Now this is REALLY interesting: help me decide which fireplace!

[LowLevelWhinging]

We moved into our Edwardian house 2 years ago. The first thing we did was buy a sofa for the living room, including a chaise bit that runs along one wall, tucked into the corner. It's this one from sofa.com and we love it!

Now we've had two winters in the house we know it gets FREEZING from October to April and we need a fire.

So, in keeping with the age of the house, I really really really would like to get an Edwardian style (repro) fireplace like these. I curse the very silly people who removed all the damn fireplaces from this house leaving just one in the hall. Who needs a fire in the hall FGS??

The problem is, the chaise bit of the sofa runs along where the outside chimney is and so we can't have a full edwardian fireplace. The alternative is to have a hole in the wall gas fire something like this.

But it's such a lot of money to spend on something I don't really like/want! £3000 ish

So the choices are:

1. Edwardian fire.
   

Get rid of nearly new (expensive) sofa
Buy new sofa

1. Keep beloved sofa and fit an expensive fire that I don't really want but need.
   

Option 1 or 2??

[Rooners]

I have to say I much prefer the Edwardian fireplaces to the sofa...sorry.!

[MummytoMog]

Can you move the chaise bit over? Our similar sofa from Ikea is reversible so we can have the chaise bit at either end - ours sticks out into the room, but we use it as a sort of space divider (open plan living room/dining room) and have toy boxes next to it. I loathe stick on gas fires and would burn the sofa if need be to get a proper fireplace in. Or can you just chop off the chaise bit and order a new cushion from the sofa people?

[Bowlersarm]

I'm with Rooners the life of a fireplace should be a lot longer than the life of a sofa. I prefer authentic fireplaces for the period of the property, as well.

I do like the sofa though! Good taste.

[LowLevelWhinging]

We've tried swapping the sofas round but it doesn't work in the room.

And the chaise cushion is the wrong shape (it has a cut out bit to accommodate the arm) to swap round to the other side.

I actually agree with you all. Part of the reason we love the sofa is because we have to at that price!

It does have annoying slippy cushions which need constant rearranging

[LowLevelWhinging]

Anyone recommend any nice sofa places in the north west?

[georgedawes]

Not what you asked I know (!) but I'd get a stove fitted instead of a fire, you'll be able to do it for less than 3k and obviously it will go in the recess.

A fire is so much less efficient than a stove, I don't find it heats the room at all.

Not sure that helps with the sofa problem though.

[picpoul]

I'm on borrowed time here so...change sofa for one with shorter chaise bit? Or, move it? Fireplace will last longer than any sofa once kids/ cat are done with it.

[LowLevelWhinging]

really re stoves?? I didn't know that!

and another vote for the fire, thank you!

[DaisyBD]

We are also in a draughty edwardian house, and the fireplaces were removed (grrrr - next door still have theirs and they are gorgeous) but we have an open fireplace so we installed a biggish woodburner. They are much more efficient than open fires, and less messy. We had it lit every day last winter.

BUT - we were still freezing. The rather lovely stripped floorboards have gaps and in the winter it blows a hoolie through the whole house. This autumn we have decided to bite the bullet and take up the floors and insulate underneath. I hope this is going to solve the problem - as our builder says, you can't heat a draught.

[georgedawes]

Fireplaces are about 20% efficient, the rest of the heat goes up the chimney. Stoves are about 80%. Ours is quite big (9kw) and heats the whole of the downstairs, it's amazing.

[kitsmummy]

Wood burners are indeed much more efficient, so I would get one of those instead. Def not those modern fireplaces you linked to, they are gross!

[MummytoMog]

Do insulate the floor boards, it makes a big difference (makes mental note to do the rest of the living room).

[BrownSauceSandwich]

Well, I think it's pretty clear that you need the fire. If you're going to 20th century fires (and you should, because they're brilliant, and they're based in the NW), they can do you an inset stove to fit your period fireplace. Yep, stoves are loads more efficient than open fires, but I love the look of a traditional open fire. We have one of each. Both heavenly.

[primallass]

Why don't you stick a photo of your room on your profile - I bet we can solve your problem between us all

[LowLevelWhinging]

Right, it's decided! DP agrees with y'all and we are doing the Edwardian fireplace and ditching the sofa.

Possibly this one, but with ivory tiles as the mantle is similar to the only original fireplace left in the house which is in the hall (with a fugly electric monstrosity in it).