A key thing for me when building our new extension was to make sure we had a means of cooking and heating off grid should we need it.
We already have a stove in the sitting room that we use all winter. There's not many nights between November and March where it's not lit and we have plenty of firewood to keep us going.
And although we can put a pan on top of the stove it's not ideal to cook with.
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| Love the look of our new stove! |
The size of the chimney space went up and suddenly what would have been a little fireplace has turned into the main focal point of the room.
This was a real game changer, now we could have a full sized oven! Looking through what was a available a few really stood out and were within our budget. In the showroom we'd taken a real shine to La Nordica Rosa L but when the fireplace was finally finished it turned out we could have the biggest size the XXL.
This bigger size just meant a far bigger oven, so all our normal trays and things could still be used, much better for day to day cooking. The rest of the stove was pretty much the same.
I did go for the optional extra of the plates on top as this makes the temperature much more controllable as you can open or shut them. With more heat being directed either up the chimney or into the room or oven.
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| The fire box is huge! Can fit double what's in our other stove. |
We haven't tried the oven part yet but I full intend to this week. It does feel that with both fires going we'll be able to heat the whole house off grid should we need to, and although the heat takes a while to get into the bedrooms it soon finds its way up there. the big solid chimney also acts as a great heat sink and makes the middle of the house feel warmer for ages.
What do you think? Do you like it?
What would be your dream off grid heating set up?
Looks amazing, I'm a tad jealous.
ReplyDeleteHa! thanks! You're not the first to say that to me!
DeleteBeautiful. Didn’t even know you could get something like that.
ReplyDeleteI knew what I liked. I always hated not seeing the flames in the one my parents used to have. Nice to know how well the fire is going. It does chuck out a fair bit of heat though!
Deleteit looks fantastic!! warm and inviting and even romantic being able to see the fire but in the states we would be advised not to have it that close to the walls without fire brick etc. So what is lining the alcove walls the stove is in? I think it is great to be able to provide most if not all of your own heat with a bonus of being able to cook with it. Take care from Iowa
ReplyDeleteIt's solid concrete blocks covered in a sand and cement render. 100 percent fireproof! There a good 4 inches to every side as well.
DeleteLooks real nice. Over here we don't see modern ones like that. The typical wood cook stove here is something like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.evansvilleantiquestove.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_2186-773x1030.jpg
Mom still cooks on one.
I like those! I really wanted one I could see the fire with though. I love watching the flames, I think it's primal instinct.
DeleteIt's a beauty . . . I can just see a pot of soup or beans simmering away there while your busy about your day. It's going to be so warm and cozy . . . a wonderful addition to your home:)
ReplyDeleteStay warm and enjoy your winter.
Connie :)
Thanks! Yeah can't wait to have stuff bubbling. I thought it would be great for stock as well!
DeleteI have read about the chimney being built to be more of a heat sink than just a way to get exhaust out. Build it so the heat kind of zig zags up, more surface area to heat up etc....
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a Airman at RAF Alconbury, we had a Hospitality house ministry that was based in a former Rectory.......Hang on, Now I have to go look it up!.....Woolley! Google says it is St. Mary's Church and the rectory is right across the road. Anyway, the house had a AGA stove in it that the missionary's wife cooked many a meal on for us hungry Airmen. I'm feeling stupid right now; being a farm boy from Minnesota, I should have went out into the country more and got to know the farmers......Oh well, good memories anyway!
If anything I'm worried about this being too hot for the room and looked at an isolated flue but with the top plates it won't fit. I can't wait until I've the kitchen finished and I can have more friends and family round for tea.
Deletei would love to have a stove like that. it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jaz!
DeleteI love it! We have a similar set up in our 1970's house- log burner in the living room and (reconditioned) Rayburn in the kitchen. We have no radiators downstairs and rarely put the upstairs ones on and when we do it's because the vintage windows contribute towards a damp problem. Hopefully when they're replaced next year upstairs will be warmer.
ReplyDeleteCooking on the Rayburn takes a bit of a knack, and I've cooked on wood fires all my life. I did go with a friend on an Aga cooking day at a local showroom which gave useful tips (and a lovely lunch!) It might be different with your stove but I've found it best to minimise the length of time the lids are open if I want the oven to be hot, for instance. Does yours have a warming oven? Using that can be helpful- bring veg like carrots up to the boil and then put the pan in there and they carry on cooking, like in a hay box.
Have fun experimenting!
We have radiators and the ones downstairs are for when we're feeling lazy or ill! I can shut them off and will need to when this is running I think!
DeleteI'm really looking forward to cooking on it and making more stocks as it's not using electric all the time.
No warming oven on this one but that's a great tip, even with the hot plate.
Yes, it’s great for things that take a long tine. At the risk of sounding like my granny, I sometimes boil hankies on it and also simmer orange peel and a couple of cloves in the winter as a room fragrance, like they suggest in magazines but I’d never do in my electric hob !
DeleteHave you got a stove fan? They make a huge difference to moving warm air around a room.
I have a fan for the one in the sitting room but not this one yet. I think it needs one though.
DeleteLove the idea of a bit of orange peel and cloves for a nice smell. I'll have to try that!
Very nice Kev! We, too, wanted to have something we could eat, heat and warm our water from so I know just where you are coming from. Our Rayburn always gives me the warm and fuzzies on a cold morning when we light it. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteNothing like the heat from wood like that is there? It somehow heats the house differently and I know what you mean about the fuzzies!
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ReplyDeleteThe walls would be a mess if I tried cooking there! (I don't cook very often).
ReplyDeleteIt looks warm and cozy.
Helen
It is a concern but I'm hoping it won't get too bad as it's a distance to the walls. Also the paint is one I should be able to wipe.
DeleteWe were sort of off grid for heating and hot water at the smallholding except for when the children moaned and needed the storage heaters on!
ReplyDeleteTook me years to master the art of cooking on a wood fired Rayburn - it all depended on which way the wind was blowing
I'm sure we'll still use the central heating as I don't like a really warm house and once the fires are lit it soon warms up.
DeleteCan wait to learn to cook on this! Should be great fun.
When my paternal grandparents moved in the 1950s Grandma had a new coal range (thought she burnt wood) put in. While it was flat on top she would always have 3 kettles on it - one just put there, one half-way heated and one about to or boiling. I drank a lot of tea when staying there. Your new wood stove looks wonderful. So lovely to be able to see the flames! Michelle in Wellington, NZ
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of three kettles! I never drink hot drinks but be great for cooking and for the wife to have her cuppa tea! I always remember getting up early to take lambs to market and my dad using the rayburn to boil water for his coffee as it was much quieter and would wake everyone else up.
DeleteKev, I love your new stove! I don't think we have anything like it over here, although I haven't looked for at wood cookstoves since we got ours. Looks like you made an excellent choice.
ReplyDeleteYou can put ducted floor vents in the ceiling through to the rooms above to allow warm air to circulate and not just be trapped downstairs.
ReplyDeleteIt's something I've thought about. To be fair with both running upstairs doesn't seem too bad and if they're on a for a couple fo days the whole house feels warm from them.
DeleteThat looks lovely! I like the glass doors. I don't remember that being available when we were looking for a stove for our kitchen, but we wanted one that did hot water as well, so have an Esse range cooker. Nice size firebox saves some splitting! - We find that if not too breezy ours will stay in overnight with a big log. The main problem I have with ours is dust - kitchen storage needs to be in cupboards: the ash gets everywhere, but otherwise I love it - great for cakes. I assume the silver at the bottom of the flue is a damper, and you have a warming drawer under the firebox for drying wood, what is under the over side? How is it for cleaning the flueways? Ours is a right pain to do, and some of the fittings are not great.
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