A Chesneys stove ignites new life into any room, but it’s in living rooms and kitchens where stoves often take pride of place in most homes.

If you’re thinking about investing in one, whether wood burning, gas, or multi-fuel, working out where you can install it is the first consideration you, realistically, need to make. Within this, there are a few key elements to think about. Here, we’ll break them down to give you all the information you need to decide which location is best for you: living room or kitchen. Wherever you choose to install your stove, you can be sure it will be a timeless addition to any interior.

A STOVE IN THE LIVING ROOM:

For many, a perfect night at home involves cosy evenings curled up on the sofa, kicking back in front of a roaring fire. It’s an irresistible thought, particularly as winter sets in and the days get colder. Combined with plush settees, soft cushions and your favourite people around you, there’s nothing quite like the warm glow of a lit stove at the end of a long day.

That’s why having a wood burning, multi-fuel or gas stove that stands proudly in the living room is a choice few regret. When considering doing the same, however, it’s important to think about how it will work and look before you introduce a stove in your living space.

INSTALLATION

Firstly, do you already have a fireplace in your living room, and is there a chimney attached? If the fireplace is old or hasn’t been lit for a while, it will likely need to be reinstated. You should also sweep the chimney before the installation and check for structural integrity: free from cracks and blockages, for example.

If you’re intending on fitting the stove as a direct replacement for an open fire, then we always advise a chimney sweep one month after installation to clear any soot falls which may have occurred due to stove and open fire combustion differences. We also highly recommend that your existing chimney is lined with a good quality 316 grade flexible liner, this will last for decades and remove the possibility of the products of combustion seeping through a deteriorating brick chimney.

As well as giving you a practical use for an original feature, however, restoring a fireplace to its former glory with a stove may add significant value to your home.

If your home hasn’t come with a fireplace and chimney, however, fear not: a living room stove is still in sight. It’s possible to install both external chimneys — through a twin wall-pipe flue system — and traditional through-the-roof chimneys in most homes. Both are safe options. This gives you the freedom of choosing the materials, style and overall look of the hearth for your stove. You can find out more on installation requirements here.

DESIGN

Happily, Chesneys stoves come in a range of designs and colours to suit every design theme; from contemporary to modern to traditional. As such, design concerns usually revolve around how your living room is currently laid out. Both small and large living rooms can benefit from the character a stove adds, however. As such, depending on how you’ve decorated your room and what you use it for, it may be necessary to rethink the layout of your living room’s furniture so the stove can take centre stage. A stove will always be a focal point of a room, so can a few simple rearrangements help compliment this?

THE VERDICT

Experimenting with furniture placements can maximise a stove’s aesthetic impact and give the room more structure, but you should also keep in mind how feasible it is for you to install one. Do you have an existing chimney and is it structurally sound? If so, and you feel a stove will enhance the aesthetic of the living room, then this is an ideal solution — especially if this the room you spend most of your time in.

A STOVE IN THE KITCHEN:

If the kitchen is the heart of your home, installing your stove there represents a logical decision. Families and friends often congregate in the kitchen to socialise and relax; welcoming people to the comfort of a warm fire whilst awaiting a home cooked meal.

INSTALLATION

Should your kitchen have an existing fireplace, as is the case with many period properties and traditional homes, it’s a characterful feature to restore it to its former glory to surround your new stove. Combining a classically-styled original fireplace with the modern appeal of a contemporary wood-burning or multi-fuel stove will instantly imbue your kitchen with a traditional cottage feel, as well as adding warmth and comfort to your space.

However, if your kitchen is a modern extension with no existing flue system, the same installation requirements as mentioned above apply. You will either need to install a twin flue pipe that either rises up through the kitchen or through an external wall. How easy and, importantly, desirable this will be entirely depends on the structure of your home, so we would always recommend discussing with an expert first.

DESIGN

Perhaps even more so than living rooms, it’s essential to think carefully about the layout of your kitchen before installing your new wood-burning, multi-fuel or gas stove. Kitchens are often smaller than living rooms or filled with units and appliances that reduce the space for your stove.

THE VERDICT

Again, it entirely depends on how your kitchen is built, but if there is an existing fireplace then installing a stove should be no problem whatsoever. If there isn’t, then you need to look at what you use your kitchen for. If you host and spend most of your time there, then considering an external chimney installation that fits an eye-catching wood burner could be worth looking into.

Remember, a stove demands attention: it’s the focal point. Therefore the room that you spend the most of your time in, and where you like to spend time with your friends, should be the one to consider installing a stove in.

Whether you choose to place your stove in a living room or kitchen — even in an open-plan living room/kitchen — Chesneys have a range of options to suit every style and taste. You can discover our full range of multi-fuel and wood burning stoves here, or just head to your nearest stockist to explore the possibilities in person.

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If you need more information or some assistance making a selection from our large range of products, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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