We at Little Redstone often get asked by our clients about the different options available to them when adding or updating a fireplace in their home. Questions such as; What options do I have? What’s the difference between each? Is one more efficient? What about those long skinny ones I’ve seen before? We don’t blame anyone for being overwhelmed by the possibilities at first! Allow us to briefly break it down for you in this fireplace primer!

There are 3 major types to consider between when choosing a fireplace for your home build or renovation – briefly summarized here for quick reference with a chart, but please read on for the full scoop on each!

Traditional Fireplace (Wood-burning)

Traditional fireplaces go back throughout human history across many eras and cultures, essentially functioning as a safe way to keep a fire running for warmth, cooking, or other utility. The design one would typically think of, with a square in-wall firebox and a chimney, originated in Europe in roughly the 11th century, however the version most commonly seen today having its origins in the 18th century and features various improvements over the original.  The modern fireplace is a tried-and-true example of form following function – a fire-resistant firebox insert, a decorative surround, and a chimney to vent the smoke out of the living area.
Toronto’s European architectural influences and freezing temperatures make traditional fireplaces a commonly found feature in heritage homes throughout the city. We often have clients ask us, “Should we switch to a gas or electric fireplace instead? We hardly use it because of the work!” It’s true, traditional fireplaces do have increased maintenance needs over more modern innovations, requiring physical fuel such as firewood, and call for annual cleaning and inspections. There is also the environmental consideration, as traditional fireplaces are less heat efficient and produce more emissions than newer fireplace technology such as gas. However, can anything beat the appeal of hearing the crackling sound and smelling the earthy burning of wood, and enjoying that ambiance and warmth as has been done for generations? Well, many would argue that yes, something certainly can!

Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces, a modern technological update to the traditional fireplace, offer a number of advancements for the modern family focusing on improved convenience and efficiency. Gas fireplaces use natural gas as the fuel source, just the same as a gas stove-top – meaning that the flame is just as quickly adjustable as a stove-top flame would be. Usually, gas fireplaces are turned on or off with just a button – no fanning to get it going, or waiting for it to die out! Additionally, gas fireplaces can take on many shapes and sizes, from looking just like the traditional insert-and-surround fireplace mentioned previously to ultra contemporary linear or two-sided fireplaces. And to top it off, they have improved energy efficiency as almost all of the fuel is turned into energy, and they produce fewer emissions than a traditional fireplace. As for venting, a vent out of the house through a wall is all you need – no chimney required! Gas fireplaces are a great compromise between convenience and ambiance, as they still burn real flames – unlike the third major category, electric fireplaces.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces, the most recently developed of the three types, is an ever improving innovative type of fireplaces that are only growing in technical prowess and popularity as time goes on. Electric fireplaces, as the name would imply, use only electricity as their fuel source, and little of it – they don’t burn any real flame at all! These electric illusions are a great choice for homes that lack both a chimney and a gas line, and make a great choice for families with young children or very curious pets to whom a burning fireplace could pose a risk of injury. Early electric fireplaces may have looked like unconvincing Halloween decorations, but oh how far they’ve come! There are options available now that produce heat and sound that would have even the most cynical observer convinced it was the real thing.  They come in many shapes and sizes, but usually will be some variation of glass box with a black bezel like you might see on a phone screen. The convenience of being able to add a stunning fireplace to your home when you thought you’d never have one due to a lack of chimney or gas has made these a popular choice, but they aren’t without their downsides. The amount of heat they produce, while extremely energy efficient, is much less than a traditional or gas fireplace would be capable of. And sticklers for authenticity might be off-put by the lack of real flame, though for others, this would in fact be a selling point!

Conclusion

There’s so much variety in personal tastes and family needs that there’s a fireplace right for everyone. No matter your budget or existing home conditions, Little Redstone can consult with you, settle on your priorities, and find the right fireplace for your lifestyle and aesthetics.

Until next time!

There’s always something exciting happening at Little Redstone…and although Mondays are usually nothing to celebrate for most, today was a special occasion – it was the birthday of Little Redstone’s founder, Mr. James Herron himself! The staff showed our appreciation with some delicious cake, and a extra-special surprise…a painted portrait of James’s dog, our beloved office mascot, Boomer! Check out the pics – what do you think?

The birthday boss showing that cake what-for!

A blurry cake pic – we were in too much of a rush to eat it!

Do you think there’s a resembelance?

Artist, subject, patron, and painting! The artist is none other than one of our very multi-talented staff members!

Happy Birthday, James! Here’s to another year leading Little Redstone forward! 

Until next time!

You might have seen pages on the Little Redstone website where we refer to our ability to create renders, and you may have also seen the term on other social media. When a new condo is announced, they’ll show images of the new building labeled as “renderings”. But what does it mean if an image is a “render”?

Tthe dictionary defines “to render” in multiple ways, but the use we’re referring to here is “to represent or depict artistically.”. One could say that the eyes in a painted portrait were rendered beautifully, for instance. More broadly, one could argue the term means to create a final visualization from an idea – or in more recent times, from mathematical computer data. The term has come to be associated with 3D computer generated images where the rendering process is done not by a human artist, but by the computer software’s technology.  Rendering technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since the first developments in computer graphics in the 1970s. A 3D model is just data – turning it into an image requires it to be rendered in some way.

One of the first ever computer renderings, created almost 50 years ago!

To turn that data into something that’s easier to interpret, rendering allows us to simulate materials, textures and light in a realistic way. Of course, simulating all of these factors is very intensive on the computer’s hardware, and so computer rendering software and hardware have always been pushing each other’s limitations. Modern computers with dedicated graphics cards have more rendering power than an entire lab’s worth of computers did back in the 70s! They’re even capable of photo realistic, interactive, real-time rendering, which is the most difficult and resource consuming – as commonly seen in computer games! That such amazing technology is now commonplace is just amazing, don’t you think?

Naturally computer rendering has become invaluable in architectural design and construction. It allows designers and builders to show their clients simulations of the final product they expect to deliver, even if that final product is months or even years away from completion, especially in the case in large projects such as skyscrapers or institutional buildings. Little Redstone makes use of this technology not only to help our clients understand the final look and feel of the project and give their feedback or approval on the design, but is also a useful tool for our design team. Modern architectural design software is capable of real-time rendering, showing you the full 3D scene at all times as you move the room around, allowing a designer to push and pull walls, place and move furniture and built-in millwork – it’s just like sculpting! And of course, this comes with all the advantages in accuracy that come with computer aided design.

If this author’s passion for the subject hasn’t come across to you yet, take a look at this demonstration:

Exhibit C: Well, that’s quite a change! Now our wall, as well as the rest of the room, is being rendered in 3D! This is the default appearance that our designers see when working in the software, before we’ve added textures and colors to help make the space look more alive and more true to how it will appear when built. So what would it look like if our client asks us to go a little further…?

Exhibit D: Now THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!

I hope this brief look into the technology behind the home design process has been as interesting for you as it is to us! Using technology like this allows Little Redstone to give our clients the best possible level of visualization, so we can be sure they’re happy with their home when it’s ready for them to walk in – and really, creating that happiness is the reason we do what we do.

Thank you for reading, see you next week!

It’s already that time of the year – it arrives so fast! This year has been one of growth and discovery for Little Redstone – we’ve overcome new challenges and expanded our office family, and through all the ups and downs we’ve reached the end of another year. Time flies when you’re having fun!

Thank you to all of our clients, colleagues, tradespeople, and our friends and family for their support over the last year, and we hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas, and a joyous and restful holiday season!

Earlier this month, Little Redstone held its annual Christmas Party, and we’re so grateful for everyone who came out and helped make it such a success. Please enjoy this selection of photos from the event!

Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you in the New Year!

United Kingdom, 2018 – BUILD Magazine has announced winners of the 2018 Real Estate and Property Awards.

It is with great humbleness and honour that we are pleased to announce our win as the “Custom Home Builder of the Year 2018 – Ontario” from BUILD Magazine. This award means so much to Little Redstone and all our team members. With each client we have met and had the privilege to work with, our commitment to continued growth remains. Throughout the years we have consistently grown while still remaining a boutique studio dedicated to serving our clients from the smallest of details to the completion of the project design and build. To be noticed on this international platform along side so many other pretigious businesses is truly rewarding and flattering. 

Discussing the success of these deserving winners, Natalie Farrell, Awards Coordinator praised their hard work and commitment to excellence: “Each and every one of my winners truly deserves this recognition for all their hard work. I would like to offer my congratulations and wish all of my winners the best of luck for the future.”

Read More HERE

Even our Little King Boomer is enjoying the moment!