The Netherlands’ Safretti makes lounging by the fire a reality — anywhere
| Text : Elizabeth Kerr | Photo : Safretti |
Nothing beats cozying up in front of a roaring fire with a good book, a glass of wine or the companion of your choice on a cold winter night. And while there may not be two metres of snow outside your window here in Hong Kong, anyone who’s spent a January trying to find a way to keep their feet toasty in a typical flat will understand just how cool it can get indoors.
An actual warming effect may be a tall order, but much of being warm is in the mind; all you need is inspiration and imagination. Dutch fireplace manufacturer Safretti designs modern fireplaces so that the lack of a chimney isn’t an obstacle. Now available at Central’s Kitchens + Interiors, Safretti’s largely decorative fireplaces are fuelled by a starch-rich plant alcohol (cane, potatoes) and are eco-friendly and soot-free. The fireplaces are suitable for flats, houses, “Anywhere, even in a hotel, where you would like to create a designer-looking, yet warm and atmospheric feature,” explains Winston Lam, owner of Kitchens + Interiors.
Created by some of Europe’s most innovative designers, among them Jan des Bouvrie Roderick Vos and Frans Schrofer, Safretti’s stylish handmade fireplaces can be wall-mounted, table-mounted or stand alone; they can go into outdoor spaces or in the room of your choice. That’s a novel idea when the fireplace is considered an immovable object that has to be built into an outside wall. Safretti’s pieces are made of non-traditional materials, so you can forget about stone, brick and ash-inducing wood.
“Fireplaces that burn with wood require a chimney, nowadays not easily available, especially in Hong Kong. We need to start using alternative sources of fuel that can be safely used indoors, like bio-ethanol,” says Lam. The time has come for a new spin on an old idea too. “People are now more design oriented, they like the idea of a fireplace and the flame, but they are really attracted to this modern and designer interpretation. [Safrettis] still retain the warm atmosphere of a traditional fireplace but add that extra style element. They are more like art pieces than ordinary fireplaces,” he continues. Even when they’re not raging infernos they’re an attractive focal point for a room, and as a bonus, they’re easy to maintain.
It may be hard to imagine a fireplace that doesn’t demand kindling, but evidently it’s possible. So how does that plant alcohol work? Lam explains. “Each burning box contains about 2 litres of fuel and can be used for 6 to 8 hours. The fuel is bio-ethanol extracted from cane and corn, it will not give off black smoke or toxic substances.” And what about outside in the wind, a valid concern in typhoon-friendly Hong Kong? “When it is used outside, the flame tends to be bigger because of the air circulation. The flames are not likely to get blown out even in windy conditions.”
If that’s not enough to convince you it may be time for an alternative mantle, 99 limited edition Gaya models designed by Vos are available right now, and a portion of the sale of each will go towards two children’s cancer charities this Christmas time — one of which is the Hong Kong Children’s Cancer Foundation. Vos’s son was diagnosed with cancer years ago, and as a way of giving back, Vos re-envisioned the signature Gaya as a way to do so. The fireplaces earmarked for Hong Kong are drawn from the 99 being made and feature as many 8s in the serial numbers as possible. Other numbers are subject to availability, and you can always make your own donation if “Gaya 38” has been sold; Safretti’s new Carre, Curva, Prometheus and Cubico remain options.
Now all you need is the bear skin rug.
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