When Story Homes commissioned Fireplace Studio Brighouse to work across nine luxury new build properties in Cheshire, the brief was about more than just installation, it was about helping buyers imagine the life they could build there.
From a fully dressed showhome to bespoke stone hearths across the development, we delivered a fireplace package that set these homes apart from the moment buyers walked through the door.
The Client
Story Homes, a developer building nine high-specification residential properties in Cheshire. With a reputation for quality and an eye for detail, they wanted a fireplace partner who could match their standards across an entire development and deliver something that genuinely added value to each home.
The Brief
The primary goal was to create a showhome that would inspire prospective buyers and demonstrate the full potential of the properties. Beyond that, Story Homes wanted every home on the development to come with a fireplace-ready chimney breast — a feature increasingly rare in new builds, and one that immediately elevates a property above the competition.
What We Installed
A Custom One-Piece Stone Hearth with Matching Upstands
For the showhome, we designed and installed a custom one-piece stone hearth with matching upstands, paired with a wood burning stove, giving buyers a complete and aspirational picture of what their own fireplace could look like.
Across the remaining eight properties, we installed the stone hearths and upstands ready for occupation. Each opening has been built to accommodate wood burning, multifuel, or electric stoves, and home buyers have the option to select and install a solid French oak beam and stove of their choice through us directly — keeping the relationship personal and the quality consistent.
Project Timeline
This was an ongoing partnership spanning approximately eight months, with Fireplace Studio Brighouse called upon by Story Homes as each new build reached the point of readiness for installation. A phased approach that required careful coordination throughout.
Why This Was the Right Solution
New build homes are increasingly delivered with flat walls and few options for buyers who want character and warmth. Story Homes understood that a chimney breast changes that — it introduces architecture, focal points, and a sense of permanence that buyers genuinely respond to. By combining a fully finished showhome installation with buyer-ready openings across the development, Story Homes could both inspire and offer flexibility, without compromising on quality or finish.
The Result
The homes looked exceptional and every client was delighted. Each property left the development with a modern yet traditional fireplace space ready to be personalised — a blank canvas of the highest quality, and a feature that made the Story Homes development stand out in a crowded new build market.