Loras Network

Imagine a cold evening with soft light and the breathtaking beauty of a Chesney fire from The Living Fire Centre taking the stage. It is not only a tool. It’s the thing that transforms an ordinary sitting room into a swoon-worthy refuge. Piled alongside, a comfy seat pulled up. Wood. If your mantelpiece is still simple, hang on; this marks a whole fresh chapter.

One finds great artistic intensity here. Every edge seems to be breathing, curved sloppily but precisely. Some swear the stone warms up faster; others say the limestone ages improves like a vintage wine. You could definitely find a fireplace at any big-box retailer, but none of them have the weight of this excellent British work. See hands sweeping dust from just created detail, dust motes whirling in golden light. Here there is some very earthly magic.

Friends enter and initially they mention surround rather than the couch or the coffee maker. Their eyes sparkle with inquiry, a tumble of ideas. Their gasps ask, “Where did you find this?” “It feels as though this has always been here.” That is achieved by a Chesney fire surround. It stitches together old-world beauty and modern comfort, therefore bringing history into contemporary houses.

Selecting one, though, can feel like selecting a favorite star in a constellation. Marble radiates beauty; its white streaks recall majestic homes and dusty libraries. Stone, meantime, has a rough-hewn quality that would be ideal for books stacked two-deep and mismatched chairs. Some choose elaborate carvings, creating shadows on a clear winter night from scrolling greenery. Some choose simplicity so the flames may take front stage. Half the joy is that there is no right response.

Often in discussion is heat control. These environs are designed to last, indeed. You merely need to give them some cleaning once the dust has settled; you do not have to pamper them. A rapid polish, a sweep over the hearth, and they are once more glittering. Not even starting on the seasonal decorations—garlands at Christmas, vases full of wildflowers in spring. All seems better against polished marble or chilly stone.

Those who have a keen eye for detail can find great satisfaction in personalizing. There is a look for every mood from the smooth curving of a Georgian design to the clear lines of something more modern. Remember also to measure twice; grandeur loses when confined to a small nook.

Stories are told here—late-night talks, laughter falling over logs, rain drumming right outside. The fireplace is most definitely the throne if your house is your castle. Your history finds quiet residence in the Chesney surrounds.

People talk about “gathering “round the fire,” for a reason. Some things never go out of fashion.