The burning question

We've checked-out every fireplace designer and manufacturer this side of the Urals, and have finally managed to pin down a piece of kit which will provide decent output, heat retention and look the part. The original intention was to install a wood burning stove, however, with a minimum chimney height of 4.5 metres, we would have ended up with a massive pipe on top of the new roof and accusations of construction a factory-style smokestack in a residential area.

So off we went down the natural gas path. Yes, the stuff may be running out in a few decades, but someone else will have to deal with that. All we can do is to ensure we build something that's energy efficient and works - today. Unfortunately, the location of the fireplace - straight under one of the main roof beams - meant we would have had to redesign and rebuild the roof.

Why did nobody do a sense-check on the drawings before agreeing to this?! Or, even better, why can't the blooming CAD software automatically detect that this is nuts?

As a result, the fireplace has had to be relocated - to a straight wall. The balanced flue can then be installed straight through the wall and, hey presto, we have a working fireplace.

With the incredible track-record of the cast iron smelters at Jøtul in Fredrikstad, Norway (famous for its football team and the best "pilsner" beer on earth), their excellent design expertise, and some 4000 million year old soapstone from Otta in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, we've come up with a very contemporary solution, fused with traditional firebox design. It's love it or loathe it time!