New Contemporary Bio Fires 2015

Furniture and interior design industries have their trends, as does the gel fires industry. Fireplaces that have been in fashion a decade ago, like bulky gel fireplaces with canisters of jellified alcohol, now seem a little dated; instead a whole new range of shapes and styles wins our hearts and hearths today.

This is why we make an effort to bring fresh new products into our range every year. It's no fun to sell the same products over and over again. We love selling and promoting new designs the same way that our customers love to buy them! This season our contemporary range has been enriched by two new pieces: Phantom Flame and Globe Flame.

Both designs are a result of our in-depth study of contemporary interior trends and preferences, while at the same time they were created to outlast their time and blend in with any truly elegant space for much longer than temporary fashion.

Mirrored fireplace is a concept that had been emerging in the Bio Fires creative team for quite a while and we have finally decided to give it a bold entrance. Already a winner!

New Phantom Flame in Mirrored Finish for a luxury finish to your home.

It’s a beautiful fire, advanced in technology yet simple, large but not overpowering. The reflective surface will catch any light in your room and ‘shine’ it back, making the room much brighter. The ultra long flame will create a finished, luxurious fireplace feel and your guests will be really impressed. Phantom Flame features our new Ribbon Fire Regulating Bio Container, allowing you to adjust the height of the flame, the heat output and the burning time.

This mirrored fireplace of a neutral shape will at once draw attention and seamlessly blend in, depending on the available light. During the day it will add to the crisp design, at night it will multiply soft dimmed and moody glowing lamp-shades or flickering candles.

Bio-ethanol fire with premium mirror frame enhances the surrounding space.

Globe Flame is an option for those who like vivid and decided accents as it is not a shy fireplace and it will certainly stand out in your room. Its flowing circular shape can pair up with nearly every interior but will look best in a set up where a fireplace is a true centrepiece.

Round sculptural bio ethanol fireplace makes an alluring centrepiece.

This round bio fireplace makes a perfect frame for a living real flame, while two glass panels on each side of the opening improve the air flow, producing an amazing live flame performance that will certainly dazzle your guest and enliven your private evenings in, too.

The alluring, sculptural freestanding White Globe Flame Bio Ethanol Fireplace.

So, if your living room could speak - which one out of our two brand new contemporary bio fires would it call for?

Selling a property? Seduce your buyers with flame.

Congratulations! You have embarked on the journey of selling your home. There is much to think about and figure out before you sign on that line, which pays you with what will hopefully be a nice cheque. Is your home ready to be shown off to potential buyers? Make sure it is in tip top shape. When people come to look at the house, they do not want to see broken things like stair railings or peeling paint, so be sure to have your house up to par before inviting potential buyers in. Get your home curb appeal worthy before placing the “For Sale” sign in the front yard.

What are the luxury features in your home? Some studies have shown homes with fireplaces tend to sell quicker and sometimes for even a higher price. When people see fireplaces, their minds automatically run away with ideas on how they would utilize it. Cold winter nights spent cuddled up in front of a roaring fireplace, cosy and reading a good book. The idea of having a hot bubble bath in a deep claw foot tub next to a fireplace has always been something special too.

Contemporary living room by Bio Fires

No matter what the potential buyers dream up, if your home has a fireplace in it, your chances of selling it quickly and for a higher amount will be increased. If you do have a fireplace, be sure to make it the focal point of the room it is located in. Make the fireplace the most exciting part of that room to entice potential buyers to allow their minds to wander. When selling a home you want to put the home’s best features first and up front so every potential buyer can see them easily.

Try adding a picture above the mantel or even a mirror to draw the attention of your potential homebuyers to the fireplace area. Be careful putting personal objects up when selling your home though because you’d want to make the potential buyer to imagine how they would want it to look should they decide to purchase the home.

Traditional fireplace with a picture above the mantel by Bio Fires

If you happen to have a fireplace in the bedroom, try setting up a relaxing area for reading. Place a comfortable chair in front of the fireplace along with a small table and a popular book resting casually on the table. This will invite the potential buyers to use creativity to see what the fireplace could do for them.

Besides being a focal point of the room and even the home, fireplaces are a wonderful source of heat for those cold winter months. There is nothing like the sight of a fire either, such a calming scene to warm up the home with. No matter what type of fireplace you have you can be sure your home will be more popular amongst potential buyers because of the fireplace.

Wall-hanging fireplace in a contemporary living room by Bio Fires

Nesting, An Ageless Urge - a story from a customer

Nesting, An Ageless Urge

A recent conversation with a friend reminded me that home nesting is a strong urge that can happen at any age.

Sarah’s parents were downsizing from their three-bedroom, suburban house to a smaller flat in the city. Comfortable in their retirement, James and Lucy realised that the beloved family home was turning into a bother.

“We all loved the old house. My sisters and I grew up there, but Mum and Dad have an active lifestyle with lots of travel. The house upkeep was becoming challenging, so they started looking at newer and smaller places near the centre,” said my friend.

Sarah explained that James and Lucy brainstormed the layout, furniture, and décor in a new house that would support their current busy retirement and a gradual slowdown due to age. A master bedroom with walk-in shower. An open kitchen with an island. An office converting to a second bedroom for the visiting grandson. One level and no stairs.

Additionally, James and Lucy wanted a wood-burning fireplace to complete their retirement nest.  Sarah knew that her parents enjoyed a roaring fire during family holidays and they would often build a fire for themselves.

“So many important family events happened with a crackling fireplace in the background, and my parents did not want to give that up.” Unfortunately, they had to scrap the idea after seeing several open houses. 

“Many newer developments or flats don’t offer the big, wood-burning fireplaces. They can be messy and smoky in smaller living rooms. We said goodbye to our old house and its fireplace.”

Despite that disappointment, Sarah said her mum settled into nesting mode as the new flat move-in construction neared completion. She relished creating a comfortable space that would support her and her husband’s active lifestyle.

“Everything was coming together nicely, and Mum was passionate about making this as reflective of their lives as possible. She felt, however, that something was missing in the living room along one wall. She and dad did not need a large entertainment system, since they are pretty comfortable with streaming stuff. And they did not want to build their new nest with a TV smack in the middle.”

So Lucy decided to research alternatives to wood-burning fireplaces in modern homes and discovered bio-ethanol fireplaces offered by Bio Fires company. Self-contained, real-flame fires burning from eco-friendly ethanol fuel, Bio Fires fireplaces require no gas connection or power supply. 
Sarah explained while some bio-ethanol fireplaces can be free-standing, her parents chose a model that hung on the bare wall in the living room, instantly making the house feel complete.  

Contemporary Living Room by London Fireplaces & Stoves Bio Fires

Traditional Living Room by London Fireplaces & Stoves Bio Fires

The low maintenance and self-containment of the Bio Fire fireplace were all attractive to Sarah’s parents, but the real fire flame sealed the deal.

James and Lucy also liked having an “on demand” fireplace easily lit with a long match, allowing them to recharge by the fire after a long flight home or at the end of a normal day.

“Mum and dad are healthy right now, but we know that over time carrying and lifting logs would become impossible. This kind of fireplace allows them to enjoy their nest regardless of their age. ”

My friend said her parents continue to enjoy the perfect final piece for their retirement nest.

Modern Living Room by Atlanta Architects & Building Designers Peace Design