Designs for Fires

09/10/2026

Summer is on its way — long lunches, relaxed evenings and more time entertaining outdoors. ☀️🔥

An outdoor fireplace or fire pit creates a natural place to gather, keeping everyone comfortable long after the sun goes down.

From a built-in fireplace to a sculptural fire pit, Designs for Fires can help you find the right solution for your space and the way you love to entertain.

Planning your outdoor area? Get in touch with DFF for outdoor fireplace and fire pit design solutions.

www.designsforfires.com

Independent fireplace design for new homes, renovations and existing fireplaces throughout New Zealand. Expert design advice, product selection and technical guidance to create beautiful, compliant fireplaces.

05/10/2026

A lovely moment for Designs for Fires 🔥
I’m delighted to be included in Verve Magazine’s Best in Build – Interior Design & Outdoor Heating 2026.
The feature talks about my approach to fireplace design and why a fireplace should be considered as part of the architecture and interior of a home — not simply chosen as a heating appliance.
Thank you to Verve for recognising Designs for Fires and the importance of considered, independent fireplace design.
Read article in link.
https://www.vervemagazine.co.nz/best-in-interior-design-outdoor-heating-designs-for-fires/

04/10/2026

From concept to construction 🔥
This outdoor fireplace is taking shape , designed to feel completely integrated with the existing outdoor living space and rear of the house.
A Jetmaster Alfresco outdoor wood fire was selected, with the surrounding brickwork chosen to match the brick already used throughout the renovation — creating a connection between the new fireplace and the architecture of the home.
The design evolved through three concepts as we worked through the best solution for firewood storage. The final design keeps the brick fireplace clean and balanced, with a separate custom steel wood box positioned alongside.
The fireplace and brickwork are now largely complete, with the steel capping and wood box still to come.
It’s always rewarding seeing a design move from the first concept drawings through construction and into the actual space.
Nearly there — I’ll share the finished fireplace soon.

02/10/2026

A rather special delivery for one of our latest outdoor projects. 🔥
This is the Glowbus Dewdrop, supplied by Design Concepts, which will form the centrepiece of a new dedicated outdoor area overlooking the coast.
What I love about the Dewdrop is that it isn't simply a fire pit. Its sculptural steel form makes it an architectural feature in its own right, so it becomes part of the design of the outdoor space even when the fire isn't lit.
These delivery shots also give a great look at how the Dewdrop is actually constructed — something you don't normally get to see once it's installed.
There is still plenty to come with this project. Follow Designs for Fires to see the outdoor area take shape and the Glowbus Dewdrop in its finished coastal setting.

27/09/2026

Sometimes the best fireplace solution isn’t starting again.

Our clients loved the character of their existing brick fireplace, but for a range of reasons, the fire was no longer being used. The brief was to find a practical, cost-effective solution that would bring the fireplace back to life without the need for a major rebuild.

We selected the Gazco eMotiv electric fireplace, providing the warmth and ambience of a fire with the simplicity and flexibility of electric.

The hearth was also redesigned to create a more substantial fixed floating element, finished in dark mosaic tiles to work with the existing brickwork and complement the clients’ wonderful love of colour.

By working with what was already there, rather than replacing everything, we’ve created a fireplace that feels considered, functional and completely at home in this colourful interior.

Before & After 🔥
www.designsforfires.com

11/09/2026

Choosing the right outdoor fireplace is about more than appearance.
The best result comes from considering how the space will be used, the architecture of the home, the surrounding landscape and the type of fire that suits the setting.
A built-in fireplace can create a strong architectural focal point, while a freestanding or sculptural fire can offer more flexibility and become a feature in its own right. The Glowbus Dewdrop is a great example of this.
If you’re planning an outdoor fireplace, I’ve put together an Outdoor Fireplace Design Guide covering fireplace type, positioning, proportion, materials, consent and other key design considerations.
Read the Outdoor Fireplace Design Guide
https://www.designsforfires.com/blog/outdoor-fireplaces-nz-whats-new-for-2026

30/08/2026

NOT EVERYTHING WORTH SPECIFYING IS IN A SHOWROOM.

The right fireplace — or the detail that completes it — isn't always the most obvious or readily available choice.

Part of my work at Designs for Fires is specialist sourcing: looking beyond the standard options to find fireplaces, fire baskets, andirons, tools and accessories that are right for the architecture, the interior and the project.

That might mean sourcing from fireplace manufacturers around the world, working with specialist suppliers such as Castworks , or exploring a custom fireplace solution with The Fire Dept. when something more individual is called for.

The images here are just a glimpse of what's possible.

If you've seen a fireplace or fireplace detail you love — in a magazine, on Pinterest, Instagram or overseas — send me the image or link.

I can investigate what's available, whether it can be sourced and, importantly, whether the fireplace is suitable for installation in New Zealand.

Because good fireplace design shouldn't be limited to what's already on the showroom floor.

Seen something you love?
Let me source it.

Explore Specialist Fireplace Sourcing:
https://www.designsforfires.com/specialist-fireplace-sourcing

24/08/2026

Fireplaces of Queenstown, Arrowtown & Ayrburn 🔥

A little fireplace inspiration from a few days exploring Queenstown, Arrowtown and Ayrburn — including Billy’s Restaurant, Heidi’s Hut at Coronet Peak and Eichardt’s in Queenstown.

What caught my attention wasn’t simply the fireplaces themselves, but how completely they belong to their surroundings.

Traditional tiled surrounds, generous open fires, beautifully aged steel, local stone and extraordinary chimney structures — each has its own character, and none feels like an appliance simply added to a room.

There’s something particularly beautiful about materials that are allowed to age. The weathered steel, patina, stone and signs of use give these fireplaces a depth that would be difficult to achieve with something too new or perfect.

For me, the most successful fireplaces are always about more than the fire. They’re about proportion, materials, architecture and how the fireplace connects with the space around it.

Plenty of inspiration to bring home.

📍 Queenstown · Arrowtown · Ayrburn
🔥 Billy’s Restaurant · Heidi’s Hut, Coronet Peak · Eichardt’s, Queenstown

17/08/2026

The biggest fireplace mistakes happen long before the fireplace is installed.

Over the years I've seen the same mistakes repeated time and time again.

People often:
• Choose the fireplace before designing the room.
• Assume every fireplace will fit.
• Select the wrong size.
• Design cabinetry and feature walls too early.
• Choose finishes that aren't suited to heat.
• Underestimate the complexity of installation.

These decisions can lead to expensive changes, compromised designs and disappointing results.

That's why I created Guide 03 – The Biggest Fireplace Mistakes to Avoid.

This free guide walks through the eight most common mistakes and explains how to avoid them, whether you're renovating, building new or replacing an existing fireplace.

Take a look through the carousel, then download the complete guide to help you make informed decisions before work begins.

👉 Read the free guide:
https://www.designsforfires.com/design-library/guides/fireplace-design-mistakes

16/08/2026

From day to night.

For this coastal project in Te Arai, the fire pit needed to sit quietly within the architecture by day, while bringing warmth and atmosphere to the outdoor space at night.

I selected the Planika Galio Star gas fire pit for its simple, sculptural form and beautiful flame — a design that complements the sunken seating area without competing with the incredible coastal outlook.

Planika Galio Star | Te Arai

Fireplace selection by Designs for Fires.