How luxury features like electric fireplaces are creating comfortable family homes

Beyond aesthetics, luxury homes are a reflection of people’s lifestyle and values, and at the top end of town, modern home design is increasingly emphasising comfort and family connection.

From new builds to reconfigurations, designers and architects are crafting innovative layouts that incorporate comfort and convenience with bold statements to create beautiful, meaningful spaces. 

The modern luxury home creates a sense of repose and is a sanctuary for residents. Everything from the choice of hard finishes to the lighting and temperature plays a role in creating a comfortable home filled with spaces for entertaining or unwinding.

“Design isn’t just about what looks good; it’s how a space makes you feel,” says Rinnai group manager Patrick Corcoran. 

Contemporary fireplaces can “enhance a home’s aesthetics, warmth and efficiency while maintaining a sophisticated atmosphere”, he says.

Electric fireplaces have enjoyed somewhat of a “glow up” in recent years, with Rinnai at the forefront of innovation. Its latest EL range is holographic and uses ultra-realistic flames, glowing charred logs and crackling fire sounds to create an immersive experience. 

The settings are customisable, with four flame styles and nine fuel bed and log colour options available. Thermostatic control can monitor and maintain room temperature, and ELs look like perfect fireplaces running with or without heat. 

“If you’re running it at night, it can be subdued and you can have lower light flames,” Corcoran says. “Or you can choose white flames, orange flames, you can even have sparks and smoke.”

While the fireplaces are often used in living spaces, Corcoran says the Rinnai product range can suit any room in the house.

Buyers can choose between a single-sided fireplace, one set into a corner with two glass panels, or an impressive three-sided panoramic option.

“There’s no flue; you just need a power point,” Corcoran says.

The fireplaces are great for retrofitting as a replacement for old gas fireplaces, he adds.

A statement of comfort

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“There’s definitely been a trend towards people wanting to make their luxury home more comfortable,” says interior designer and Studio Doherty director Mardi Doherty.

“Whether that’s through smart-home integrations, heating solutions or clever lighting design – or relooking at how they actually use their spaces.”

One major shift that Doherty has noticed in the last few years is that the family dining table has undergone a redesign. Gone are the rigid chairs of yesteryear, replaced by plush multi-sided banquettes that create comfortable places to sit and relax. 

“Families are watching less TV together, with so many streaming services and devices around, so we’ve found that by creating a place to eat that’s comfortable enough to lie down on, there’s more use and enjoyment of that space,” Doherty says. “That’s where families are congregating.” 

It’s another simple layer of comfort that, when paired with intelligent lighting design, luxurious material choices and smart-home integrations, can deliver a warm, inviting space to live. 

“Lighting is something that can make a huge difference in your living experience,” Doherty says. “The combination of fixed and statement lighting can help you set the tone for your home.”

Smart technology has made it easier than ever to control lighting, heating, blinds and more, and Doherty says home owners are becoming increasingly savvy about how it’s used.  

“Less is more when it comes to automation,” she says. “People are looking at their home’s orientation and increasing the quality of their furnishings and fixtures, and ensuring that products have a long lifespan.”

Quality then underpins the use of automation to set the right mood and add to the home’s personality.

“Now it’s easier than ever to make a statement with lighting or set the right temperature from your iPad,” Doherty says.