Architectural design and creativity have always been hampered by mechanical limitations.

There are two ways to react. First, you can accept the limitations and design within the convention. There’s hardly any shame in that. It’s 99 percent of good, responsible design.

But it can be frustrating to accept “it’s not done that way” or “it can’t be done” all the time. Which leads to the second approach, which starts with thinking of solutions that turn “can’t” into “can.”

When it comes to incorporating a luxury gas fireplace into a design, there are spaces in a structure where an installation simply won’t work. However, because Ortal engineers decided to take the second approach, you now have far greater design flexibility. As a result, it’s now possible for architects and designers to install luxury fireplaces in apartments, upstairs rooms, any room in a multi-level home, and other locations that were once off limits. Power venting is almost always the preferred solution in multifamily buildings. Power vent also allows a 90-degree elbow right off the top of the fireplace, allowing for “short chase” designs that allow a window right above the fireplace. This feature also allows a fireplace to be designed like a continuation of built-in furniture.

We’re always looking for ways to extend the viability, efficiency and functionality of a luxury gas fireplace through innovative solutions. By developing our heat control system, we’ve found a way to accomplish that goal.

In essence, our engineers have worked to ensure that a fireplace can do more than provide heat in close proximity to it. To increase functionality or just enjoyment, it sometimes makes sense to move the heat a fireplace generates away from the area. When that process is done efficiently, it’s possible to heat a different room or remove heat so that a fireplace ambiance can be enjoyed when additional heat isn’t desirable.

The number of building products that architects and designers specify in a house or building is staggering. By working with professionals for many years, we’ve found they often need more than the right product. For that reason, Ortal puts a great deal of effort into offering even more than industry-leading innovations, and compelling fireplace designs by supporting architects with a range of services and support. That’s why we offer a “white glove” service that extends from your initial planning through installation and beyond. But even more than that, we concentrate our focus on design flexibility so we’re ready to work with you and help at every stage of a project.

Our consultants are available when you need assistance need at no charge.

During the renovation of a 1970s Lakeview residence in Calgary, Alberta, designer Lindsey Tsang of LD&A wanted to honor the original, multi-level design while updating the interior space. With its multiple, split-level transitions, a vaulted ceiling and wide, main-floor windows, the residence provided open concept spaces and unobstructed sight lines.

During the construction of a new home in Santa Monica, Calif., Dorothy Alon of Sophea Interior Design saw opportunities to complement and enhance the modern farmhouse style that characterized the home. The boutique firm, located in Encino, CA, specializes in providing interior design of high-end residential development and new construction for condominiums. For this project, Alon wanted to magnify the home’s visual appeal with a highly distinctive quartz material around the fireplace to serve as a focal point. Because quartz can crack under high heat, she was left with choice of choosing more a traditional material or finding a fireplace designed specifically to deflect heat.

People are spending a lot more time outdoors these days as a safer way to enjoy activities with friends and family. This includes going on hikes, having picnics, enjoying fire pits in the evenings, and more. Summer won’t last forever, and as the weather starts to get cooler, it might be time to think about replacing your outdoor fire pit with an indoor-outdoor fireplace that allows you to enjoy the comfort and companionship that a fire makes possible all year long.

Clients rely on designers to make recommendations about products based on both aesthetics and performance. When it comes to fireplaces, most people want something that not only looks great, but something that also provides functionality to keep them warm and cozy, especially in the colder months. Efficiency is also often a top priority, especially if occupants plan to use the fireplace for heat. 

Luxury gas fireplaces do more than just look fabulous, they also have the benefits of being safer and giving you more design freedom. Unlike traditional wood-burning fireplaces that could allow combustion gases to enter indoor spaces, direct vent gas fireplaces have a sealed combustion system that expels exhaust outside. The combustion air is also drawn directly from the outdoors, and a sealed glass front isolates the entire direct vent fireplace system from the interior spaces. 

Although it’s not common knowledge to the average consumer, designers know that the words “modern” and “contemporary” can be used interchangeably in some contexts, but when it comes to design, there are important distinctions. The difference between modern versus contemporary interior design is all about time. Modern design refers to a specific era in the past, and contemporary design pertains to an aesthetic that is popular in the moment. When it comes to including a fireplace in a space with a modern or contemporary design aesthetic, Ortal offers solutions that will fit any era.

In the modern age, many customers do online research before ever stepping foot inside a fireplace showroom. They often already have a sense of the style they want, how much they’re willing to invest, and which manufacturers align with their needs. When selecting a new luxury fireplace manufacturer to add to your inventory, you want to be confident that the brand you choose meets certain criteria. In addition to being a popular choice for your customers, you also want to know what they offer to support you, your customers, and the installation crew.