Jennifer Sheahan: I removed my chimney to free up floor space in my tiny house. Now I'd love an 'instant fireplace'

Home of the Year winner removed the central chimney when renovating her cottage but would love an alternative to a wide-open hearth

Jennifer Sheahan doesn't currently have an open fireplace, but loves the idea of stoves in living spaces. 

I'm in the midst of my annual struggle about whether or not I should install a fireplace in my living room. I don’t currently have one, having removed the huge central chimney to free up much-needed floor space when I renovated my home in 2020, and I couldn’t put in a replacement as open fireplaces have effectively been banned in Ireland since 2014. Regardless of your feelings on these regulations, the fact remains that many of us flame-loving creatures must find alternatives to replace a roaring fire in a wide-open hearth.

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