Joanna Humphreys

Lighting a wood-burning stove shouldn’t feel like sorcery. That beautiful appliance in your living room is a highly efficient, low-emission heating powerhouse – but only when lit correctly. A smouldering, smoky start not only wastes fuel but also dirties your glass and harms air quality. Forget the frustration; a perfect fire is just a few […]

The humble wood burning stove has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once a purely practical appliance for heating our homes, it has now firmly established itself as a stylish, desirable centrepiece for the modern living room. The crackle of logs and the radiant warmth are timeless, but the way we design our spaces around them is […]

Picture this: it’s a chilly autumn morning, and you head to the living room, ready to light the first fire of the season. But as you approach your beautiful wood burning stove, your eager smile turns into a frown. On its surface are several patches of reddish-orange rust, marring the smooth black finish. After investing […]

Over the last decade, the living room has undergone a sleek transformation. The rise of the media wall – a custom-built feature wall designed to house a television, speakers, and often a fireplace – has turned our entertainment hubs into architectural focal points. These clean, minimalist designs eliminate clutter, hide unsightly wires, and create a […]

A stone fireplace surround does more than just frame a stove; it creates an enduring focal point, grounding your living space with natural beauty and a sense of permanence. Timeless, durable, and effortlessly elegant stone, stone is the ideal material for showcasing the comforting glow of a real fire. When it comes to premium stone, […]

There’s an undeniable romance to a Victorian fireplace. Picture it: an ornate, carved surround, a beautifully detailed tiled hearth, and a mantelpiece just waiting to be adorned with family photos and treasures. They were the heart of the Victorian home, a centrepiece for socialising and a symbol of status. However, let’s be honest – many […]

Got an old house with a grand, empty fireplace that feels more like a dusty cave than a cosy centrepiece? You must just be the lucky owner of an Inglenook fireplace. These charming, recessed hearths are brimming with character but often sit cold and unused in modern homes. If you’re staring at a bare, cavernous […]

A recent briefing from the think tank E3G in August 2025 has sparked a crucial conversation about the future of home heating in the UK. The paper, “Low Carbon, Lower Heating Bills” suggests that with the right government policies, heat pumps could potentially halve the heating bills for many households. In response, the Stove Industry […]

A wood-burning stove is more than just a source of heat; it’s the heart of the home, a natural focal point that draws the eye and creates an inviting atmosphere. The mantelpiece and the wall above it are prime real estate for expressing your personal style. However, unlike a standard gas or electric fire, decorating […]

When the evenings start drawing in and there’s a definite chill in the air, you know autumn has arrived. We start swapping our garden chairs for cosy armchairs and our summer salads for hearty stews. It’s a natural shift towards cosier living, and our homes should reflect that. You’ve probably seen the ‘autumn house’ trend […]