Savvy home solutions

Futura 5 woodburning stove, from £1,295, Stovax Q I’d love a wood burning stove this winter but I don’t have a chimney. Is it still possible and if not, what are my options for a similar effect? Megan Pedreira, Kent

AMichael Coke, Biomass Products Development Manager at Stovax, has this advice… If you don’t have a chimney, you may be able to install a pre-fabricated one that works in the same way as a normal chimney would. There are options for you to have one that either runs internally or externally to your property, and allows you to enjoy a stove or fire in your home. Your retailer will be able to advise which type is best for your installation. This will allow you to have a woodburning stove, such as Stovax Futura 5, despite not having a chimney.

A gas stove may be an option as many models are available as balanced flue versions, which do not need a chimney, but rather a twin-wall pipe to vent directly through an outside wall. Air for combustion is drawn in through the outer pipe while the inner pipe removes the combustion gases to the exterior of the property.

If solid fuel or gas appliances are not an option, an electric product is suitable for homes without a chimney; simply plugging into a standard mains socket can offer a stunning flame effect, with or without the heat for year-round ambience.

QMy bathroom is quite small, is it possible to have a roll-top bath and what about the tap in terms of plumbing? Abigail Bentley, Cardiff

APhil Etherden, Managing Director at The Albion Bath Company, says… With a smaller space, the trick is to maximise the visible floor area, so use a free-standing bath on feet or a plinth. Don’t be tempted into cramming large items into a small room. The effect will be to lose all aesthetic value while making the room look cluttered.

When choosing the bath, it is important to consider whether you want a traditional or contemporary feel; bathtubs are available in many styles with roll-top or flat top, single or double ended, along with many possible feet or plinth choices. There is also the option to have a freestanding bath that is designed to fit flush against a wall or even to use as a shower bath.

At Albion, we wanted to get the fun factor of a free-standing tub into a small bathroom so the Tubby roll-top was born. With its generous depth, you can get fully submerged but at only 1,200mm long, it can grace a small space that may otherwise be redundant. It can be used with taps that are either wall-mounted or on top of our sturdy standpipes. There is also a great range of over-bath shower systems for a luxury look that is still practical for busy family life.

Tubby Torre plinth bath, from £2,541, The Albion Bath Company

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