The Journal
Advice from the fireplace makers
Honest guidance on choosing, measuring and living with a fireplace, written by the people who make them. Marble, stone, stoves and fires, with no showroom sales pressure.
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Choosing a stone dining table: shape, size and everyday space
Think beyond the tabletop when choosing a dining table. Chairs, walkways and the base all affect how comfortably it fits into your home.
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Electric fireplace suites: a focal point for a plain wall
A suite brings the fire and stonework together as one feature. Compare the shape, position and finish before deciding what suits your living room.
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Replacing a fireplace surround around an existing electric fire
If you still like your electric fire, a new surround may be enough to change the room. A Solihull project shows how a bespoke design can work.
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Fireplace surrounds: traditional or contemporary?
Arches, straight lines and mantel details all change the feel of a fireplace. Here is how to choose a surround that belongs in your room.
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Media wall fireplaces: getting it right in the Midlands
What a media wall fireplace is, why an electric fire suits it, and how to plan proportions, cabling and a stone surround before the plasterer arrives.
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Made to measure vs off the shelf fireplaces
The real difference between off the shelf and made to measure fireplaces, when each one makes sense, and why we cut ours to your room in our own workshop.
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Marble vs limestone fireplace: which is right for you?
An honest comparison of marble and limestone fireplaces from our Solihull workshop: look, feel, durability, care and cost character, and how to choose for your room.
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How to measure your chimney breast for a fireplace
A plain guide to measuring a chimney breast for a fireplace: the key sizes to take, why made-to-measure frees you from standard sizes, and the common mistakes to avoid.
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What to expect from a fireplace showroom near Birmingham
A calm, honest look at what a proper fireplace showroom visit is like, from seeing real marble to talking with the people who make it.
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Fireplaces in Solihull: a local buyer's guide
A plain guide to buying a made-to-measure marble or stone fireplace in Solihull, from seeing real stone in your own light to the local design-and-fit process.
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Fireplace ideas for a living room
Practical, tasteful fireplace ideas for a living room: a marble surround focal point, a media wall electric fire, a calm limestone surround or a stove in a chamber.
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Choosing a fireplace colour and finish
How the same fireplace design changes in cream limestone, white marble or dark veined marble, and how to choose a finish for your room's light.
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Quartz vs marble fireplace: which should you choose?
Quartz is engineered, hard-wearing and low maintenance. Marble is natural, veined and characterful. Here is how to choose between them for your home.
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Gas vs electric fire: which suits your fireplace?
An honest gas vs electric fire comparison for your fireplace opening: real flame and heat against flexible siting and media-wall friendliness, and how we build the surround to suit either.
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How to care for a marble fireplace
Simple, honest advice on cleaning and caring for a marble fireplace, from everyday dusting to spills, sealing and heat, so it lasts for generations.
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Made to measure fireplaces: what it really means
What a made to measure fireplace actually involves, why buying from the manufacturer changes the result, and how the process works from first measurement to fitted.
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