Project: Four bespoke marble fireplaces
Location: Mayfair, London
Property: Two luxury apartments
Fireplace: Salisbury Bolection
Material: Honed Natural Carrara marble
Installation: Bonfire in-house installation team
Four bespoke marble fireplaces, two Mayfair apartments and a central London installation that required careful planning long before our team arrived on site.
For this project in Mayfair, London, Bonfire was commissioned to supply, design and install four traditional marble fireplaces as part of the refurbishment of two high end residential apartments.
Each fireplace used our Salisbury Bolection surround produced in solid Natural Carrara marble with a honed finish. The surrounds were paired with bespoke honed slate hearths and slip sets, with two fireplaces incorporating cast iron chamber lining panels and the remaining two fitted with Stovax Edwardian cast iron inserts.
The finished fireplaces needed to feel entirely at home within the architecture of the apartments while meeting the practical demands of a busy central London building project.
This is exactly the type of project our London fireplace specialists team is set up to manage: specification, surveying, logistics, supply and installation coordinated under one company.
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The Brief: Four Bespoke Fireplaces for Two Mayfair Apartments
The brief was to create four traditional fireplace features across two apartments within the same Mayfair development.
Rather than simply delivering individual fireplace surrounds to site, the project required a coordinated package covering the fireplace components, bespoke stonework, cast iron elements, site access and final installation.
For all four rooms, our Salisbury Bolection fireplace surround was selected.
The Bolection profile works particularly well in period and high end London interiors. Its clean proportions give it a traditional architectural character without introducing excessive detailing, allowing the natural marble to become the main feature.
For this project, each surround was produced in Natural Carrara marble with a honed finish.
Carrara is defined by its natural suttle veining and variation, meaning every fireplace has its own individual character. Using the same marble and surround style across the two apartments created consistency throughout the development while the natural variations in the stone prevented the fireplaces from feeling repetitive.
The Fireplace Specification
Each of the four fireplaces was carefully specified around its individual room and fireplace opening.
The principal specification included:
- Four Salisbury Bolection fireplace surrounds
- Natural Carrara marble
- Honed marble finish
- Bespoke honed slate hearths
- Bespoke honed slate slip sets
- Two fireplaces with 8mm cast iron chamber lining panels
- Two fireplaces with Stovax Edwardian cast iron inserts
The result was a combination of natural marble, dark honed slate and traditional cast iron.
These materials work particularly well together. The pale marble provides the architectural frame, while the slate and cast iron introduce contrast and give the fireplace depth.
Our wider bespoke fireplace design service allows projects such as this to be configured around the dimensions, architectural style and requirements of the property rather than forcing a standard fireplace package into the space.
Installing Solid Marble Fireplaces in Mayfair
The installation itself was only one part of the job.
Central London projects require careful logistical planning, particularly when working with large pieces of natural stone.
Every marble surround supplied for this project consisted of substantial solid pieces. These components cannot simply be carried through a property without considering their weight, dimensions, access route and the condition of the finished or partially finished building around them.
Before installation, our team had to establish exactly how each component could safely reach its final location.
Restricted Lift Access
One of the main challenges was the building’s lift arrangement.
The available lift could be used for materials, but access restrictions meant that moving the fireplace components through the development required careful coordination.
With large solid marble sections, cast iron components and slate hearths involved, this is not something that can be worked out once a delivery vehicle arrives outside.
The route into the building, movement between floors and final approach to each apartment were considered as part of the project planning.
Manoeuvring the Marble Through a Window
Some of the marble components could not follow a conventional route into the property.
They had to be carefully manoeuvred through a window before being moved by hand over a considerable distance to their final rooms.
Natural stone is extremely heavy but also needs to be handled carefully. A large solid marble component cannot simply be dragged, knocked or repeatedly repositioned without increasing the risk of damage.
Our installers therefore worked methodically, protecting the stone and surrounding areas while moving each component through the building.
It is the less visible part of a fireplace installation, but on projects of this type the logistics can be every bit as important as the final fitting.
Working Around a Busy London Building Site
The apartments formed part of an active building project, so our installers were working alongside other trades rather than within an empty finished property.
That meant coordinating access, working areas and timings with the wider project.
Certain cutting and preparation work also had to be undertaken in designated areas of the site. On a project involving marble, slate and cast iron, planning where this work takes place helps protect both the fireplace materials and other finished surfaces within the building.
Our team is accustomed to working alongside main contractors, project managers and specialist trades on larger residential projects.
Sometimes unforeseen adaptions to the products have to be made, we alway do our best to create solutions for this. In this case it was cutting of the cast to fit into the rebate of the surround. We’re problem solvers and always try and make it work for our clients.
For architects, designers and developers, our fireplace service for professionals provides a single specialist team that can take responsibility for the fireplace package while coordinating with the wider construction programme.
Parking, Deliveries and Central London Logistics
Installing fireplaces in Mayfair presents a very different set of practical considerations from working on a property with a private driveway.
Parking restrictions, loading locations, delivery timings and the distance between the installation vehicle and the property all have to be considered.
For this project, parking and site access were arranged around the installation requirements before the works took place.
These details matter when several hundred kilograms of marble, slate and cast iron need to reach a property safely.
They are also why our quotation and survey process looks beyond the fireplace opening itself.
When we assess a fireplace installation in Mayfair, we consider the complete project: the property, access, fireplace dimensions, product specification and practical installation requirements.
It allows potential complications to be identified early rather than becoming a problem on installation day.
Two Fireplaces with Cast Iron Chamber Linings
Two of the fireplaces were finished with 8mm cast iron chamber lining panels.
The dark cast iron creates a strong contrast against the honed Carrara surround while maintaining the traditional character of the fireplace.
Using cast iron within the chamber also gives the opening a substantial, authentic appearance that works particularly well with the proportions of a Bolection surround.
The honed slate hearth and slip sets continue the darker finish around the opening and provide a clean transition between the marble surround and cast iron chamber.
Two Fireplaces with Stovax Edwardian Cast Iron Inserts
The other two fireplaces incorporated Stovax Alexandra Edwardian cast iron inserts.
This gave these rooms a more decorative, period led finish while retaining the same honed Carrara Salisbury Bolection surround used elsewhere in the apartments.
Using a common surround specification with different internal treatments is an effective way to maintain consistency throughout a property while responding to the character of individual rooms.
The cast insert provides considerably more decorative detail than the simpler cast iron chamber arrangement, while the marble Bolection creates a consistent architectural frame across all four installations.
An In-House Fireplace Installation Team
One of the key advantages on a project of this complexity is having the people responsible for the different stages working within the same business.
Bonfire provides a complete fireplace design, supply and installation service, supported by our own surveyors, project managers, designers and installation team.
For this Mayfair project, the installation was carried out by our own team as we do not use a subcontracted setup.
That gives us greater control over communication, specification, scheduling and the quality of the finished installation.
It also means that when an issue arises on site, whether that involves access, dimensions, materials or coordination with another trade, our installer can communicate directly with the people responsible for the project.
For larger or more complicated projects, that continuity makes a considerable difference.
Working Alongside Architects, Interior Designers and Developers
A fireplace often sits at the point where architectural detailing, interior design and technical installation meet.
Because of this, we regularly work alongside architects, interior designers, developers, builders and project managers.
Our role can vary depending on the project.
Sometimes we become involved early, helping determine fireplace proportions, materials and technical requirements from drawings.
On other projects, the design intent has already been established and we are brought in to survey, specify, manufacture or source the required components and complete the installation.
For multi fireplace developments such as this Mayfair project, having one specialist responsible for the complete fireplace package helps simplify the process.
We can work directly from plans and specifications, attend site where required and coordinate the installation with the wider programme.
Fireplace Installation in Mayfair Requires Planning
Mayfair contains some of London’s most impressive residential properties, but installing substantial fireplaces within them can involve significant logistical constraints. For more general advice on styles, regulations, installation considerations and choosing the right fireplace for a London property, see our guide to fireplaces in London.
Period buildings, apartments, restricted access, managed developments, limited parking and busy construction sites all affect how an installation needs to be approached.
The finished fireplace may look simple.
Getting several large pieces of solid marble safely from a vehicle in central London to an upper floor room, without damaging the fragile marble, the property or other completed work, often isn’t.
That is why we treat access and logistics as part of the installation rather than as somebody else’s problem.
Our team plans these requirements when the project is surveyed and quoted, allowing us to provide a much more complete service from the outset.
A Turnkey Approach to High End Fireplace Projects
Bonfire has been family run since 2003.
Over more than 20 years we have built the business around providing a complete fireplace service rather than simply selling individual products.
Today, our team works on projects ranging from individual residential fireplaces to larger developments, hospitality projects and premium properties throughout London and the Home Counties.
Our approach is straightforward:
Survey it properly. Specify it properly. Plan the installation properly. Then install it properly.
For clients and professional teams, this provides one point of responsibility for the fireplace package and access to an experienced specialist team throughout the project.
You can see more examples of completed installations in our fireplace and stove project portfolio.
The Finished Mayfair Fireplaces
Once installed, the four fireplaces brought a consistent architectural detail through both apartments.
The honed Natural Carrara marble provides enough natural movement to make each fireplace unique, while the restrained Salisbury Bolection profile keeps the overall appearance clean and balanced.
Against the marble, the dark honed slate and cast iron create definition without overpowering the rooms.
More importantly, the finished fireplaces give little indication of the amount of planning required to get them there.
And that is ultimately the objective of a well managed installation.
The access challenges, lifting, parking, site coordination and heavy manual handling should disappear into the background.
What remains is the fireplace.
Planning a Fireplace Project in Mayfair or London?
If you are working on a refurbishment, luxury residence, apartment development or interior design project in Mayfair, Bonfire can provide a complete fireplace package from initial specification through to final installation.
We work with homeowners, architects, interior designers, builders, developers and project teams throughout London.
Our service can include:
- Fireplace design and specification
- Site surveys
- Bespoke marble and stone fireplaces
- Fireplace surrounds and mantels
- Bespoke hearths and slip sets
- Cast iron inserts and chamber linings
- Gas, wood burning, electric and bioethanol fires
- Flue and chimney systems
- Technical advice
- Project management
- Delivery and installation
- Aftercare
Learn more about our London fireplace design and installation service or our dedicated Mayfair fireplace installation service.
For architects, designers, developers and contractors with drawings or specifications already prepared, you can also send your project information directly to our team for review.
Planning a project in Mayfair or elsewhere in London?
Contact Bonfire to discuss your plans and obtain an initial quotation before arranging a site survey.
London: 020 3535 5890
Mainline: 0118 970 1717
Email: info@bonfire.co.uk
