Case study

Two built-in fires in an Art Deco landmark

Appointed by a Harrogate showroom to install two large contemporary wood fires at one of Filey's most distinctive buildings, the Art Deco former home of Sir Billy Butlin.

Talk to us about your project Stoves in Filey

ApplianceDik Geurts Instyle 1000V, two fitted

LocationFiley, North Yorkshire

Property1930s Art Deco landmark

FinishDekton by Cosentino

The property

A building with a story

The Art Deco home of Sir Billy Butlin in Filey is a striking example of the streamlined style that defined the 1930s, with clean geometric lines and curved forms that still feel confident nearly a century on. Working in a property that is a genuine local landmark is a privilege, and it changes how you approach the detailing.

This was not the first time we have worked in a property connected to the Butlin legacy, but it was the most memorable. From the moment we stepped inside there was a real sense of history and character, and the two finished fireplaces had to earn their place in it rather than shout over it.

How it came to us

Installing for Yorkshire showrooms

Alongside our own clients, we work with a number of leading fireplace showrooms across Yorkshire, carrying out the installation side for their customers. On this project we were appointed by a prestigious Harrogate showroom to fit two large contemporary wood-burning fires.

Showrooms come back to an installer for the same reasons homeowners do: the survey is honest, the flue design is right and the finish is clean enough to put their own name against.

The appliance

Dik Geurts Instyle 1000V

The Instyle 1000 is a premium built-in wood-burning fire, made in the Netherlands by Dik Geurts and known for its build quality and engineering. It delivers a nominal 9kW with a maximum output of 13kW, and its expansive landscape glass creates a genuinely panoramic view of the fire.

A responsive air control system allows the fire to be regulated with precision, while a powerful airwash helps keep that large window clearer for longer. Fitted with the classic 40mm steel frame, it reads as an architectural opening rather than an appliance dropped into a wall.

The installation

Feature walls, Dekton and an outdoor room

One of the fires was installed in an outdoor covered area, which brings its own considerations for flue routing, weathering and materials. Both installations were built into bespoke feature walls designed around the appliance.

Beneath the fire we fitted a Dekton floating shelf, carried on heavy-duty made-to-measure steel support brackets concealed within the structure so the shelf appears to float. A Dekton feature top completes the composition, and we produced additional bespoke Dekton tabletops for the outdoor kitchen area so the finishes run consistently through the space.

Each appliance was connected using a twin-wall insulated stainless steel flue system with closure plate, adaptors and connection components, finished with an anti-downdraught cowl. Both fires were commissioned and handed over with a full demonstration.

The job

Photographs from this installation

The Instyle 1000 lit in the covered outdoor area, looking out over the sea at Filey.

The same fire unlit, showing the Dekton surround and the floating shelf beneath it.

The wider terrace and outdoor kitchen, with bespoke Dekton tabletops.

Dekton Trevi, the surface used for the shelf, feature top and tabletops.

One of the design drawings used when building the feature.

The thinking

Detailing to suit the building

An Art Deco property sets the rules before you start. Clean geometric lines and curved forms mean a fireplace has to be crisp and architectural, not ornate, so a large built-in appliance framed as an opening in the wall was the natural direction.

Two fires were installed rather than one, including a covered outdoor area, so the detailing had to carry through the whole scheme instead of being solved once.

The detail

Working alongside showrooms and designers

A good part of our work is installation for other fireplace showrooms across Yorkshire, and this project came to us through a Harrogate showroom. That side of the business runs on the same things a homeowner wants: an honest survey, a properly designed flue and a finish worth putting a name to.

The finishes here were Dekton, including a floating shelf beneath the fire carried on concealed made-to-measure steel brackets, plus a feature top and bespoke tabletops for the outdoor kitchen. You can see more of our fireplace work and the coast and Filey area we cover.

Questions about this kind of job

Asked and answered

Can a wood burning fire be fitted in an outdoor covered area?

It can, provided the structure, clearances, flue route and weathering are all designed for it. An outdoor or semi-outdoor installation puts more demand on materials and on how the flue is terminated and sealed.

Why use Dekton around a fireplace?

Dekton is a hard-wearing engineered surface that copes well with heat and gives a very clean architectural finish. It suits contemporary built-in fires where the surround is meant to read as part of the wall rather than as a separate mantel.

Do you install fires bought from other showrooms?

Yes. We carry out installation work for a number of leading fireplace showrooms across Yorkshire as well as for our own clients, handling the survey, flue design, building work and commissioning.

How large is the viewing glass on an Instyle 1000?

It is a wide landscape window designed for a panoramic view of the fire. The appliance gives a nominal 9kW with a maximum of around 13kW, so it suits larger rooms and open spaces rather than small snugs.

HETAS registered

Installed with care, certified with confidence

Carl self-certifies every installation and notifies Building Control on your behalf, so the work is signed off properly and your certificate of compliance is issued for your records.