Do they exist?
I've a fireplace in an 1850s house that I'd like to do something with. Ideally this would involve lining the chimney and putting in a stove. The cost of doing so is at this time however financially prohibitive - maybe in a few years.
If purely for decorative reasons I'd get a second hand real stove, put some logs in it and that would be that, but I'd like if possible for it to generate some heat and look as if there's a remote chance it's a real fireplace.
I have (as many I'm sure) seen some truly shocking electric stoves. Even expensive ones - you still get what are quite obviously glowing polystyrine 'logs'. Why would you want the focal point of a room to look that naff?
Yesterday however I saw something remarkable. Not perfect by any means, but quite an advance on other technologies I've seen. It's made by Dimplex, called Opti-Myst and uses steam (generated from a water tank) that is then lit as it rises. It sounds naff I know, but you do actually get a 3d effect of real smoke like stuff. With a few real logs in there I reckon we have a winner.
The problem is that having gone through Dimplex's catalogue all the ones they sell are too wide and would mean replacing the existing (original) surround, which I don't see as being an option. Really what I'm looking for is a small stove (up to around 350mm wide).
I'd appreciate if anyone could share with me knowledge, either about alternatives to this technology by other vendors (I googled but came up blank) or other 'effects' that make an electric stove look vaguely passable at first glance (there is of course no substitute for a real fire I know).
I've a fireplace in an 1850s house that I'd like to do something with. Ideally this would involve lining the chimney and putting in a stove. The cost of doing so is at this time however financially prohibitive - maybe in a few years.
If purely for decorative reasons I'd get a second hand real stove, put some logs in it and that would be that, but I'd like if possible for it to generate some heat and look as if there's a remote chance it's a real fireplace.
I have (as many I'm sure) seen some truly shocking electric stoves. Even expensive ones - you still get what are quite obviously glowing polystyrine 'logs'. Why would you want the focal point of a room to look that naff?
Yesterday however I saw something remarkable. Not perfect by any means, but quite an advance on other technologies I've seen. It's made by Dimplex, called Opti-Myst and uses steam (generated from a water tank) that is then lit as it rises. It sounds naff I know, but you do actually get a 3d effect of real smoke like stuff. With a few real logs in there I reckon we have a winner.
The problem is that having gone through Dimplex's catalogue all the ones they sell are too wide and would mean replacing the existing (original) surround, which I don't see as being an option. Really what I'm looking for is a small stove (up to around 350mm wide).
I'd appreciate if anyone could share with me knowledge, either about alternatives to this technology by other vendors (I googled but came up blank) or other 'effects' that make an electric stove look vaguely passable at first glance (there is of course no substitute for a real fire I know).