Best reproduction fireplaces

[ireneadler101]

Hi all,

We would like to install either a reclaimed or reproduction fireplace in our Victorian house (all of the original ones have been removed). We have a photograph showing one of the house's original fireplaces, so we will try and match that:



Can anyone recommend any decent companies which sell good quality reproduction fireplaces? We would also consider a reclaimed one but suspect that it may take some time to find a match that is in good condition.

 

[plasticpigeon]

You are very fortunate to have photos of the inside, and what a beautiful library room! I can vouch that the Stovax reproductions are very good having put one in my house. They make a decorative arch that is quite similar to the one in that photo. The Victorian society advocates using reproductions in order to cool trade in original ones, in an effort to discourage people from ripping original ones out. I have put in an insert in my house so can give advice if you want. There are some strange solutions that modern builders seem to insist upon that dont make any sense which I can expand upon if you'd like my opinion on these things. The chimney piece or surround looks like quite a restrained marble one. I think these can be bought new or reclaimed. I wonder what colour it was, perhaps red or grey, definitely not white! I have to say I'm not sure I would call your house very gothic inspired, even though the arch over the front door is a gothic arch, others more knowledgeable may disagree though. Here is a link to the stovax insert.

http://www.stovax.com/stove-fire/insert-fireplaces/decorative-arched-inserts/

 

[JBean]

What a fantastic photo! I agree with PP, you are lucky to have interior shots, and it is great that you want to try and recreate something of the original character.

We have an Edwardian house, where the fire surround is (probably original) marbled slate, but a gas fire had at some point been inserted. So after much dithering and advice from this forum, we have plumped for a Cast-Tec Integra cast-iron solid fuel insert http://www.casttec.co.uk/integra_gas/integra_gas.php (for some reason the website doesn't show the solid fuel versions, but the gas one looks quite similar). We are having it in an antiqued pewter.

I can't show you a picture, as it is not being fitted until next week, but the original fireplace came off the wall in one piece (phew) and we are pretty confident that the Cast-Tec fire will work well and look appropriate. We thought the Cast-Tec stuff looked good, and the company fitting it (who have an excellent local reputation) recommended this solution.

Good luck!

 

[plasticpigeon]

Hello JBean

Many I ask why you didn't decide to use the insert that was already there, it looked very nice to me.

 

[JBean]

PP, thanks for remembering my previous posts on this!

We couldn't find a fire that would work in the existing insert, unless we went for a very small gas one, which would give out very little heat. My husband really wanted a solid fuel fire, but I didn't want the mess of an open fire, so we decided to go for the Cast-Tec one, as it has a door and is much more efficient, but looks reasonably 'period' (or at least more so than the fashionable stand-alone wood-burning stoves). And the Cast -Tec comes with its own insert built in.

And it turned out that although the slate surround was original, the insert we had was reproduction, probably made when the gas fire was put in. So we didn't feel too bad about losing it (and we sold it on eBay, so it didn't got to waste).