In the foothills of Kaikōura, 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.
At the heart of it: an Escea freestanding wood fireplace.
This Kaikōura home balances rugged surroundings with minimalist architectural intent featuring the Escea TFS1000 Freestanding Wood Fireplace.
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. The Escea TFS1000 was chosen for its combination of high heat output, refined aesthetic, and ability to integrate seamlessly into a modern, open-plan layout.
“We knew we wanted a fire that made an impact,” says Lucy. “As soon as we saw it, we didn’t look back. It’s the first thing people comment on when they walk in.”
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.
Precision in placement — the exposed flue aligns with steel joinery, reinforcing the home’s clean architectural lines.
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.
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 underneath 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.
The floating hearth doubles as a sculptural ledge where an Escea freestanding wood fireplace features.
Built to handle Kaikōura’s cold winters, the TFS1000 delivers serious warmth across the home’s expansive living space.
“We use the fire every day throughout winter. It works beautifully,” Lucy says.
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, helping prevent cold draughts and ensuring the heat stays where it’s meant to: inside the living space.
Famed for its wide glass viewing window and matte black steel finish, Escea's TFS100 sits atop of the textured concrete hearth.
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.
“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.”
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.
Explore the Escea TFS Series and discover how modern wood fireplaces can transform not just your space — but the way you live.
