Carl Finnell · Case study · Wakefield

A media wall built around the fire

A Stovax Studio 2 wood burning cassette in Wakefield, set into a bespoke polished black granite surround with a built-in log store and a recessed TV above, part of a full home renovation.

Talk to us about your project Stoves in Wakefield

ApplianceStovax Studio 2 wood burning cassette

LocationWakefield, West Yorkshire

SurroundBespoke polished black granite

FeatureRecessed TV, non-combustible chamber, log store

A Stovax Studio 2 cassette wood burning fire with a TV recessed above and a log store below in Wakefield.

The centrepiece

A cassette fire, framed in polished granite

Back in 2018 we installed three fireplaces in this stunning home in Wakefield. The centrepiece is a Stovax Studio 2 wood burning cassette stove, set into a bespoke polished black granite surround that was designed and manufactured to fit the space precisely. Below the fire we incorporated a practical built-in log store, for both convenience and style.

To complete the feature we constructed a non-combustible metal stud and Glasroc chimney breast with a recessed space for the TV above, creating a sleek, contemporary focal point that combines warmth, function and modern design. The TV, the fire and the surround were planned together so the whole wall reads as one considered piece.

Working with the build

Fitted around a full renovation

As the property was undergoing a full renovation, we worked closely with the main contractor to ensure a seamless installation during the first and second fix stages. Careful planning and coordination let the project progress smoothly and delivered a high-quality finish that integrated perfectly with the overall renovation.

If you are planning your own renovation or new fireplace project, that early coordination is exactly where the value is. Bringing us in during the planning stages helps the job run smoothly, avoids costly mistakes, and delivers a fireplace that fits the home properly rather than being squeezed in at the end.

The finished media wall from the side, TV recessed above the fire with the log store below

The thinking

A media wall where the stove came first

This project works because the fire, TV, log store and surround were designed as one wall rather than four separate ideas. A wood burning cassette like the Stovax Studio 2 needs more technical thought than an electric media wall, because heat management, non-combustible construction and flue performance all have to be settled before the polished granite and screen position are finalised.

The black granite surround gives the Studio 2 a sharp architectural frame and stands up to real stove use. The built-in log store keeps fuel close without cluttering the room, while the recessed TV position keeps the wall clean. Where clients ask for a similar look, the honest survey question is whether the room suits a wood burning cassette or whether an electric fire would be the better media-wall answer.

The process

Why renovation timing matters

Because this Wakefield home was already in a full renovation, the important work happened before the final finishes. First and second fix coordination gives the builder, electrician and installer a chance to agree routes, openings, board build-up and service positions while the wall is still open. That is much cleaner than trying to fit a stove, flue and TV into a finished room.

For similar homes around Wakefield, the advice is simple: involve the stove installer before the feature wall is built. The wall can then be formed in non-combustible materials, the hearth and surround can be measured properly, and the TV position can be judged against stove heat rather than guessed from a showroom image.

Related proof

A different kind of feature fire

This is the wood burning side of the feature-wall question. For a more sculptural solid-fuel centrepiece, the Dik Geurts Oval hanging stove in Bedale shows the same principle at a larger scale: design the architecture around the appliance, not the other way round.

Questions about this kind of job

Asked and answered

Can a real wood burning stove go in a media wall?

Yes, but it has to be designed very differently from an electric media wall. The structure, board specification, clearances, flue route and TV position all need checking before the wall is built.

Why use Glasroc around a cassette stove?

Glasroc is a non-combustible board system, so it is suited to forming a chimney breast around a solid-fuel appliance when specified and installed correctly. Ordinary plasterboard is not the right material next to stove heat.

Is a recessed TV always suitable above a wood burning cassette?

Not always. The stove instructions, TV temperature limits and the way heat leaves the appliance all matter. We assess the layout on the survey and may steer a client toward a different position or an electric fire if that is the cleaner answer.

Do you build media-wall stove projects around Wakefield?

Yes. Wakefield and the surrounding towns are within the area we cover, and this project shows how a wood burning cassette can be built into a renovation when the planning starts early enough.

HETAS Registration Number 2087

HETAS registered

Installed with care, certified with confidence

Carl self-certifies every installation and notifies Building Control on your behalf, so the work is signed off properly and your certificate of compliance is issued for your records.