CAMELOT FIREPLACE DESIGNS CASE STUDIES

Browse through a selection of Thermovent and Canopy with Firegrate designs we have created for clients the length and breadth of the country for inspiration and see a fireplace picture showing the final result. These beautfiul open fires were all created by hand in response to our conversations with each client, often using our design sketches to clarify their own fireplace ideas. Whilst a sketch you will see they are to scale and feature the detail that has been discussed. This means the completed fireplace picture looks very much like the design sketch when installed. Whilst some of the canopies may look the same, here at Camelot the devil is in the detail. Maybe you will see your inspiration – if you do please get in touch….

THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – to replace a wood fired cooker in an Ingelnook fireplace in a kitchen – Guernsey
Situation: Our clients mother was changing from a wood fired cooker in her kitchen to more convenient arrangements so wanted to take the Inglenook back to a traditional open fireplace – but wanted something unique. We achieved this without a show visit as the fire was installed by a local company who we liaised with.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: This woodburning open fire features a hand scored steel canopy with large cast iron ‘Tom & Jerry’ dog irons plus a distinctive drop top 3 bar grate front with finials. We exported the fire Guernsey for installation locally. This fireplace picture shows the 4 key parts of a Thermovent – the open fire, the canopy,the dogirons and the gratefront clearly.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Function hall & library in a large extended weekend farm house – Cotswolds
Situation: This Inglenook open fireplace had what the new owners felt was an ugly stove in situ. Due to the 200mm flue the interior designer had been told they could not have an open fire but this was seen as key to her fireplace design for this vaulted ceiling room.
Their open fireplace design: A hand made Twin Skin steel canopy ensured the open fire worked and looked amazing as the centre piece of the room. The designer also asked us to create this three bar bow front fire basket with integral ash tray. The firegrate also featured swan neck ball top dog irons and a plain cast iron fire back.

THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – New large oak beamed house – Rutland.
Situation: The open fire in this beautiful high vaulted house had not worked since the customer moved in. The previous addition of a flue fan had not created an acceptable solution with far too much noise.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: The Thermovent open fire, installed using the existing chimney arrangement including the flue fan for technical reasons, meant the fire worked perfectly with the fan only running on minimum. The handmade Georgian brass canopy with matching solid cast brass final tops on hand cast iron dog irons also meant the fire became a period style feature that was a joy to use rather than the huge source of frustration it had been previously.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Drawing room in a renovated & extended castle – Cotswolds
Situation: This newly built extension created an incredible drawing room space with hand carved fireplace and decorative plaster ceiling. The client wanted a pair of dog irons and firegrate to match her vision for the whole 4 year project and commissioned Camelot to work with her to deliver this.
Their open fireplace design: These unique florret dog irons were inspired by a fireplace our client had seen elsewhere. We created designs for approval for each florret and these were then cut from steel, hand detailed and shaped in our forge. We also gave a deep blue forged colour finished with linseed oil. The florets were mounted on polished steel uprights with a swan neck. The fire grate, which was originally designed to be scroll top as shown on the sketch, is handmade with forged dragons teeth and shaped ash tray.

CAMELOT THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – One of a unique trio of fires in a boutique hotel – Warwickshire
Situation: This multi-million pound hotel development included many listed property features – including the open fires. The originals were however condemned as unusable thus Camelot was asked to design an open fire that would satisfy the conservation offices and create an open fire design that was easily usable in working hotel environment.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: This woodburning open fire place design features a Thermovent with a solid front and simple in-board dog irons derived from the original fire design. A steel cottage style canopy completes the look. All these fires are now in regular use at the hotel – The Falcon in Stratford-upon-Avon.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Dinning room in a renovated & extended castle – Cotswolds
Situation: Another room in the original part of the castle being renovated this large stone arch fireplace (5 meters wide) required a fire grate with sufficient precence to sit underneath the large twin skin canopy which we also designed and created.
Their open fireplace design: Over 1 meter wide this firebasket is created from heavy 25mm thick mild steel with feature uprights on all four corners complete with bull rings. The drop top on the upper bar was part of our clients overall design theme for the room. Also features a woodburning ashtray within the firebasket to ease use and reduce the amount of wood consumed.

THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – Thatched Cottage – Oxfordshire
Situation: The fireplace in this ‘chocolate box’ thatched cottage could not be used due to performance issues – and this was aggravating damp issues linked to the original bread ovens which had no damp course. As a thatched cottage the owner had been informed by their insurer that installing a stove would increase premiums by up to 30%. An open fire would be OK but they needed the fire to help heat the house.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: Our Camelot Thermovent fire, installed along with a 200mm flue liner and taller clay pot to meet Thatch specific building regulations, worked perfectly and gave much more heat than previously. In addition, the customer requested a bespoke heavier version of our swan neck dogirons with ball tops. The contained fire also helped reduce the staining that had been seen on the stone hearth.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Renovated large stone Inglenook fireplace – Castle in Scottish Highlands
Situation: The estate services team renovating this fireplace in a castle had been provided a concept design by the clients Belgian interior designer. They asked Camelot to design and create a canopy and firegrate solution for them to install.

Their open fireplace design: Sat under a Twin Skin canopy or fire hood this cow horn grate appears quite modern but is a traditional design in Belgium. The 16 individual ‘horns’ were created from 20mm thick mild steel and featured an ash tray which could be used underneath (if burning coal) or on top of the firegrate if burning wood. We shipped the items up to the estates maintenance team in Scotland for installation.

THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – Brick built renovated cottage- North Worcestershire
Situation: Having previously had a stove installed, this customer had paid for a canopy and fire grate as they preferred an open fire. Unfortunately the supplier did not understand the criteria for a successful canopy so the fire could not be used as it filled the room with smoke.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: Whilst determined to have an open fire they could use, this customer also took the opportunity to create a magnificent feature in their lounge by requesting a large hand beaten copper canopy. The fireplace design we created resolved all their performance issues and more than heated the room. The 4 heavy studs linked the copper canopy to the hand cast fleur-de-lys dog irons and fire.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Living room in renovated weekend cottage – Cotswolds
Situation: The client had purchased this imposing fire grate but the fireplace smoked back into the room. Also the gaps in the grate were too wide for everyday use.
Their open fireplace design: Our customer wanted a canopy that would preserve the imposing width of the fire grate – but in order to get the fire to work with the lined chimney it had to be smaller. Our Twin Skin canopy design enabled us to achieve this. The safe area to build a fire was denoted by a new solid tray inside the fire grate which also meant she would burn less wood. The aged steel finish also matched the finish on the dogirons.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Double sided open firebasket in renovated pub – Cheshire
Situation: The resurrection of this moorland pub by this local entrepreneur was more than just a business venture. The detail on the project was of real personal interest including the open fire serving the dining and bar areas. Camelot was asked to assist in the specification of the solution and to make the firegrate and canopy above.
Their open fireplace design: This handmade fire basket with four, heavy, forged spit dog irons evokes the open fires from the past when animals would be roasted in front of the roaring fire.

CAMELOT THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – Newly built country residence – Herefordshire
Situation: The client has decided he wanted more heat from this open fireplace but he also wanted to incorporate the unique forged front from the existing fire grate.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: This Thermovent open fire with regency style steel fireplace hood has the existing grate front and dog irons grated onto the front. We had to re-shape the outer two bars of the fire grate on each side to maintain the pattern when we shortened the width of the existing grate front. To the right you can see the air vent for this fire that is an essential part of any open fire installation.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Open plan presentation cook area fire pit – West Midlands Smoke House eatery.
Situation: This independent eatery chain was developing its smokehouse experience with each new project. Having been to the US and enjoyed food prepared over an open fire fit they asked Camelot to assist them in feasibility and creation of one for their latest opening. This project was right on the edge of what was possible with an open fire even with the use of a flue fan. The close proximity of the other wood fired grill to the left was another complicating factor.
Their open fireplace design: This twin skin canopy is suspended from the ceiling. It has an aged steel finish and smoker rack inside. A 1.2m diameter steel drum fire pit has the stone you can see built around it. The pit is fire brick lined and open on one side. A large cook grill sits on top of the pit for final food preparation and presentation.

THERMOVENT OPEN FIRE – Renovated Bakers Cottage – Cotswolds
Situation: The fire place in this cottage was being opened up and renovated so the customer was looking for a new fire to replace existing grate which gave very little heat and did not look right.
Their Thermovent open fireplace design: Our Camelot Thermovent fire, installed using the existing chimney arrangement, suited the proposed redesigned fireplace as it contained the fire, was guaranteed to work and allowed the customer to choose the design of her fire. The steel canopy featured heavy studs plus hand cast fleur-de-lys dog irons.

CANOPY & FIRE GRATE OPEN FIRE – Function room in a large renovated farm house – Surrey
Situation: The second of a pair of open fires where our client had engaged an installer to specify a design for this and another fireplace in large barn conversion with vaulted ceiling in this rooms. The fan assisted chimney system featured copper clad sections suspended from the ceiling by cables. The supplier could not however create the hood to sit underneath so the client commissioned Camelot to do so.
Their open fireplace design: The conical shaped fireplace hood is solid copper sheet clad onto a steel buck with domed copper rivet details to all seams. Due to the curve shape many seams feature sculpted cuts to the copper to accommodate the curve and allow the copper to be formed in two directions at the same time.