Most of us here at Finest (namely the writer of this article) are of the belief that a house isn’t a home without at least one flickering flame, whether that be a fully fledged stone mantel with a roaring fire within, or a few candles dancing on the tabletop. But while there are certain limitations when it comes to open flames (thank you building regulations, botched restorations and inner-city living), when a log-burner can’t- or won’t – do, we also fully endorse a bio-ethanol flame set within a sleek and modern stove, or simply an array of candles so comprehensive even that final stretch of the IKEA Markethall could not compete.
For us there is no alternative when the dark nights close in and we spend more time indoors than out. So a lamp is all very well and good, but simply put, autumn isn’t autumn if you’re not curling up with a hot cuppa and hearing the crackling of an open fire, now, is it?
Moorcocks, How Green Lane, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent
You don’t have to picture an inglenook fireplace with a wood-burning stove set within, or instruct an algorithm to create one for you- we’ve got it already. Moorcocks is a 15th century home with all the comforts and luxuries of a modern one, but without a 90 degree angle in sight. We’re talking parquet flooring, limestone floor with underfloor heating, a new and bespoke British Standard kitchen, swimming pool and even fibre broadband (yes, really- in the countryside!) all within less than an acre. So when you’re done wandering your landscaped gardens and admiring your home as the drizzle starts to catch on your wool coat, get inside, tuck up your tail, and gaze into the flames with the drink of your choice.
Our suggestion? It’s getting on to winter soon. Go on, make it a Bovril.
0.9 Acre | 5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2 Reception Rooms
Guide Price £1,750,000
For Sale with Maison Partnership, Surrey
East Lodge, Stelling Hall, Newton, Stocksfield, Northumberland
Next up is East Lodge, hosting the kind of fireplace that make the the most die-hard breed of seasonal Instagrammers salivate over: deep-toned wainscoting, carved timber surround and original brick tiling coming together to make this one distinctive autumnal hearth. This detached former lodge once belonging to Stelling Hall has class and integrity woven into its very heritage, with mullioned windows to keep out the chill, while renovations have brightened the outlook with a garden room that overlooks southerly views across open countryside. But for those late night conversations and tipples, East Lodge has a room so amniotic you’ll be hard pushed to say no to another.
4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 3 Reception Rooms
Guide Price £850,000
For Sale with Finest Properties, Northumberland
Bay House, 29 South Ford Road, Dartmouth, Devon
Ahoy, our first Victorian tiled fireplace! We love to see these out in the wild, and not being flogged on internet marketplaces by homeowners who’d rather brick up their chimneys. Yes, the open fireplace might mean some ash spilling out onto the carpet, but that’s the whole part of its ancestral charm. It’s somewhere the cat curls up to while the TV plays in the background, bums on soft carpeted floors for the third game of pairs with the kids. You might keep losing, but as long as you have heat in the hearth, you know you’ve already won.
4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 1 Reception Room
Offers Over £625,000
For Sale with The Coastal House
Station House, Fourstones, Hexham, Northumberland
We imagine when this home was in its original state – the station masters house for the Newcastle Carlisle railway line – it was hard for the gaffer to get to work. Obviously things may have changed a bit since its build in 1835, but with a fireplace like that, we imagine those dark, cold winter mornings were hard to step out into. Luckily, we now have daylight savings time to make things a touch easier, but this is just the added bonus on what is already a beautiful home. Set within a sandstone facade, original period detailing such as soaring Georgian windows, exposed beams and solid wood floors add to the amniotic and traditional cosiness of this property. The fire, a clear focal point for a kitchen that has been arranged to cook, gather and linger, draws all toward its warmth, making it the most natural place to start, and end, the day.
0.33 Acre | 4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 2 Reception Rooms
Guide Price £675,000
For Sale with Finest Properties, Northumberland
Crowhurst Farm Cottage, Crowhurst Lane, West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks, Kent
Some fires were made for human benefit, but we think this giant open hearth at the exceptional Crowhurst Farm Cottage was made entirely for our four legged friends. We’re talking wolfhounds, shepherds, mountain dogs- all with a stone flag floor perfect for sprawling out in front of. What kind of characterful, historic and lovingly restored Grade II listed home would it be anyway if you didn’t have a dog to remind you to slow down, rest, and call it a day?
The best part? It’s big enough that they won’t hog all the heat, and you’ll still have space enough to dry your socks, too.
5 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | 5 Reception Rooms
Offers in the Region of £1,400,000
For Sale with Maison Partnership
Flag Cottage, Dartmouth, Devon
Who said fires were for dark country homes, only? Though she appears lively and characterful, Flag Cottage is bouncing in cosiness. From her splendorous position on Cistern Meadow with views out over the rolling Devonshire countryside down to the River Dart, this four-bedroom coastal cottage has been designed with colour and personality in mind. And while we love an original fireplace, we also very much appreciate a renovated one – this forest green mantel encases a modern and inviting log burner, adding to the delightful and energetic decor in a way that is refreshing and comforting.
Because while the colour and pattern showcases the room, it’s the fire that anchors it.
4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 2 Reception Rooms
Offers Over £550,000
For Sale with The Coastal House
Foxella, Bramble Reed Lane, Matfield, Kent
Now here is a home that indulges all kinds of hygge-infused-luxury: we’re talking brushed velvet sofas, sheepskins, soft, plush carpets and warm earthy tones to bring out the cosiest of vibrations this season. The original inglenook fireplace is the centre-point not only for the room, but for the house. The rest of this 16th century home enjoys its special rich character in exposed beams and near-whimsical architecture of that period, and with 6.5 acres and five bedrooms, there’ll be no end to the gathering around this hearth. It’s the kind of fire everyone jostles each-other for, seeking premium bottom-warming priority after a long day out in the garden, until someone begs them all to sit down and let the heat out for everyone else. Grandma, we’re looking at you. Time to sit down and let everyone else have a turn!
6.5 Acres | 5 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 3 Reception Rooms
Offers Over £1,750,000
For Sale with Maison Partnership, Kent
83 Long Street, Great Ellingham, Norfolk
This modern log-burner doesn’t half sit proudly in its place, and why should it not? This beautifully extended five-bedroom cottage may have clean lines and fresh new plaster, but its charm still remains. As the fire blazes within, a warmth spreads throughout the open spaces of this home, inviting all who reside and visit to cluster around its flame. This is where the afternoon coffees happen, where the hard conversations with troublesome teenagers occur, or where the 3am newborn feeds are spent before crashing out to the sound of crackling wood. Whatever the occasion, this fire holds you close, keeps you warm, and reminds you that everything is going to be okay, after all.
5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 4 Reception Rooms
Guide Price £800,000
For Sale with Sowerbys, Norfolk
Silver Street, 3 Silver Street, Stevington, Bedford
Silver Street is the reserved-for-special-occasions, polished spoon in the proverbial drawer of period restorations. A former 18th century bakery for the village of Stevington, this four-bedroom home has benefitted from a thorough-yet-sensitive renovations, with the retention of exposed beams, original detailing, and characterful stonework proving that older houses don’t have to feel stuffy. Its original fireplace in the sitting room with roaring wood-burner is just the cherry on top of the delightfully cosy cottage cake that is Silver Street, with interiors that wouldn’t look out of place in a certain Kate Winslet/Jack Black Christmas movie. But we’re afraid to peak too soon this year, so we’ll let your imagination fill in the gaps.
4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 3 Reception Rooms
Offers Over £650,000
For Sale with FitzJohn Estates, Bedfordshire