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<Paragraph>On New Zealand's Kaikōura coast, a modern family home finds its centre in flame. Designed with clean lines, robust materials, and a deep connection to place, this rural build proves that a fireplace can be more than a heat source – it can be the architectural anchor around which an entire home is shaped. </Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>At the heart of it: an Escea freestanding wood fireplace.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>For homeowners, Lucy and Jeremy Steele, the decision to include a fireplace was made early – not just for warmth, but for the feeling it would bring to their family space. </Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>The <Link url="https://www.escea.com/wood-fireplaces/tfs-series/freestanding-single-sided/" target="_blank">Escea TFS1000</Link> Wood Fireplace was chosen for its combination of high heat output, refined aesthetic, and ability to integrate seamlessly into a modern, open-plan layout. Its Clean Air approval also ensured full compliance with local regulations, making it the ideal choice for their new build.</Paragraph>
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“We knew we wanted a fire that made an impact. As soon as we saw it, we didn’t look back. It’s the first thing people comment on when they walk in.”
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- Lucy Steele
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<Paragraph>With its wide glass viewing window and minimalist matte-black steel finish, the fire sits confidently. It’s not hidden or framed – it’s expressed as part of the home.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>The fireplace is offset within the wall to allow full-height glazing on one side – a move that not only lets in natural light but aligns the flue with the home’s steel window joinery for architectural clarity. </Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>Beneath the fire, a floating concrete hearth stretches the length of the room. It provides subtle visual grounding, a place to perch, and adds sculptural depth. Integrated LED lighting creates a soft glow in the evenings, making the fire feel alive, even when not in use. “I pictured sitting on the hearth with a good book, or curling up beside it in winter,” Lucy says.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>Built to handle Kaikōura’s cold winters, the <Link url="https://www.escea.com/wood-fireplaces/tfs-series/freestanding-single-sided/" target="_blank">TFS1000</Link> delivers serious warmth across the home’s expansive living space. “We use the fire every day throughout winter. It works beautifully,” Lucy says.</Paragraph>
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With Escea’s Direct Vent Technology — standard across all its wood fireplaces — the system draws combustion air directly from outside, not from inside the room. This makes it ideal for airtight or high-performance homes, eliminating cold draughts and ensuring the heat stays where it’s meant to: inside the living space.
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“We wanted the living area to be about connection,” Lucy says. “Most nights, after the kids are asleep, we’ll sit by the fire with a glass of wine and just talk. It’s warm, grounding — it really is the heart of our home.”
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The family made a deliberate choice not to include a television in their main living room — allowing the fireplace to become the focal point. Not just visually, but emotionally. In this home, the fire isn’t just functional – it’s foundational. A design decision that delivers on every level: heating performance, architecture, and atmosphere. A fireplace that does more than fill a space – it defines it.
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