Electrifying flames
Love a warm and cosy fireplace but don’t want the hassle or emissions of burning wood or gas? Get your glow on with the latest in contemporary electric fireplaces.
Almost nothing makes us feel as warm and cosy as curling up by the fire while the cold weather howls and rages outside. It’s not your imagination. We quite literally do feel better when we stare into flames. This is why fire gazing is called ‘nature’s television’, it taps into a primal, ancestral need for comfort, safety, and mesmerising, rhythmic movement. The act of watching a fire reduces anxiety by drawing the mind into the flames, allowing us to let go of daily worries in a hypnotic state.
As winter edges closer, you might be considering installing a fireplace in your home, but don’t want the hassle of wood or gas. An electric fireplace could be the ideal alternative. Safe to use, electric means they do not produce emissions and do not require flues or vents.
Contemporary electric fireplaces feature cool-touch glass, making them safe for children and pets. With no direct flame, there is no risk of burns, and the fires also have the benefit of a ‘flame only’ mode without any heat.
In modern New Zealand homes, the design, technology, and purpose of fireplaces have changed a lot. Instead of being just a heating source, they’re increasingly treated as an architectural feature or lifestyle element. Here are the main trends seen in new builds and renovations nationwide.
1. Minimalist built-in fireplaces: Clean, built-in fireplace inserts integrated into the wall. Features linear or horizontal fireboxes, works well with open-plan living spaces, where the fireplace becomes part of the architecture rather than a standalone object.
2. Feature fireplace walls: Many new homes make the fireplace the centrepiece of the living room wall with a floor-to-ceiling stone, tile, or plaster feature wall.
3. Double-sided or multi-sided fireplaces: Modern homes with open layouts often use two- or three-sided fireplaces that can divide spaces (living vs dining), connect indoor areas visually, and let the flame be visible from multiple angles
4. Suspended or floating fireplaces: These look great in high-ceiling or architect-designed homes.
5. Smart fireplaces: Higher-end homes increasingly include smart-controlled electric fireplaces with app or wifi control, remote flame and temperature adjustment, and integration with smart home systems.
