Are open fireplaces still 'trendy'?

phil24_7

There's something romantic about having an open fire though!

Log burners whilst looking good and being very efficient just don't seem to have that.

System

I've had two open fires in houses - the last one we ripped out and put in a woodburner - heat output is massively improved with the woodburner, wouldn't go back to an open fire (although house I'm trying to buy also has one!!)

dirty_magic

I love open fires, mostly for the look of them and the atmosphere than the heat output. Will central heating be your main heat source? My uncle has one, he said the only problem is it tends to spit sometimes.

I think woodburners are nice, but I think they're in fashion at the moment and in a few years everyone will probably be ripping them out.

Davesnave

There is no comparison between a wood burning stove and an open fire in terms of efficiency, but the open fire wins in the 'nice to be next to' stakes, which is why so many pubs still have them.

Apparently, wood burners are very on-trend among those in towns, but they've been a regular feature in the country for many a year. They are a total pain if good dry wood isn't fed into them, so either a very good supplier is needed or lots of storage space and patience.

If we had mains gas I'd have another efficient gas coal fire like we had in our old house, but as we have trees to cut regularly and free firewood in exchange for grazing, the wood burner stays.

dominoman

I'm a town dweller who has to buy all their wood. I love my wood burner.

Chrishazle

"Open Fire" vs woodburner - what's not "open fire" about a woodburner with the doors open? Even with the doors closed, you can still see the fire through the glass, and my current woodburner has some sort of updraft system on the inside of the door so the glass does not blacken.

casper_g

I'm not sure that open fires are "trendy" at the moment, but there will always be those who appreciate original (or at least original style) features.


We reinstated an open fire in our house in place of a coal-effect gas fire, but this had more to do with what was trendy in the 1920s than current trends! We did it because it suited the style of the property and because, as Davesnave says, an open fire gives such a nice atmosphere. We get all the heat we need from our gas central heating and only light a fire about once a week, so efficiency is a secondary issue.

nearlyrich

I remember coal fires from my childhood soot, ash and lots of work for my Mum keeping it going. We have a gas coal fire with remote control maybe not as romantic as a proper fire but it's very warm, efficient and it looks like a real fire.

POPPYOSCAR

We have a log burner in our bedroom and an open fire in the lounge.




Give me the open fire every time. Love it.

Davesnave

casper_g wrote: »

We reinstated an open fire in our house in place of a coal-effect gas fire, but this had more to do with what was trendy in the 1920s than current trends! We did it because it suited the style of the property

The gas coal fire we had in our 30s semi was cast iron and based on a 30s original, complete with rising sun motif, so people often did a double take.

It was on the expensive side and I don't think they sold many, as I've never seen another, despite viewing Rightmove a lot.