SPARK Modern Fires:
Fanning the Fires of Contemporary Design
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Applying a Chic, Modern Sensibility to the Gas Fireplace, SPARK Plans Two New Product Releases at ICFF

New York, NY – May 2006 – Put simply, SPARK Modern Fires is redefining the gas fireplace industry (www.sparkfires.com). Providing a long-awaited design update to a classic fixture, SPARK’s clean, elegant design is reinstating the gas fireplace as a choice for the contemporary designer. Dispensing with the shapes and materials so long tied to the gas fireplace, and eliminating the so-called fake log altogether, SPARK has combined a clean, modern aesthetic with new technology to create a fireplace with an understated, often sculptural, quality. In every SPARK installation, the focus is on the beauty of the flame itself but, with options for surrounds ranging from copper to ceramic tile to stone, they can be customized to complement any project, residential or commercial. SPARK began selling its modern fireplaces in 2005, and is launching two new designs at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City in May.

“The traditional gas fireplace has become something of a relic to modern designers because of its appearance,” said Tom Healy, co-founder. “And yet the fireplace can be both the decorative and communal focus of a space–what a shame to give it up! With SPARK Modern Fires, we set out to create a fireplace that would be an asset to the contemporary designer, and the response has been astounding.”

Two New Products from SPARK
SPARK Modern Fires will be exhibiting at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) this spring, May 20-23, in Manhattan. Here it will launch two new products, the Fire Ribbon direct vent and the Fire Bowl. Both products offer outstanding adaptability and customization in addition to energy efficient heating capabilities (these modern fireplaces have all the “cozy factor” of the traditional). What is most immediately apparent, however, is their striking appearance; they are about paring the fireplace to its very essence, the flame itself.

The Fire Ribbon direct vent, the only truly modern direct vent product on the market today, embodies the clean “flame-only” aesthetic for which SPARK is known. Inspired by the sleek appearance of home electronics, SPARK’s Fire Ribbons are set in a simple rectangular surround, which can be rendered in almost any material specified by the designer. Inside this elegant frame and behind a thin pane of glass, the eye is drawn to a mesmerizing horizontal “ribbon” of flame. The Fire Ribbon direct vent can be vented through the roof or a side wall, and is approved for bedrooms, bathrooms, common rooms, and commercial uses in all 50 states. The universal compliance is significant because it means that the Fire Ribbon direct vent is the first SPARK product approved for New York City, California and Colorado, all regions with vibrant design communities that have been enthusiastic about SPARK Modern Fire products.

The Fire Bowl is the retrofit answer, the solution for those who want to convert an existing wood-burning masonry fireplace or for those that have already converted and are burning fake logs. The centerpiece, a generous 18” bowl, is cast from a ceramic-like material and is available in a variety of neutral colors. The bowl is installed in the fireplace on a base so that the flames can be seen dancing above the rim. As with all SPARK products, the fire bowl can be fueled with propane or natural gas and the flame is ignited by remote control.

In addition to these new releases, SPARK also offers the Fire Ribbon vent free. The company’s first product, it resembles the Fire Ribbon direct vent except that it requires no venting and no glass in front of it: there is nothing between the viewer and the undulating ribbon of fire.

“SPARK Modern Fires’ sensibility is unique in the industry,” said Healy. “We believe that the most compelling aspect of any fireplace is the flame itself—its living quality, warmth, even romance—and this has guided the design of all our products.”

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