Interior Style Ideas... For Your Dream Home

Bachelor Boy in the City

When City boy Ross Walker, 29, received his first big bonus since buying his sleek bachelor pad in east London, he was keen to spend some of his hard earned cash on his new home.

Trouble was, he couldn’t decide what to do. Fortunately, his stylish girlfriend Helena, 26, was on hand to suggest he install a modern fire.

The October nights were getting nippy and Helena reckoned it would make Ross’s minimalist flat much cosier during the winter. Ross loved the idea, and according to Helena, he even believed it was all his own.

"I just thought a fire would be a really cool thing to have in my city flat" said Ross. "I grew up in a big Victorian house and in the winter we always had a real fire going. I love the smell and the atmosphere."

As Ross didn’t know anything about modern fires, he had no idea what might be possible.

"I talked to Helena about installing a fire and she thought it was a great idea. She really helped me get it all together, actually. I didn’t even have a fireplace, let alone a chimney, and I honestly didn’t even think it would be possible, but Helena was pretty confident."

"Being Danish and working as a model, Helena travels a lot, especially in Scandinavia. She had seen some really innovative fires in hip hotels there and she had some styles in mind."

Helena was also studying the History of Architecture part-time. Inspired by modernism and the Bauhaus movement, she introduced Ross to designers such as Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe.

As a result of all she’d seen and learned, Helena was confident that even with no chimney , Ross would be able to get the perfect fire to complement the sleek minimalist chic of his bachelor pad.

Ross admits "I really didn’t have a clue to begin with. But now, I’ve gained quite a bit of knowledge and I’ve been pretty amazed by what I’ve learned."

Once Ross clapped eyes on the diverse range of fires available these days, he had very clear ideas about the type of thing he wanted.

"My huge widescreen plasma television is my pride and joy, so I was stoked to find a range of modern fires called widescreen. I couldn’t believe it. I walked into the fireplace showroom and found these fires which get built right into your wall, at any height you like, and they’re the same size and shape as a plasma screen."

"As soon as I saw those fires looking so sleek and modern mounted on the showroom wall, I decided that was what I wanted."

Even as he explains the technology behind flueless fires, Ross’s excitement is palpable.

"I was worried about not having a chimney, but the style I wanted is flueless, which means that you don’t need a chimney at all. Amazing. So I installed the fire on my living room wall, directly opposite my widescreen TV. It’s like a mirror image - it looks brilliant."

And as Ross found out, a widescreen, wall-mounted fire can even compete with the plasma television for attention:

"When the fire’s blazing, the flames look brilliant. I find it really relaxing to watch the fire, almost like I would watch the television! It’s even got a remote control!"

Ross was really impressed with the speed and ease of the whole process too. From the birth of the initial idea, to the finished article, took just a few weeks.

Ross and Helena were relaxing by the fire in no time.

"It’s definitely one of my better ideas" says Ross, but as Helena digs him playfully in the ribs, he remembers his manners.

"Well, actually, all credit goes to Helena, as it was actually her idea! I really appreciate everything she’s done for me."

"I know I’m a lucky man."