Modern Fireplace Ideas & Amazing Stove Designs for Your Self Build or Renovation

We round up a selection of innovative and stylish modern fireplace ideas that’ll keep your home cosy, and speak to the experts about whether a electric fireplace or log burner could be the right fit for your scheme

by Sander Tel

30th November 2024

Looking for modern fireplace ideas? Fireplaces and stoves are most commonly associated with traditional homes that ooze period charm or farmhouse cosiness. However, this long-standing focal feature doesn’t always have to look classic – you can introduce the character that a natural flame brings with a contemporary appliance and put your own individual stamp on your home decor.

From dual-sided modern fireplaces that can be integrated with broken-plan schemes, through to the ultra-sleek suspended fires that will add a wealth of wow factor to your living space, here I’m exploring the best modern fireplace ideas and amazing stove designs to help you specify the best solution for your home.

Triple-Sided Modern Fireplace Ideas

With a considered design, your fireplace can become a wow-factor architectural element that contributes to your home’s aesthetic. This self build in Cornwall, designed by ARCO2 Architecture, features bright, open-plan zones to capture the spectacular coastal views.

Photo: Matthew Heritage

Incorporated as part of a broken-plan scheme, the striking modern open fireplace can be enjoyed from both the kitchen and snug.

Create a Modern Fireplace with a Suspended Centrepiece

Looking to create a dramatic, stylish statement with your modern fireplace ideas? Hanging fires offer guaranteed wow factor and will make a smart addition to an open-plan living space. These appliances are hung from the ceiling, rather than secured to the floor or wall, which means you’ll have ultimate flexibility regarding where your unit is placed.

Seen here is the stunning Onyx Orbit ceiling-hung electric fire. Shown with a 1.6m flue pipe (£765) and flat ceiling mounting assembly (£155), this model starts at £3,565.

EXPERT VIEW Designing a media wall

Michael Coke from Stovax Heating Group takes a look at how to design the perfect media wall:

A media wall is a modern and multifunctional feature, designed to combine entertainment, storage and aesthetic elements into one cohesive unit. They typically incorporate a television and a fireplace, which is surrounded by shelving, cabinets, or decorative elements.

The benefits of a media wall extend beyond just housing a TV. They’re usually chosen by homeowners looking to create an inviting focal point, efficiently utilising space while offering a media-centred experience. Media walls can be designed to complement the room’s decor, making a statement feature that enhances the overall interior, whilst also offering a practical solution to housing everything needed for a modern home cinema. Some media walls even include integrated lighting systems to illuminate areas of the centrepiece.

For those looking to incorporate a fireplace into their media wall, Gazco’s selection of electric fireplaces are a great solution. This collection of media wall electric fires seamlessly blends with the user’s lifestyle and offers a range of sizes to suit many TV screen configurations – like the eStudio 135R which is recommended for use with a 50-65” TV.

Above: Gazco’s eStudio 135R electric fireplace makes the perfect addition to a media wall

Gazco eStudio electric fires also have a slimmer depth than many other electric log burners, making them even more appealing where floor space is limited. This range offers a host of energy-saving and eco features such as Open Window Detection, or even daily and weekly programming to adjust to your specific lifestyle.

Mike Coke is biomass & electric development manager for Stovax Heating Group, one of the UK’s leading stove and fireplace manufacturers.

Specify a Cylindrical Modern Log Burner

Your stove or fire’s shape can have a big impact on the overall space – from cylindrical to cubic or rectangular models, there’s plenty of options.

Jotul’s F171 cylindrical woodburning stove has a 5kW heat output and uses Zensoric technology – a sensor that monitors the temperature in the stove and adjusts air flow accordingly to optimise the wood’s combustion process. From £3,082.50 + VAT.

Multifunctional Stove Idea

Consider the different functions that your stove can perform when researching log burner ideas to ensure you’re maximising its use. Mendip Stoves’ Loxton 3 cooktop woodburner combines a traditional stove design with a simple cast iron cooktop, with an extended plate to keep meals or drinks warm.

Boasting an A+ energy rating and a 4kW nominal output, it’s available with or without a log store and is perfect for cooking without gas or electricity. From £1,129.

Create a Broken-Plan Scheme with a Modern Fireplace

A modern fireplace can be used to break up a larger zone with a full-height dividing wall – creating ambience while adding a standout feature to the room. As seen in this setup, the DRU Virtuo 100/3 Evolve electric fire perfectly separates a dining and living space without sacrificing daylight.

This design has a three-sided, realistic log fire display, anti-reflective glass and a fire bed of glowing embers. It can be operated by remote control, too, with a selection of flame colours and effects available. From £4,295.

EXPERT VIEW Incorporating modern fireplace ideas into your interior scheme

Ian Armstrong, director at ARCO2 Architecture, shares how you can maximise the design potential of a modern stove or fireplace

Establish your design intentions

It’s wise to start by assessing your project goals. For example, one of the main considerations when planning a low-energy project is whether you actually need any additional heat or if you’re specifying a fire for the wow-factor value or ambience. In some other schemes, the fire or stove is the main source of heat in the living areas.

Consider the different options

There are many different modern fireplace ideas and stove design options available, so you’ll be able to find the perfect solution for your individual scheme. Consider single-sided models that have an open fire, or a two- or three-sided design to maximise the fire’s presence in your room.

Freestanding designs, or those that are suspended from the ceiling, are flexible as to where you place them – within reason – and they can be used to stylishly divide up a larger, open-plan space. Your choice of design will depend largely on the amount of room on offer, where in the space makes sense to position the fireplace and what your budget is. Heat output, ongoing maintenance and convenience should all be considered, too.

Creating wow factor with modern fireplace ideas

You can go for an inset model to create a minimalist look, or freestanding to really show off the fireplace and create a dramatic feature. Consider choosing a brightly-coloured design to make more of a focal point when the unit isn’t lit. Many models also have complementary surrounds to provide different visual dynamics, which will add to the fire’s overall presence in the space. Stone, slate or metal casing can be quite dramatic, too, and can help turn the fire into an architectural feature.

Contemporary Media Wall Ideas

A media wall is a modern and multifunctional feature that combines entertainment, storage and aesthetic elements into one cohesive unit. They usually incorporate a television and a fireplace, surrounded by shelving, cabinets or decorative ornaments.

This Gazco eStudio 135R electric fire has been installed alongside a TV and built-in shelving unit to create a functional and stylish media wall scheme. Shown with an optional birch log effect (£175) this model starts at £1,599.

Bold & Colourful Modern Log Burner Ideas

For something showstopping, colourful stoves are a way to make even a more traditional design look contemporary. Modern doesn’t have to mean minimalist. If you’re one for a bright and bold aesthetic, incorporating a pop of colour into your home through your stove is a way of turning the traditional into something contemporary.

Hamlet 5 Solution, Arada

Pictured here in Flamingo pink, this Arada woodburner also comes in Miami blue, Peapod green and Raincoat yellow. Why not team it with a creative paint scheme, too?

Choose a Modern Freestanding Fireplace Design

A freestanding fireplace is the perfect way to delineate your interior spaces with a focal feature – ideal for those looking to incorporate modern fireplace ideas into their house layout. Pictured here is Charlton & Jenrick’s iRange i1000e Deep Electric Fire, designed into a plinth structure that acts as a neat, multifunctional display unit.

The fire features a one-metre-wide display, ultra-realistic flame effects and customisable LED mood lighting. With multiple flame settings and a deep fuel bed, it creates a stunning centrepiece in any room. Easy to install, it offers a 2kW maximum heat output and so is ideal for modern interiors. From £1,599.

EXPERT VIEW How will fuel type affect my fireplace design?

Michael Coke, from Stovax & Gazco, takes a look at how to choose the right fuel type for your stove and how this can impact your design

Solid fuel stoves and fires come in two main varieties: dedicated woodburners, which burn only logs, and multi-fuel appliances, which can burn both logs and smokeless fuels. These options offer a wide array of design styles, making them highly desirable for those seeking both atmosphere and aesthetics. Woodburning stoves are also often considered an attractive, eco-conscious choice for those looking to reduce their home’s carbon footprint.

Solid fuel When considering solid fuel appliances, it’s important to check for any local smoke control regulations. Fortunately, many stoves and fires are approved for use in smoke control areas, meaning even urban homeowners can enjoy the warmth and ambience of a real flame with the right exemption. A qualified installer will also ensure that your product adheres to the manufacturer’s instructions on clearances to combustibles, providing a safe installation.

Gas If you’re leaning towards gas, the latest gas stoves and fires offer incredibly realistic flames that mimic the appearance of an authentic woodburning fire. With designs ranging from traditional to contemporary, these appliances offer great performance without sacrificing style. One benefit of gas, beyond convenience, is that many models are available as balanced flue versions, which negates the need for a chimney.

A balanced flue gas fire or stove instead requires a twin-wall pipe to vent directly through an outside wall. Air for combustion is drawn in through the outer pipe whilst the inner pipe removes the combustion gases to the exterior of the property.

Electric For those prioritising ease of installation and flexibility, electric stoves and fires are a perfect solution. Requiring only a standard three-pin socket, electric fires can be installed almost anywhere in your home, providing instant, localised heat while creating a stunning focal point. Many electric fires are also now incorporated into media wall installations, creating a central hub for entertainment and often paired with LED mood lighting. Whichever fuel type you opt for, it’s essential to consider the heat output required for your space. An expert will help you make the right choice.

Consider Inset Fireplace Ideas

If you’re after a more modest design, or are limited with internal space, an inset fire could be a great option. Boasting an innovative and efficient heat convection system, easy-to-use controls and a tertiary burn system to improve efficiency, the multi-fuel iSeries Cassette from Arada ensures homeowners get the most out of their fuel.

A two-position door mechanism assists cold lighting and an internal flue fitting guarantees a clean, modern aesthetic. From £1,830 incl VAT.

Dual-Sided Modern Fireplace Ideas

With dual- and multi-sided designs, the stove or fire insert will have a glass front on more than one aspect. For instance, fire inserts can be built into a double-breasted chimney or wall with the glass fronts visible from either side, creating a ‘through view’.

A multi-faceted design can also be achieved using a fire insert placed at the edge of the wall, where the front and side windows are visible. Double-fronted stoves can deliver the look in a freestanding appliance.

If you’re using a dividing wall to create a broken-plan living arrangement, consider incorporating a dual-sided fire – such as this electric tunnel model from Solution Fires. The glass fronts on either side of the wall allow the room’s separate zones to benefit from just one fire.

Additional content by Georgina Crothers.