15 Best Contemporary Fireplaces

A contemporary fireplace is rarely an afterthought, whether it is set into a feature wall or suspended in open space. Placed well, it sets the proportions of a room, anchors the furniture plan and becomes its most considered architectural detail. The fifteen modern fireplaces below, drawn from the Modus collections and recent projects, span linear gas fires, hole-in-the-wall designs, suspended and double-sided fireplaces and outdoor fire pits. Every one can be adapted in proportion, material and finish, or used as the starting point for something entirely bespoke.

Muro 09: Linear Gas Fireplace with Hot-Rolled Steel

A 2.4-metre open-front linear gas fireplace framed by hot-rolled steel side panels. The raw tonal variation of the steel gives a long, low flame the material depth it needs in a large living space.View Muro 09

Muro 12: Leather-Clad Linear Gas

FireplaceA 2-metre linear gas fireplace with an 1800mm ribbon flame, set beneath a chimney breast clad in real leather. It is an unexpected material for a fireplace, resolved so that it reads as warm, tactile and entirely deliberate.View Muro 12

Muro 20: Carrara Marble Fireplace with Brass Detailing

Carrara marble paired with gold-painted steel, for interiors that sit between classical and contemporary. The marble is chosen and cut for the project, so each fireplace carries its own veining.View Muro 20

Muro 11:

2-Metre Hole-in-the-Wall Ribbon Flame FireplaceA 2-metre opening with a single, continuous ribbon flame. Among hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas, it is the most reduced: with no visible frame or mantel, the wall itself becomes the surround.View Muro 11

Muro 07:

Linear Gas Fireplace with Curved Brass PanelsA 2-metre linear flame framed by curved brass side panels. The curve softens the geometry of a linear fire, and the brass warms as the light changes through the day.View Muro 07

Muro 15:

Linear Gas Fireplace with Black GlassA 2.4-metre flame set within floor-to-ceiling black glass. When the fire is off, the glass reads as a single dark, reflective plane; when lit, the flame appears to hang within it. View Muro 15

Muro 08:

2.5-Metre Gas Fireplace within a Timber Media WallA 2.5-metre linear gas fireplace integrated into a full-height slatted timber media wall. Fireplace, joinery and television are designed as a single composition, with heat management resolved from the outset. (Read more: Can You Install a TV Above a Fireplace?)‍View Muro 08

Muro 24:

Three-Sided Slimline Gas Fireplace for the KitchenA slimline three-sided open gas fireplace with a wide, full-length flame, designed for an open-plan kitchen. Viewed from three sides, it connects cooking, dining and living spaces around one focal point.View Muro 24

Orbit 01:

Suspended Conical Fireplace in Antique BrassA suspended conical fireplace with an antique brass canopy above a carved, hammered granite base. Positioned in open space, it reads as a sculpture first and a fireplace second.View Orbit 01

Orbit 07: Four-Sided Glass Island Fireplace

‍A four-sided glass fireplace beneath a suspended, stone-clad canopy. The flame is visible from every angle, making it a natural centrepiece for open-plan and double-height spaces.View Orbit 07

Vista 02: Double-Sided Linear Gas Fireplace

Room DividerA double-sided linear gas fireplace that divides two spaces while keeping a visual connection between them. It is an architectural solution as much as a source of heat.View Vista 02

Vista 01: Indoor-Outdoor Double-Sided Bioethanol Fireplace

A double-sided bioethanol fireplace set between interior and terrace, with thermopane glazing between the two. Because bioethanol needs no flue, the fireplace can be placed where a conventional fire could not. (Read more: What is a Bioethanol Fire?)‍View Vista 01

Gyrofocus: The Pivoting Suspended Fireplace by Focus

One of the most recognisable fireplace designs of the last half-century, the Gyrofocus pivots through 360 degrees on its suspended flue. Designed by Dominique Imbert and available in the UK through Modus, it remains a principal reference point for the suspended fireplace.View Gyrofocus

Senso 08, The Pebble: Sculptural Outdoor Fire Pit

‍A sculptural outdoor gas fire pit in smooth, honed concrete. Low and rounded, it brings the language of a contemporary interior out onto the terrace.View Senso 08

Ultra Bespoke: A Fireplace Without Precedent

The final entry is the one that does not yet exist. Clients can personalise any Modus design, adjusting proportion, material or finish, or commission a fireplace conceived from first principles for a specific architectural setting. If you can conceive it, Modus can deliver it.Explore Ultra Bespoke

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a contemporary fireplace?
A contemporary fireplace is a design that prioritises clean geometry, considered materials and integration with the architecture over traditional mantels and ornament. Typical forms include linear gas fires, hole-in-the-wall designs, suspended fireplaces and double-sided fireplaces.

What is the difference between a modern and a contemporary fireplace?
In practice the terms are used interchangeably for fireplaces with clean lines and minimal ornament. Strictly, "modern" refers to the mid-century design movement, while "contemporary" describes current design.

Can a contemporary fireplace be installed without a chimney?
Yes. Many gas fireplaces can be installed with a balanced flue or powered flue system, and bioethanol fireplaces need no flue at all. The right option depends on the construction of the building, which Modus assesses as part of the design process.

Can any of these designs be customised?
Every design shown can be adapted in size, material and finish to suit the project. For something entirely new, the Ultra Bespoke service develops a fireplace from first principles.

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