Winter warmth fireplace options abound – even for condo dwellers

The seasons are changing, and with the cooler days and nights, it’s the perfect time for cosying up by the fire. Fireplaces add a certain charm to your home. They add a warm and inviting aesthetic, even when not in use, and are the perfect complement to any decor style. If you reside in a house, adding a fireplace to your home can be a done with relative ease. However, condo dwellers may encounter a few challenges, from space to accessibility, ventilation, to even finding a realistic looking electric fireplace.

These days, many newly built condos and lofts are often being outfitted with gas or even wood burning fireplaces. If you’re a condo dweller and your home is not this fortunate, all is not lost. There are many different possibilities that will still give you the beautiful ambiance a fireplace creates while facilitating any structural or venting limitations you may be facing.

Electric fireplaces

Today’s electric fireplaces have come a long way since they first entered the market. They now feature designs that use revolutionary ultrasonic technology to create true-to-life looking flames as well as smoke effects simulating a real wood-burning fire. Advancements in technology have also created the three-dimensional flame, which is a fabulous and realistic design for an electric fireplace. As the industry continues to advance, the flame has advanced to resemble the more traditional type found in gas or wood burning fires. These electric units also offer an environmentally friendly option for additional heat within a space. With options ranging from a traditional insert to a more modern approach, a cast-iron electric wood stove option to a three-sided glass unit, one of my favourite brands is Amantii. Their designs and advancements within the industry allow for many options that suit all styles and enable you to design at an entirely different level; creating stunning fireplaces from a traditional to modern aesthetic.

Choosing the right design and function for your fireplace is key to maximizing the usage and enjoyment of your investment. As space can sometimes be limited, the addition of a fireplace to your condo should be well planned, and the right sized unit and heat output is definitely an important factor. The nice thing about electric fireplaces is that the depth of the units, and the clearances required are less than gas or wood units, making it easier to work with in small or confined spaces. But adding a fireplace to your home is not simply about function. Let’s face it, a fireplace can be a stunning focal point in a space, and definitely sets the mood for that room. It can be a wonderful complement to a well-designed wall unit that offers you added storage as well as the fireplace feature. A two- or three-way fireplace can be a great addition to a room dividing wall. Or it can be an amazing stand-alone focal point in a space as well.

Multitude of options

Are you looking to create drama in your home by using a stunning piece of marble for your fireplace façade? Or perhaps a more traditional approach works best for you with a warm wood mantel. Whichever way you choose to incorporate a fire feature in your home, rest assured the choices are seemingly endless when designing the facade of your fireplace. From fun paneled wall details to amazing dimensional and textured wall tiles, to concrete, wood, marble and so much more, have fun with your design selections to create a wonderful new feature in your home.

We are fortunate to have a multitude of electric fireplace and electric woodstove options available to us today that no longer restrict condo dwellers from enjoying the seasonal charms and comforts of a roaring fire. Electric fireplaces are both environmentally friendly, with zero emissions, and far more budget friendly than their gas or wood burning alternatives. Whether your tastes veer to the more traditional, or you’re out to make a bold statement, you have an abundance of options and design inspirations to draw on. With the seasons changing, and the colder days fast approaching it’s time to create for yourself an inviting, relaxed space for those chilly nights ahead.