|
(ARA) - Today‘s homes are far more than roofs over our heads;
they are serving more and more as lifestyle centers full of
activities, strong personal statements and luxuries that were
unthinkable not much more than a decade ago. Witness what has
happened to the utilitarian hearth in the North American home.
Today, the mark of a modern home might be a well-equipped
exercise area, a fantastic home theatre, and a fireplace or
stove in almost every room. There have been huge strides made
in technological improvements to fireplaces and heating
stoves, making it possible to put a fireplace almost anywhere
as an outstanding design statement.
Why limit
what you can place on top of the mantel. This appealing
cabinet includes a built in-shelf – great for displaying
treasured objects. |
No longer constructed with brick and mortar as part of the
house, fireplaces are built in factories and shipped to
construction or renovation sites. Through the wall venting
makes it possible to fit one of these pre-constructed
fireplaces into a bathroom, bedroom or kitchen rather than
just in rooms connected to chimneys. And there are fireplace
inserts that can retro-fit either masonry or factory built
fireplaces. Installation is easy in most cases and, in a condo
apartment, it’s often just as straightforward as plugging into
a socket with the advent of great electric fireplaces.
Along with enhancements to fuel and venting choices in
stoves and fireplaces, there have been incredible improvements
in size, shape, and performance. It is now possible and
desirable to customize and easily install a fireplace
anywhere, including hallways and outdoors.
“We spend a great deal on research and development and it
has paid off in products that are revolutionizing the hearth
and the home,” says Rina Ristagno of CFM Specialty Home
Products, manufacturers of products under the well-known
brands of Vermont Castings and Majestic Fireplaces.
She points to developments like the much larger viewing
areas of Majestic fireplaces such as the Chateau 44 Direct
Vent Gas Fireplace and its new, slightly smaller cousin, the
Chateau 38, an easily installed gas fireplace with a large,
clean face and powerful output.
|
Suede Brown
– Vermont Castings’ hot new porcelain enamel color is a
rich earthy-brown tone with the most luxurious porcelain
enamel finish in the industry. This color will surely
harmonize well in today’s natural hues in home design -–
whether contemporary or traditional, this color is
extremely versatile. Suede Brown is available in most of
our cast iron stove line-up, plus accessories and some
venting. |
These Chateau units are grand fireplaces -- compliments to
regal homes -- complete with cast iron andirons, but with the
modern convenience of gas flames in astonishing glass sizes.
Larger glass sizes follow advances such as remote controls
that operate fireplaces almost like television sets, turning
them on and off and regulating temperature settings and fan
speeds from anywhere in the room.
Electric fireplaces -- and electric stoves -- go anywhere
there is a plug and come with lots of pep, such as the1450
watt heater in a CFM Specialty Home Products’ model capable of
a 4,500 BTU output. And the new models have enhanced flame
emulation systems and ember beds for more realistic
appearance.
Partly because of improved technology and partly because of
their great charm, the heating stove has burst back on the
scene as a home appliance. The flames produced in the latest
model gas stoves have to be seen to be believed.
Heating stoves provide wonderful ways of creating room
centerpieces and of creating personal statements. Stoves come
in a variety of colors but not all of them are the traditional
hues associated with these heat sources. The stove becomes a
true fashion statement when it is coated in a porcelain finish
like trendy new Suede Brown.
“A stove is a versatile and economic appliance as well as a
decorator’s delight -- and they’ll give you light and heat
even when the power goes out,” says Ristagno. in a reference
to the August 14, 2003, outage that cut power to the U.S.
northeast and parts of Canada.
|
The DVT38S2
will make a royal impression in two rooms at once. A
wonderful hearth concept for separating a bedroom and
sitting area OR living room and dining room! Like a
standard closet depth, this model is about 24” deep. |
Like modern fireplaces, heating stoves come in direct vent,
natural vent and vent free models for easy installation in any
room of the home. They also come with expanded views through
larger glass windows and with greatly improved burner
technology for the look of real flames in gas, propane and
electric models. Harkening back to the old days, the stove is
also a great source of heat. It gives off 35,000 Btu's, give or
take a few Btu's.
There’s almost no reason to have an old-fashioned fireplace
in a home today because it’s easy to upgrade to a modern model
that will suit your lifestyle, with the new lines of gas
fireplace inserts available from leading makers.
More information on the revolution in hearth products for
today’s lifestyles is available at the Websites of leading
fireplace makers including CFM Specialty Home Products at www.vermontcastings.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content |
| |
|
Vol.
7.11