Vintage Conversion

When EcoSmart Fire’s U.S. Marketing Coordinator came across a vintage, wood-burning fireplace she knew it was the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into a mid-century classic with a BK5 Bioethanol Burner.

Being a part of the EcoSmart Fire family means having an innate desire to work with sustainable design principles – it’s more than a job, it’s a way of life. “The culture at EcoSmart Fire is so energetic, creative, and entrepreneurial that you can’t help but be inspired on a daily basis,” explains Kim Rodgers, U.S. Marketing Coordinator. “And to top it off, we get to work with some amazing installation imagery from world-class architects and designers, so the creative wheels are always spinning!”

As a staple of the mid-century modern home in the 60’s, conical fireplaces provided a vibrant alternative to the traditional hearth. Their availability in various colored enamel or porcelain finishes only furthered their popularity and helped usher in a new era of self-expression in fire design. More than 40 years later, these vintage fireplaces are seeing a resurgence in popularity within the design community and lending their classic shape to clean burning conversions

After spending most of its life as an indoor, wood-burning fireplace the conversion to a bioethanol fueled, outdoor fire started with a thorough cleaning. Not only was the inside covered in messy soot, but the mandarin red enamel had lost its luster, “It’s amazing what a little warm water, dish soap, and elbow grease can do, and luckily that was the hardest part!” says Kim.