Making the Most of Wood Burning Stoves

Interior design is changing and, if you ask me, it's about time. We're abandoning the cheap 'MDF' approach and instead opting for something a bit more classical and few things say 'classical' than solid good old fashioned wood burning stoves.

Stoves have been at the heart of the English home since time in memoriam. In ancient times they were the place where the family gathered for warmth and heat. During those cold winter months it was the lifeline for all families. Not only could it be used for cooking, but providing heat to the entire room.

These days we have central heating and a whole array of modern cooking appliance. We do not need them in the way our forebears did, but somehow a place feels much more like home with a warm wood burning stove at the centre of the living space.

What makes wood burning stoves so essential to my eyes is that they epitomize what I see as central to good old English design. They look solid and dependable - the real beating heart of any self respecting home.

They come in a number of different designs. Traditionalists will probably prefer a classical effect, but there are plenty of companies who can provide a more up to date and contemporary solution. Whichever way you go the most important thing is to make sure they are compatible with your existing design. A classical design, for example, may not fit well within a clean and contemporary environment.

If you're commissioning a specially designed stove, then it makes sense to have a consultation to work out what would work best - both from your design needs and functionality. Because, let's not forget, these are first and foremost functional items and this aspect should not be forgotten.

Like it or not utility bills are set to rise, so every household is looking for ways to reduce their energy outlay. Wood burning stoves can provide a good ongoing source of heat and reduce your reliance on your gas supplier. The benefits of that will never have been felt more keenly than this winter as home owners find themselves on the end of some quite demanding gas and electricity bills.

So as we increasingly look for ways to lighten the load on our wallets, it seems certain that more and more people will be turning to traditional, old fashioned methods, to heat their homes. The good old stove is making a come back.