WHAT’S HOT FOR 2021?
Lucas Everett of Canterbury Fireplaces talks about trends for 2021 and advises on which fires to suit your home and lifestyle
In business for more than three decades, Canterbury Fireplaces really are the experts when it comes to wood-burners, gas and electric fires. With two installation teams, all HETAS and Gas Safe registered, there’s no better place to go if you are looking for a hot new focal point for your home!
2020 was an interesting year for everyone and many people took the opportunity to remodel their homes, have you found that you have had lots of enquiries from homeowners wanting to add or replace their fires?
Yes, it’s certainly been a strange year! From when we reopened in June after the first lockdown, we have been inundated with enquiries and orders. We have taken on new members of staff on the installation side of the business, including a Gas Safe apprentice.
People had to cancel holidays and they certainly haven’t been going out like they normally would, so they have chosen to spend their money on renovations and it appears that fires have been a big thing. We have also had a lot of enquiries from people working from home. If there is just one person in the house working in one room running one gas, electric or wood-burner then it’s far more cost effective than central heating.
With more people encouraged to social distance outdoors have you had many enquiries about outdoor fires?
During the first lockdown we had lots of enquiries about our Kamado ceramic grills as they are the best you can get, superior quality with the best heat retention and temperature control. People had time on their hands, we had some beautiful sunny weather so many homeowners were cooking outdoors in the garden. We sold quite a few – throughout the UK sales rocketed.
And, in the run-up to Christmas we sold outdoor grills and fires as people were buying them as gifts. We also sold the Legend Garden Cube as a Christmas gift as I think people are looking ahead, wanting to spend much more time outdoors, even in the colder months. The Cube is an amazing outdoor wood-burning stove that has all the functions of an indoor wood-burner. It looks great and will keep you and your guests snug and warm – perfect for the times we are living in!
Moving on to interiors, what is going to be the predominant trend in fires?
We have seen trends come and go but the popularity of electric fires started in 2020 and it just seems to be getting bigger. I think it’s because here in the Ribble Valley there are so many new-builds. Because new-builds feature super-efficient insulation they retain the heat well, so you don’t need warmth. However, there’s no focal point and homeowners want something that really stands out in a room.
Media walls – with a three-sided fire that feature a TV recess have been a continuing trend and we sell more electric ones than gas. Younger people who are buying new-builds under the Help to Buy scheme, are tending to go for more contemporary styles.
But, because our showroom features every style of fire including electric, solid fuel, wood-burners and gas, we don’t have to promote one style of fire over another. We can just advise customers on what we think would suit their home and lifestyle. We have such a wide variety to choose from – whether its for a modern home, a Victorian house or barn conversion, we will have a fire to suit you.
We are always moving with the times and constantly updating our showroom.
With regards to technology, have there been any interesting developments that have made certain fires more efficient/eco-friendly?
There’s probably been more money spent on improving the technology of electric fires recently. Houses in general have better central heating, double glazing and insulation so they are becoming more eco-friendly but while people want a focal point, they don’t necessarily want heat all the time. The investment in technology on electric has resulted in ultra-realistic flames created by LED colour-changing lights that can be controlled by an app or Alexa. So, homeowners can have a fire that looks realistic, is a focal point but without extra heat. It still looks and feels welcoming and with anti-reflective glass, it looks totally realistic.
By the end of this year all stoves have to be eco-design ready, but we have selling eco-design ready stoves since 2017 so we are well in front with that.
Log-burners fit well in both traditional and modern interiors. Tell us about to how these have been made more efficient?
Log-burners remain extremely popular and have become clean-burners and are really efficient. We only sell the very best from British-made to those manufactured in Europe and Scandinavia. The brands we sell are the best in the world and include Contura, Stovax and Esse.
Finally, what type of fire do you favour?
That’s a tricky one as all the fires we stock are really great quality. I personally have a Contura wood-burner in an open plan large living room at home. And in another room I have an electric fire similar to the media suite I’ve mentioned. It a very contemporary look but you can have different contrasting styles – it works well. Whatever style the customer desires Canterbury Fireplaces can design, supply and install.
Canterbury Fireplaces
Canterbury Street, Blackburn BB2 2HP
01254 682574
info@canterburyfireplaces.com
canterburyfireplaces.com
