26th July 2009: All Fired Up

Along with lending a welcoming atmosphere to a room, fireplaces are one sure way to keep toasty on a cold Melbourne night. The flames, the hearth, and the coals glowing behind the grate late at night work a treat. It's without doubt the theatre of the living room; a place to settle in next to with a good book and a cuppa.

While there will always be a market for authentic fireplaces using real wood, another more energy-friendly trend has entered the hearth market. Gas-fired log fireplaces are prefect for houses where real wood or coal fires are awkward to install, and because they're guaranteed not to smoke, you don't have to worry about sending your clothes off to the dry cleaners.