45 Years Of Corian

Invented and produced by DuPont, Corian® is a solid surface offering superior design possibilities and excellent long-term performance, used both in the home and in many different commercial environments, from hotels to healthcare, retail to marine.
With its balance of beauty and performance, Corian® lends itself to imaginative uses, innovative designs and enduring applications.
If you can imagine it, you can probably create it with Corian®. Available in over 100 colours, Corian® can be carved, routed or worked like wood, moulded, thermoformed or inlayed… the design options are almost limitless, but enough of the endless possibilities that Corian® can be used for, we're going to look at just one, and one fire manufacturer that have created arguably one of the most popular fires of the last few years.

In April this year Corian® will celebrate it's 45th year. almost half a century of creating everything from kitchen worktops, to pieces of modern art and even gas and electric fires. With this milestone in mind we showcase just how one fire manufacturer showcases this amazing material.
Brilliant Fires are the only manufacturer to take advantage of the versatile material, creating stunning fires from the Brilliant NewDawn-E, a breath-taking electric fire with a flame effect that is totally unique and almost without competition in terms of authentic appearance, to the Ledge suite, combining this stunning material with a beautiful hole-in-the-wall style fireplace

The Brilliant Ledge is a Simple yet chic fireplace design and makes a bold statement without being over the top. Boasting fully automatic remote control as standard and makes a stunning focal point in any room. While the choice of Corian® finishes allows you to choose a colour that contrasts or complements existing decor. The 2.7kW heat output means this fire will give you that warm glow in an evening and help keep that cold edge off long after the central heating has turned off.

Another model in the Brilliant range that showcases a stunning Corian® fascia is the NewDawn and Brilliant NewDawn-E. These stunning fires combine the stunning Corian® fascia of the Ledge and Slab ranges with a simple Hole-In-The-Wall style finish to create a highly desirable finish that can be tempered to your colour scheme.


The micro-chip controlled LED flame effect eliminates the need for ribbons and fans that add to the depth of the fire, meaning the Newdawn-E is a mere 75mm deep, approximately half the depth of a majority of the other electric fires on the market, but this depth doesn't detract from the heat output, offering 2kWof fan heat blowing from the bottom, meaning it may be possible to install underneath a television, but it may be worth double checking with the tv manufacturer first, just to be on the safe side.


All of these fires are available in over 100 different colours of Corian® finishes, allowing you to go for a neutral colour to complement existing decor, or to contrast, creating a bold design statement and drawing maximum attention to your fire.

Is our long love affair with the fireplace bad news for the planet?

Chris Bowlby examines Britain's attachment to the fireplace and its impact on the climate.

In the debate over how to reduce our carbon emissions, much is made of areas like transport and power generation. But energy use in the home – which also has a substantial impact on emissions – has received less attention in policy-making and public debate. And there may be good historical reasons for this.

Previous attempts to reduce our energy use at home reveal a fascinating mix of factors – from Victorian scare stories to the public’s deep-seated fear of the unknown – that make pushing through environmental changes such an arduous task.

Dr Stephen Mosley of Leeds Metropolitan University has researched widely in the history of air pollution in Britain, and one of his central themes is the intense British relationship with the domestic coal fire.

The noxious environment of Britain’s urban centres wasn’t just caused by industry, but also by domestic heating. Yet while factory chimneys became symbols of pollution, coal fires were little blamed. The ‘homely hearth’, notes Dr Mosley, was the centrepiece of most homes, “the hub around which family life revolved”. Or as a German diplomat put it in 1904: “The fireplace is the domestic altar before which, daily and hourly, he sacrifices to the household gods. This is why the English have never thought, and will never think, of relinquishing the fireplace.”

So just as today’s governments are reluctant to declare war on the car for environmental reasons, so Victorianand Edwardian governments, says Dr Mosley, “similarly feared the repercussions of passing legislation that interfered with the citizen’s freedom to enjoy the hugely popular institution of the open coal fire”.

Popular Victorian scientific theories simply reinforced our attachment to the fireplace. ‘Re-breathed air’ in occupied rooms was assumed by many to contain putrefying ‘animal refuse matter’, a kind of organic poison. The fireplace, with its brisk ventilation, was seen as an often include provision for a “woodburning stove”.

So we are left today with much housing stock that is highly energy inefficient, as small numbers of solar panels are stuck on draughty Victorian and Edwardian buildings. And many of their occupants remain reluctant to accept official advice on saving energy and using renewable sources – and question the science on which such advice is based.

Climate change campaigners now face similar challenges to those who led the crusade against coal fire pollution. A lesson from history, suggests Stephen Mosley, is that “persuasion doesn’t always work”. In the battle for what we might call hearths and minds, it is carbon more than cleaner energy that has truly fired the domestic imagination.

But it's not all bad news, while an open chimney can be drafty and help carry incredible amounts of heat out of the room and into the atmosphere, this doesnt meant we should block it off and just rely on central heating and replace it with a television (something that has become all too common), with High Efficiency gas fires (or even balanced flue is it's an outside wall) the amount of heat escaping is dramatically reduced while also reducing the cost of heating the home.

Laura Ashley Fireplaces

With the help of Katell Fireplaces, Laura Ashley has now produced a complete range of Fires and Fireplaces, to match there world renowned Laura Ashley designs. These fireplaces are fast becoming one of the most popular names in Modern home design. Have a look if any of the above designs catch your eye, no doubt there will be several.

All now available direct from the UK's Best showroomFireplace Megastore, Chester

• Laura Ashley Acacia Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Acacia electric fireplace suite available in 2 finishes, Natural Oak and Chestnut. 1 size only. Features a matching inset electric fire
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• Laura Ashley Azalea Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Azalea electric fireplace suite available in 2 finishes, Natural Oak and Chestnut. 1 size only. Features a matching inset electric fire
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• Laura Ashley Camellia Stone Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Camellia Stone Fireplace Surround is a traditional fire surround available in Portugese Limestone or Mocha Beige Marble, 51" Shelf, Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.
• Laura Ashley Fuchsia Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Fuchsia Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround available in Antiqued Ivory Finish, available in 1 size and Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.
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• Laura Ashley Hampton Electric Fire
  Laura Ashley Hampton electric fire is a 1.5Kw inset electric fire in brass and black or chrome and brushed steel effect finish, thermostatic control, coal fuel effect, manual & remote control

• Laura Ashley Hampton Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Hampton Gas Fire is a modern gas fire, coal or pebble fuel effect, manual control, Brass or Chrome finish, suitable for class 1 & 2 prefabricated flues with a maximum heat output of 4Kw, natural gas
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• Laura Ashley Hampton High Efficiency Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Hampton HE is a stylish gas fire with coal or pebble, choice of finishes, suitable for class 1 and 2 chimneys, prefabricated** & precast flues* with a maximum heat output of 4.4Kw and high efficiency rating of 89%
• Laura Ashley Hyacinth Fireplace Wood Surround
  Laura Ashley Hyacinth Fireplace is a modern fire surround available in 2 finishes, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Iris Wood Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Iris Wood Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround available in 4 different finishes, 52" Top shelf, Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Jasmine Fireplace
• Laura Ashley Jasmine Fireplace is a modern fire surround available in Natural Oak or Chestnut, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Lily Fireplace
  Laura Ashley Lily Fireplace is a modern fire surround available in 2 finishes, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Lotus Mirrored Hang on the Wall Electric Fire
  Laura Ashley Lotus Mirrored Hang on the Wall Electric Fire for stylish room with a space saving off the floor design

• Laura Ashley Lucerne Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Lucerne electric fireplace suite available in 2 finishes, Natural Oak and Chestnut. 1 size only. Features a matching electric fire

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• Laura Ashley Malvern Electric Fire Laura Ashley Malvern electric fire is a 1.5Kw inset electric fire in brass and black or chrome and brushed steel effect finish, thermostatic control, coal fuel effect, manual & remote control

• Laura Ashley Malvern Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Malvern Gas Fire is a modern gas fire, coal or pebble fuel effect, manual control, brass or chrome finish, suitable for class 1 & 2 prefabricated flues with a maximum heat output of 4Kw, natural gas

• Laura Ashley Malvern High Efficiency Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Malvern HE is a stylish gas fire with coal or pebble, choice of finishes, suitable for class 1 and 2 chimneys, prefabricated** & precast flues* with a maximum heat output of 4.4Kw and high efficiency rating of 89%
• Laura Ashley Mulberry Wood Fireplace Surround
  Laura Ashley Mulberry Wood Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround available in Portugese Limestone or Mocha Beige Marble, available in 1 size, Suitable for use with most gas and electric fires.

• Laura Ashley Orchid Electric Fireplace Suite
  Laura Ashley Orchid Electric Fireplace Suite, Antique Ivory finish. A choice of back panels effects, black Granite or Antique Ivory. A choice of hearths effects, black Granite or Antique Ivory

• Laura Ashley Primrose Wooden Surround
  Laura Ashley Wooden Surround is a modern fire surround available in 2 finishes, 1 size only, suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 24 / 76mm rebate
• Laura Ashley Tatton Electric Fire
  Laura Ashley Tatton Electric Fire is a 1.5Kw inset electric fire in brass and black or chrome and brushed steel effect finish, thermostatic control, coal fuel effect, manual & remote control
• Laura Ashley Tatton Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Tatton Gas Fire is a modern gas fire, coal or pebble fuel effect, manual control, brass or chrome finish, suitable for class 1 & 2 prefabricated flues with a maximum heat output of 4Kw, natural gas
• Laura Ashley Tatton HE Gas Fire
  Laura Ashley Tatton HE is a stylish gas fire with coal or pebble, choice of finishes, suitable for class 1 and 2 chimneys, prefabricated** & precast flues* with a maximum heat output of 4.4Kw and high efficiency rating of 89%
• Laura Ashley Wisteria Stone Surround
  Laura Ashley Wisteria Micro Marble Fireplace Surround is a modern fire surround in Mocha beige marble or Portuguese marble effect, available in 1 size, Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires

Be Modern Fireplaces

Be Modern produce some brilliant fires and fireplaces that vary from style to style so that everyone will be able to find a product that they like and they think would look good in their home. They also use some of the best materials around such as the beautiful natural white marble that is available in some of the surrounds on offer. The styles that Be Modern use varies from traditional to contemporary to modern and they make sure that everyone of them is created to the highest standard.

The Fires that Be Modern has on offer are available in gas and electric and vary in finishes from chrome to brass. They have a large range of fires to make sure that the customer can find the perfect one to go with either an existing fireplace or when buying a new one.

The Electric Suites that Be Modern have on offer provide the customer with every style of design from very traditional designs such as the Eden fireplace suite, to very modern design, for example the Ellison suite. The majority of these designs would look good in any home and most of them producing a maximum heat output of 2Kw. These are all simple installations as it’s all in one box and all that needs to be done is plug it in and you’re away.

Be Modern create some very nice fire surrounds that would look good in any home, the majority of these being made from some of the best materials available. The designs are originally made and have some unique technology such as the Smartsense lighting which eliminates the need for any buttons or any trailing wires.

Overall Be Modern fires are an ideal choice for anyone mainly because of the sheer choice that they have on offer and the different varieties of fires and fireplaces. Whatever you are looking for Be Modern will have something to match your tastes. They are also available at very low prices have a look at FireplaceSupermarket.com.

Bemodern Dante Natural White Marble Electric Fire

Bemodern Monterrey 8 Electric Stove

Bemodern Dante Curved Black Glass Electric Fire

Bemodern Dante Black Granite Electric Fire

Bemodern Dante Stainless Steel Electric Fire

Bemodern Monterrey 4 Electric Stove

Global Marble

Global Marble and Granite, and mare made of high quality materials sourced worldwide, finished to a high standard.

Their materials range from natural marbles, slate, granite and something that is called micro agglomerate marble.

Micro agglomerate marble, or micro marble, is when natural stone is crushed, then reformed with approximately 4% resin to make a stone like substance. It looks very similar to real stone, yet with micro marble it is possible to make the colour, veining and texture more constant, and thus making it an ideal material to use in the fire surround industry.

For the fireplace purchaser micro marble brings the advantages of more choice, in colour, design and availability, and a more affordable price range than similar solid stone products. There is a difference between solid stone and micro marble, obviously, and if you have a large budget then go for the real marble or stone, but these are limited in colour and texture and graining are totally controlled by Mother Nature, so finding the perfect one to fit your décor may be a problem.

Some great examples of the fireplace designs available, the Vermont fireplace, truly a grand structure, large and full of statement being well structured and having a stepped hearth shows quality in design and gives a solidness to the finish.

For a more Contemporary fire surround look for the Sparta, with its crisp and clean lines it will complement most minimalistic surroundings creating a feature in itself. With a good fire it would complement any toga party!

Why not have a look at the Portland surround, Retro styling at its best, transporting you to the past, black and white pictures, or maybe a jukebox- Happy days!

One of the best selling would be the Millennium Fireplace. This surround would look at home with modern or traditional surroundings. In Napoli Beige it has a real marble look and colouring to it. The Millennium Fireplace from Global Marble is finished beautifully with a curved arch outset styling which makes it a must for modern homes.

With many different colours, styles and designs, the micro marble is quite a wonder, and should be considered when purchasing a surround. They certainly add a different aspect to the more common wooden surrounds and appear to be more affordable than the solid stone surrounds. Global Marble at Fireplace Megastore

GB Mantels Fireplaces

GB Mantels produce some high quality surrounds made from a range of different materials and available in a wide range of finishes so that the user can really choose how they want their surround to look. GB Mantels have separated all of their products into different collections; Solid Pine, Cosmopolitan, Capital, Solid Oak, Metropolitan and the Classic Collection. Each collection has its own products and its own style of finishes which vary from a MDF wood veneer to a solid wood surround. Some of the best looking surrounds are in the Cosmopolitan Collection because they come with two finishes on each surround. The surround is made with a contemporary collection of American Walnut and Clear Oak. The finishes together provide a different contrast to the normal surrounds that are available.

The Best made surrounds are in the Solid Oak Collection which are made from natural woods and GB Mantels state that no surrounds will look the same because of the different grains from the natural woods.

The majority of the surrounds that GB Mantels creates are suitable for Gas and Electric fires which again provide the user with even more choice about how they set up their fireplace. Each GB Mantel comes with the choice to include a back panel and hearth to make sure that it fits correctly.

GB Mantels have made sure that there are plenty of different styles available to make sure that there is a fireplace surround available for everyone. My own personal top 5 surrounds from GB Mantels would be:

• GB Mantels Romford, contemporary design with unique finish of American Walnut and Clear Oak. Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 25/75mm rebate

• GB Mantels Perth, available in a range of finishes to the traditional styling and made from solid oak. Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 25/75mm rebate

• GB Mantels Argyle, large surround made from solid pine that would be the talking point of any room. Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 25/75mm rebate

• GB Mantels Mayfair, clean contemporary design made from solid oak strong lines and clean shape. Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 25/75mm rebate

• GB Mantels Camberley, unique design and available in a wide range of finishes with strong lines and clean wide shape. Suitable for use with most gas & electric fires with an adjustable 25/75mm rebate