding systems are available in a range of colours for single- and double-sided fires.

Adding accessories around the stove will also enhance decor while clearly defining the area. The portable log holders and floor-protecting hearths available are as beautiful as they are practical. These two must-have elements reinvent the space while making a fireplace more commanding and giving it prestige. Finally, the important design consideration is to make the area inviting. Achieving harmony between your appliance, finishes and accessories will make homeowners want to spend hours by the fire.