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Preston and Lanny Meyer, and their partners
at Hearth & Home Fireplace Specialties Ltd.,
have been keeping Calgarians warm for more
than 20 years now.
The fireplace industry has been especially hot recently
with a new line of sleek European models, old-fashioned
wood-burning classics and a range of energy-efficient
models offering something for everyone.
“We sell everything from the Old World and the New
World,” Meyer says, an observation confirmed by a
walk through the balmy Hearth & Home shop just off
Macleod Tr. South.
The contemporary European models occupying the
top floor of the shop are beautiful to look at and fully
functional, made of natural heat-retaining materials such
as soapstone, majolica ceramic, cast iron and soft steel.
One model even has a compartment on the top to bake
bread.
Other new designs include a mountable gas fireplace
that can be hung on the wall just like a plasma screen
TV, and a linear gas fireplace — the first of its kind in
Canada — with one line of fire that can run up to 54
inches long and is surrounded by smooth stones, broken
white glass, marble beads or rocks on a bed of sand.
“The linear models have a reflective panel at the back,
so the flame is mirrored and appears multiplied many
times,” he says.
“It’s mesmerizing — it’s always moving.”
These new advances in fireplace technology have
become popular in the last few years, Meyer says, and
his team is one of the few that supplies them.
“We recognized a few years ago the trend was going
contemporary and decided to search the world for
unique and innovative products,” he says.
With the recent consumer trends towards energy efficiency,
many people are using fireplaces to heat zones
of their homes, which is why Meyer and his team only
offer products that are environmentally friendly and
highly efficient.
“People are concerned about the cost of natural gas
and customers are demanding higher-quality products,”
he says.
Using fireplaces as a targeted source of heat can not
only cut down on your energy bills, Meyer says, it’s also
just practical.
“It doesn’t make sense to heat a room you’re not
spending time in, and a fireplace is esthetically pleasing
— it’s a furnace with a view.”
Because of the combination of efficient heating and
distinct style that fireplaces offer, people are getting
more and more creative with their decorating, Meyer
says.
“There isn’t a room in the house where we can’t, and
haven’t, put a fireplace. We’ve put up to eight fireplaces
in one house. We put them in bedrooms, bathrooms,
kitchens, family rooms — everywhere. I’m not sure
we’ve done a hallway yet, but that’s probably coming.”
They’ve even started moving fireplaces outside the
home, into patios and backyards, with models specifically
designed for outdoor use.
“People in Calgary want to take advantage of outdoor
time as much as they can,” he says. “It’s a great way to
extend your living space.”
Meyer and his team take care of the procedure every
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step of the way, beginning with a free initial visit to the
client’s home to assess the space available and make
suggestions about their options. After that, the client is
free to custom-design their fireplace and surroundings
themselves including colour, shape, size and materials.
“Customers always come first,” Meyer says, evident
in the fact the business has separate departments for coordination,
installation and after-sales service and maintenance.
It also co-ordinates everything involved in the
installation, from start to finish, eliminating the need for
clients to hire their own contractors.
This quality of service is something Meyer and his
team will not compromise, refusing to expand their
business despite the high demand throughout Alberta
and other provinces in Western Canada.
“Although we do distribute to reputable dealers
throughout the province, we want to continue on with
the quality and uniqueness,” he says.
“We’re never going to be a big box store, or feature
things that are trendy just for today or this year.”
Instead, they are a one-stop shop for quality products
that make a home more comfortable, inviting and, of
course, warm. Their collection of products expands into
leather furniture, artwork, patio heaters and the like.
“We want to be a full home comfort shop,” he says.
“The fireplace really is the heart of the home.”
For more information, visit www.hearthandhomefireplace.com