charnwoodstoves

At Charnwood we are always interested in the latest trend reports for the home and with 2020’s lockdown forcing Brits to spend more time indoors than ever before, an interesting new survey from Tiles Direct reveals how homeowners got creative with their interiors (and gardens) this year.

The online tile retailer quizzed over 400 Brits* if and where they’d donned their overalls and whipped out their paint rollers this year.

Of those surveyed, just 7.8% hadn’t redecorated or renovated any room of their home – suggesting that homeowners have been unable to endure lockdown in outdated or off-trend interiors.

The great outdoors

Accounting for 29.2% of the overall vote, the garden came out on top as the most popular spot for home renovations this year. Here at Charnwood we certainly found this to be true with our new outdoor Charnwood Fire Balls selling incredibly well.

With the UK’s nationwide lockdown lasting from 16th March to 1st June, this data comes as little surprise – with the sunny weather leaving cooped-up homeowners desperate for a taste of the great outdoors. Our sister company had great success with their newly launched Adapt Outdoor Kitchen units.

Garden renovations were most popular among 25-34 and 35-44 year olds – the demographics most likely to have younger children – and with some schools being shut for as long as 7 months throughout 2020, who can blame them?

No place like home

Stepping through the front door of Brits’ homes, the living room was the next most popular spot for a little interior design TLC, with 28.4% of respondents revitalising their living room in 2020. We saw a sharp increase in sales of our wood burning stoves and accessories such as toasting forks and basketware. Our fireplace products such as our Vlaze heat shields and hearth plates also faired well.

Homeowners weren’t struck with inspiration from the off, though – instead turning to the internet, with living room related searches being among the most commonly searched interior-based keywords in Google this year.

Taking the third and fourth spots were kitchens and bedrooms, accounting for 19.5% and 19.8% of the vote respectively. With a mammoth 46.6% of the UK workforce working from home in April, and current government advice continuing to encourage flexible home working wherever possible, we’ve seen these rooms serve as part-time living spaces and part-time office spaces.

With this in mind, it’s little surprise that home workers have chosen to transform these interiors into something a little more inspiring.

Towards the end of 2020 we launched our stove pods: a quick-to-fit instant fireplace incorporating a chamber and hearth. We were taken by surprise at the popularity but are subsequently discovering that many of these sales are for home offices and sheds and cabins situated in the garden.

With 16.5% of the vote, the bathroom was still a relatively popular spot for home renovations in 2020, with concerns surrounding hygiene racing up the list of Brits’ DIY priorities.This is an area that again our sister company Vlaze have seen an increase in with their shower and wetroom panelling

The dining room was the least popular room for redecoration this year, accounting for just 12.4% of the total vote. With social distancing guidelines still in place and household mixing continuing to be discouraged or banned, one of the home’s main social hubs was unsurprisingly shown little love this year.

The lockdown lowdown  

Tiles Direct also analysed their top 500 site searches in 2020 to identify the most in-demand tile types of the last year and pinpoint common themes surrounding users’ choice of shape, colour and material or finish. We always like to keep on top of fire surround trends so these results throw up some interesting data which is reflected in many of the Charnwood installations we have seen shared on our social channels.

When it came to tile shapes, some of the latest interior fads came out on top:

1. Herringbone
2. Hexagon
3. Metro
4. Mosaic
5. Chevron

Colours threw up some surprises, with homeowners opting for bright and vibrant over timeless and traditional.:

1. Pink
2. Green
3. Blue
4. White
5. Gold

While our stoves colour range is relatively subtle we do offer a green and blue that are becoming increasingly popular with customers

Luxurious longevity was the name of the game when it came to materials and finishes:

1. Marble
2. Terrazzo
3. Quarry
4. Slate
5. Wood

*This data was gathered in December 2020 and includes responses from 409 people in the UK.

charnwoodstoves

If you are already the proud owner of a boiler stove, or are considering a future purchase, you will not be disappointed. Not only does a boiler stove offer a highly efficient heat source, it provides a homely ambience and a decorative and stylish focal point in your home.

If you are considering the cost-effective and energy efficient move to a boiler stove but need further information, we can help.

We have compiled all you need to know about boiler stoves, their benefits and the must-knows of this stylish and eco-conscious heating choice.

What is a boiler stove?

A boiler stove is an appliance that burns wood or mineral fuels to generate hot water and power radiators. The range of Charnwood boiler stoves are specifically designed for those wishing to run a full central heating system.

What are the benefits of a boiler stove?

Boiler stoves are a valuable addition to any home, and boast numerous benefits, including:

•  Option to link to your existing central heating system (run by oil or gas) to reduce home heating bills

•  Option to link to combi boilers, underfloor heating or solar thermal panels

•  Reduced carbon footprint

•  Looks stylish and inviting in the home

•  Available in modern or traditional designs

•  Used to heat water throughout the home

•  Generates and stores heat

How a boiler stove works

A boiler stove works by transferring heat from the burning fuel into water. This can then be piped and transferred where it is needed in the household. It can be used for both heating and/or domestic hot water.

A boiler stove can provide wood or coal fired central heating. It does this by being connected to the house heating system, usually radiators. The heat from the burning wood is then pumped around the house. If your house uses underfloor heating, the boiler stove is instead connected to a hot water tank and the underfloor heating is connected to this.

A boiler stove can be used to power your central heating system as well as providing hot water. This system will require input and knowledge from an experienced heating engineer.

Contact us for more information regarding your central heating and hot water from your wood boiler stove.

Using a back boiler for central heating

The term back boiler refers to the way in which the boiler is incorporated into the firebox itself.

It replaces the firebricks withing the stove creating an effective way to transfer heat from the fire to water.

How to choose a boiler stove

When it comes to selecting a boiler stove for your home, there are several key factors to consider:

•  Which type of boiler stove is most suitable

•  The correct size of your boiler stove – this should be calculated by an experienced engineer

•  The heat consumption and output of your stove

•  The size of your water tank

•  The level of hot water usage in your household

•  The number of radiators you have

•  Whether you have underfloor heating

Contact the experts at Charnwood for more advice on how to choose a suitable boiler stove.

How to get your boiler stove installed

A boiler stove must always be installed by a qualified heating engineer, with the skills, expertise and knowledge to ensure safe installation according to the recommended industry standard.

At Charnwood, our stoves are available exclusively throughout our network of selected stockists. We strongly recommend purchasing your boiler stove through an official Charnwood stockist, where you will receive the highest standards of installation and after-sales support. Click here to find out more.

Purchase your boiler stove today

If you are looking to purchase a boiler stove or are keen to find out more, contact Charnwood today. Our friendly, expert team are on hand and more than happy to answer any queries you may have.