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One of the clients of the design-build firm I'm working for is insisting on a cast-iron wood stove for one of the rooms. It doesn't really fit the space, but they want it, and I get it; I feed ours daily, it's low-tech, romantic, scratches the cottagecore itch, et cetera. My issue with them is that they never blend into a space, but dominate it as a standalone feature. They also need to be swept under constantly.
Unsurprisingly, from Germany comes a designey alternative to the cast-iron wood stove. Kaufman Keramik is a family-run operation that creates hand-built ceramic built-in stoves, and as far as I can tell, each one is unique (i.e. probably pricey). They're attractive and they integrate well within living spaces:
"Transform stoves and walls into unique spatial experiences. With stove tiles and wall coverings that are one of a kind. These are created piece by piece by a master craftsman, just for you. In a system full of design possibilities of styles, shapes, colors and surfaces. With the instinct and experience that you will only find in a family-run manufacturing operation."
"It takes a great deal of responsibility, patience and important decisions to follow the path of family-run manufacturing," the company writes. "To produce quality by hand, and create true values without using automation."
If only I could convince the client to spring for one of these.
I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.
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Designey Ceramic Alternatives to Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
I also can echo this for all of the Swede’s out there. Search kakelugn and you can designs from 1700’s to 1970’s. You can even buy the old ones from restoration firms like https://www.gysinge.com/
You need to do a separate article on Dutch tile company DTILE who make amazing 3D curved tiles for intergrated sinks and shelves: dtile.info
This is a very interesting and modern take on wood stoves you often find in old German buildings. I had never seen them before coming to Germany.
It's interesting, in a lot of the old buildings in Berlin, they have several of these per apartment. Even when the heating has been updated to modern methods these ovens are often left in the rooms since there is so much material to move!
These are amazing!