Virtual Reality...

The fireplace industry has changed so much in the past 10 years. It can be hard for us to stay on top of the new trends due to vast amount of new products coming to the market. We can only imagine what it must be like for people embarking on a new build or renovation. Being bombarded with ideas from Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest not only for fireplaces but every aspect of the built. It's sure to leave them feeling exhausted.

The demand for three sided , tunnel and room dividing fires has increased 500% in the past two years. This is due to the modern open plan methods used designing our homes. Due to this evolution in design, multi aspect fires are now available in all fuel types. With the most popular being the electric tunnels and room dividers. This type of fire is the ideal way of joining two room together with the same fireplace and creating a major focal point in the room.

This is where things can get confusing. Our customers sometimes know what they want and in the most part we understand their needs. However in most cases this is not an off the shelf purchase. Almost every project is deferent and it is very hard for the customer to visualise how their new fire will look when they have never seen it.

This is not a problem at Spratt Fireplaces and Stove Centre. We will design and draw your new fireplace in full 3d rendered drawings. This technology has come so far that if the render is given enough time to download the finished drawings can be indistinguishable from the real thing. The biggest benefit of this technology is that you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home. This is ideal given the current position we find ourselves.

The process begins with a brief meeting or conversation via phone. This gives us the chance to nail down the finer points of the design. (The client will already have chosen the fire and general style they like). If the client has chosen a fire then a deposit will be taken. If the fire is not decided on a fee of €150 is taken, this is deducted from the final balance. Then we get to work, the first process is to create the 3d designing program. This can be very time consuming as this is where every detail must be drawn to scale. On completion the client will be sent the pre rendered drawings. This gives us a chance to change and modified any detail the client may not like prior to fully rendering.

This also gives the client the chance to review and give us feed back on changes they would like to make. Once this process of consultation is complete the rendering can begin. The rendering process is is a snap shot of the 3D drawing. The 3D drawings are loaded in to the rendering program. The colour and material are enhanced and modified to resemble the real thing aka "virtual reality". Refraction is adjusted and light can be set for shadows. Once all material is set the drawing is positioned, think of it as the screen is the camera lens. Much like a photographer the image is captured and the rendering begins. Rendering can be done in range of resolutions, but for most part the medium setting is prefect as higher setting can take 24 hours to complete.

Render vs Real

Pictures are emailed to the client and this give them the chance to view there new bespoke fireplace in virtual reality. The customer can be comfortable with their purchase and how it will look in their new home. The process eliminates the grey area of visualising which some customers struggle with and allows the customer the safety of knowing exactly what they are buying. Also gives Spratt Fireplaces an exact blue print to get to work making your new fireplace and home a reality.