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Top 9 Fireplace Design Options to Try Out in 2022

Have you ever considered adding a fireplace to your living room or family room? They bring a sense of cosiness and comfort to any room.

A fireplace is a great design option that you can add to your room and make a dramatic statement while bringing additional heat and beauty. When considering a fireplace as part of your home layout, there are many options available to you when it comes to the design of your fireplace.

Fireplaces give you that beautiful fire look, but they also warm up your house. Fireplaces can be expensive to build into the home, but there are a couple of ways to get around this cost.

One way is to build your brick fireplace, while another option is to find one where the brickwork has already been done. Here are nine options you may consider when choosing a fireplace for your home.

Top 9 Fireplace Design Options

A fireplace media wall displays images on a screen that mimic the look of flames and provides a heat source. The images can be changed based on the seasons or holidays.

1. Stone Fireplace

Stone fireplaces are one of the most popular types of fireplace designs. They have a very natural feel and can be found in many different styles and colours. Stone is an excellent choice for a fireplace because it will keep your home warm, even if you don’t have a traditional chimney.

The only downside to stone fireplaces is that they tend to be more expensive than other fireplaces, but they are well worth the money if you want something that blends in with your home’s decor.

2. Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplaces are another common choice for homeowners who want an efficient way to heat their homes during the winter months. They’re easy to use and don’t require much maintenance at all.

Gas fireplaces can come in many different shapes and sizes, so there’s bound to be one that fits perfectly! If you want something that looks modern and sleek, this might be the right option!

3. Brick Fireplace

Brick fireplaces are another prevalent choice, especially if you want to create a rustic atmosphere in your home. The great thing about brick fireplaces is that they can be made from natural and artificial bricks, so you have plenty of options for design.

If you prefer not to use real bricks, then faux brick may be a better option because it looks just like an actual brick but is less expensive and easier to install than natural brick.

4. Fireplace Surrounds

A fireplace surround is an integral part of your fireplace because it provides aesthetic appeal while protecting your walls from heat damage.

Fireplace surrounds come in many different styles to match any décor. It can also improve the efficiency of your fireplace by keeping out drafts from outside air coming into the room where your fireplace is located.

5. Wood Burning Fireplace

Wood burning fireplaces are grand for rustic homes or those who love the outdoors because they give off an earthy and natural feel while still efficiently heating rooms in your home during colder months.

Wood burning fireplaces often feature glass doors to enjoy watching the flames from inside your home rather than sitting outside near them during cold weather months when it’s too chilly to sit outside anyway!

6. Cast Concrete Fireplace

Cast concrete fireplaces are an excellent option for those who want to create an outdoor fireplace. They are durable and can be customized to fit any design needs.

7. Steel Fireplace

Steel fireplaces are another popular option for homeowners who want a modern fireplace design that doesn’t compromise style or function.

Steel fireplaces can be made from either solid steel or steel mesh panels that allow heat to flow through them but keep flames within the fireplace itself. Steel mesh panels also come in various colours, so you can find one that best matches your overall home décor scheme!

8. Recessed Fireplace

Recessed fireplaces are grand for any room in your home. They can be placed against the wall or on a mantle, but the most popular option is to use them as a focal point in your living or family room.

The best part about this type of fireplace is that it doesn’t take up any floor space, so you can fit more furniture around it than if you had a traditional fireplace.

9. Vintage Fireplace

If you want to give your home an old-fashioned look, then a vintage fireplace design may be what you’re looking for.

These fireplaces were popular during the Victorian era and have become increasingly popular today because they can add so much character to any room in your home.

Summing Up!

Fireplaces have become standard paraphernalia in modern homes as they are designed to be a focal point of any room. People use it to make their rooms look more attractive, comfortable, and cosy.

This nature-inspired piece of art can do wonders to your home, especially if you live in an apartment with limited options for decorating the interior.

Wakeford’s Fireplaces are one of the leading specialists in designing luxury fireplaces that create a focal point in any room. If you want to get your unique fireplace or stove, speak with the experts at Wakeford’s.

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Why Do Fireplaces Smell? Here Is All You Need To Know

What is better than sitting in your warm cosy living room while enjoying your favourite TV show? The Winter season is thriving, and we all love to snuggle on a warm couch. But here is the truth, no matter how warm and comfy your living area is, a foul-smelling fireplace ruins all the fun. Good fireplaces are the key to spending happy winters and enjoying the warmth. So here are some reasons why do fireplaces smell bad:

Collected Leaves

It is common sense that leaves carried away by wind could get stuck in your chimney. Loads of leaves get collected in chimneys and start to rot. When you notice such a smell of rot and decomposition, you might be having a huge bunch of leaves up in your chimney. To get rid of this situation, the solution is simple; get your chimney swept. A good chimney sweep would remove all debris collected in it and so, no more smell now!

Dead Animals

The harsh winter days take their toll on small lovely animals such as raccoons and birds. They tend to move inside the source of warmth, that is, your chimney, and most of the time, they get stuck. Over time, their poor bodies start to disintegrate and produce an unbearable characteristic smell. To get rid of this, again have a good chimney sweep to clear out the chimney and als9 invest in a good chimney cap with mesh nettings. Chimney caps prevent the animals from getting into the chimney in the first place, and so they keep the source of smells at a good distance from your chimney.

Moisture

Moisture is the mother of all disgusting smells. If it manages to get into your chimney, then oh my, you are doomed (dramatic music playing). Well, not actually because you can surely eliminate it. Water seeps inside your chimney on rainy days. Combined with creosote, water can cause massive amounts of damage and rust to your damper and flue lining, which leads to costly repairs. Inside your chimney, it produces an unpleasant musty odor which can be embarrassing if guests show up. So here is how you can prevent it. Simply install a chimney cap so that water stays out of it during rainy days.

Creosote And Soot Buildup

It is one factor producing chimney odours that can not be 100% prevented. If your chimney smells like asphalt or burnt barbecue, then my dear, you have heaps of creosote and soot buildup up there. Creosote is a black and highly flammable tar produced from wood smoke. Soot, on the other hand, is mostly powdery and flaky amorphous carbon produced by incomplete burning of wood. Both of these result from burning the wood, so there is nothing that could be done about them. All you can do is have your chimney swept clean by a professional every year. Using low moisture wood for your fireplace can also greatly reduce the buildup.

In Conclusion

After having read the above article, you must be geared up to meet chimney odours out of your house! However, do keep in mind that a good fireplace can resist damage from all the above factors to a remarkable extent. Investing in a high-end and tough fireplace could make your winters warm, comfy, and enjoyable.

Wakeford’s Fireplaces and Stoves is a leading brand providing luxury options of fireplaces for your living room. We are a dedicated company and have been selling fireplaces and stoves all over Surrey and South East since 1984. We have a vast collection of cast iron, wooden, enclosed, open, and traditional fireplaces to adorn your home.

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Which Fireplace Is Best For The Environment

Here is All You Need to Know About Different Types of Fireplaces!

There are no doubts over the fact that the fireplace is an integral part of the living room. However, with so many types of options in the market, one gets baffled when the decision is to be made. And here is our suggestion; when income allows, your topmost priority should be “going green.” Going green is the best choice you can make for yourself and for the greater good of the planet. So let’s dig in the options for the fireplace before we conclude which type is the best, keeping the environment in mind.

Fireplace and Their Impact on The Environment

We have a list of fireplaces that you can choose from:

1. Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplace has been an increasing choice of the users due to its efficiency, effectiveness, and the fact that it keeps the area cleaner. However, it should be kept in mind that it’s not environment-friendly, and in fact, gas is a non-renewable resource that we should be working to conserve and not the opposite. Furthermore, natural gas is hazardous to health.

2. Wood-Burning Fireplace

While this might sound like a not-so-good option, the recent advancements have enabled the wood-burning fireplace to be somewhat better for the environment. This means you can be considerate about the environment while having warmth and earthy aesthetic vibes for the living room.

3. Electric Fireplace

With so many options of the fireplace, one that truly and fully checks all the points in the list for the “fireplace best for the environment” has to be an electric fireplace. Not only are the electric fireplaces efficient, but they are also cost-saving and ensure that there is no burden being put on the environment. The best part about the electric fireplace is that it serves its purpose too. It keeps the room warm and additionally provides other benefits. An electric fireplace can be easily installed, is easy to maintain, doesn’t require much cleaning, and above all, is aesthetically pleasing. All in all, an electric fireplace makes the best choice in all categories while being the obvious choice when it comes to the environment. Also, if your electricity is powered via solar panels, the electric fireplace will be more eco-friendly.

4. Pellet Stove Fireplace
Pellet fireplace is another choice when it comes to selecting a fireplace that is best for the environment. They are efficient and have low emissions. Pellet is made of a variety of biomass and organic material that are in abundance and is cost-effective too.

In A Nutshell

Which fireplace is best for the environment depends entirely on your preferences and needs. Just because you have a gas fireplace doesn’t mean you can play your part; the usage matters too. Also, you can always upgrade to a better, energy-saving, and resource-conserving option that is best for the environment as well.
Wakeford Fireplace

If you are not sure regarding which type of fireplace you should get your hands on or which will work best in favour of the environment, then we, Wakeford Fireplace, have got you covered!

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Here Is Why Log Burner Can Be Your Best Friend This Winter!

Winters are just around the corner, and so are the festivities of Christmas and New Year. Will these celebrations come ahead, and of course the chilly weather, you wonder to think what is that one thing that will add cosiness yet warmth to your place. Well, we might have one thing that will serve your booth needs. Drum roll- log burner!

Have no idea what it is or why you need it? This blog has got you covered!

What Is A Log Burner?

In simpler words, a log burner, otherwise known as a wood-burning stove or fireplace, has the heating capability to burn wood fuel and wood-derived biomass fuel. Now you might think that this is way too old school for you, right? But guess what, in an era of advancements where you could completely rely on gas or electric units for convenience, the old school log burner still stands high with its own charm and romantic aura.

How Does A Log Burner Work?

The certified wood burner fireplaces are very efficient. This means that they consume less wood and produce greater heat. So they either rely on the combustion process or catalytic combustion to light up the logs. Without getting into the technical details, log burners work by those various technologies to transform the gases into heat that would have otherwise contributed to air pollution.

What Are The Benefits Of Having A Log Burner At Home?

Still not convinced to have a wood-burning fireplace at home? Well, we have a list of benefits to look at:

  • They Have Become Eco-Friendly

Many users who have shifted to other heating systems claim that log burner is not eco-friendly. However, the latest technologies being used in the wood-burning fireplaces say otherwise. They are, of course, not 100% environment friendly, but they are now made of technologies and materials that aren’t as harmful to the surroundings as they were used to be.

  • They Are Low-Maintenance

Some put just shove off the idea of investing in log burners due to just the mere fact that they require too much cleaning. However, apart from collecting and disposing of the ashes from the firebox, there is nothing much you are needed to go.

  • Cost-Efficient

Among all the benefits, how can we forget not to mention that they are pocket-friendly as well? Are you wondering how?
In comparison to gas fuel, the log burners are very cheaper.

  • Add To The Beauty In The Room

Honestly, we were saving the most important benefit for the end. Can you even begin to imagine the scenery that is added to use living area with the wood-burning fireplace? It adds its distant aroma, which is very pleasant. Secondly, it acts as a focal point in the room and attracts families and friends together near it.

Definitely the most good-looking spot in your living room!

Wakeford’s fireplace in Surrey is your go-to option to get your hands on the premium quality wood-burning fireplace. We offer you a wide range of product options with the best installation services. This means if you choose us, you are paying for both convenience and quality both.

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What Are The Essential Fireplace Tools You Need? An Ultimate Guide to Safety!

Fireplaces provide your living area with a cosy vibe and relaxing ambience. However, there is a high risk associated with fireplace handling. But that’s not you to worry about since we have got you covered in this blog.

Here, we are talking about the essential fireplace tools to keep the situation “under control.”

And that’s just not it. There is another reason why you should have fireplace tools at your place; “wink, wink” it’s for decoration purposes!

1. Tongs

Fireplace tongs are not an option to have but a necessity. They assist the moving the burning logs to control the fire. The length of the tongue is one thing you should be considerate about. The reason is, if your burning logs are large enough, then a small fireplace tong will be of no use. The only way to get them moved is by going to the fireplace area. And we don’t want that, do we? Hence, making sure that you have the right length of fireplace tong is crucial.

2. Shovel

You might have noticed an ash layer in your fireplace area. The thing about ash is that you don’t have to get it removed fully. However, excess ash is required for you to get rid of as it prevents the air from reaching the wood, which is needed for it to burn.

You will need a shovel to remove the fireplace ash so that it’s lit nicely and evenly. Moreover, fireplace shovels are a great piece of decoration; old, unique, or contemporary shovels add an aesthetic vibe to your living area.

3. Fireplace Brush

Fireplaces are an integral part of your living. You surely don’t want the ashes and the dust to pile up there, right?

And that’s what the primary purpose of the fireplace brushes is. But, here, not any random brush will do. The brush with the right shape and width is needed to reach the corners and holes to get the dirt removed properly.

4. Fireplace Poker

There is a reason why fireplace poker is called a must-have. It is made of fireproof material that helps in pushing and moving the burning logs. In simpler words, it helps you make the smaller fire bigger and the bigger fire smaller.

5. Ash Bucket

Now you might be pondering that why a bucket is needed to stoke fire? Well, as we talked about earlier, we need to get rid of ash on an almost daily basis for the logs to be lit. The removing of the ash can be one hell of a task, and hence as buckets ease the things out for you.

Just for your convenience and better as management, investing in an ash bucket won’t hurt.

Get In Touch

To all the people living in Surrey, Wakeford fireplaces have been catering to your stove, fire, and fireplace needs for more than 3 decades now. And the best thing is that we are the best in the business.

If you are planning to get an electric, gas, or wooden fireplace installed, then look no further. We are the guide you need.