Gone are the days of heating the tea kettle over an open fire. Before the prevalence of central heating and gas stoves, one of the first things we did upon waking was to light the fire in the kitchen. Life revolved around the heat and light that the fireplace provided and the kitchen was the place to be. Today’s kitchen can still enjoy a roaring fire and indeed, fireplaces are finding a renewed place of honor in the most modern kitchens.
Gas
With options of gas and electric, fireplaces are being installed in all rooms of the house, including the kitchen. Gas fireplaces are a favorite for kitchen installs because of their safety and versatility. Gas fireplaces can be vented horizontally through the nearest wall and are sealed, making them less of a carbon monoxide hazard. The gas fireplace is convenient, and low maintenance and for these reasons, are the popular choice for homeowners, when it comes time to install a fireplace in the kitchen. The choice to install two- and even three-sided fireplaces is becoming increasingly more popular. Kitchens are often central to the home and the fireplace can be shared with multiple rooms. The heat that a gas fireplace creates will fill a room while the wood fireplace creates radiant heat that only heats the immediate area around the fire.
Electric
While gas fireplaces are easy to vent, they do require a natural gas hookup. If one isn’t available, an electric fireplace is your best bet. As with the gas fireplace in the kitchen, the electric fireplace is versatile. They can be placed anywhere with an electrical outlet. Electric fireplaces have come a long way since their inception. The electric fireplaces of today, provide a much more realistic look and feel. Some models will simply provide ambiance while others are fitted with a heater, making your beautiful kitchen fireplace, a heat source. Both gas and electric heat is convected which makes for a more efficient heat source than its wood counterpart.
Wood
While installing a gas or electric fireplace in your kitchen may provide convenience, there is nothing like the crackle of a roaring fire that only a wood fireplace can give you. If you are looking to install a wood fireplace in your kitchen for the purposes of cooking, the added work, (and there is a ton of it) can be well worth it.
After the wood is chopped and lugged into the house, the fire built, and the food cooked over an open flame, you will have surely worked up an appetite. A wood burning stove or fireplace in the kitchen will not only make great pizza but heat your space for hours. Installing a wood burning fireplace in the kitchen, will require room. Not only will room be needed for the fireplace, but a storage space will need to be created for the wood. Wood burning fireplaces can be messy. For those who have come to love their kitchen fireplace, it is a small price to pay for the authentic look and feel of real wood burning in the kitchen.
Your kitchen space and budget will surely be the main determining factor in your choice of kitchen fireplace. Good planning and a consultation with the professionals will ensure you make the right choice.
If you would like any more information on a kitchen redesign that includes a fireplace Contact The Wright Kitchen.