Monday, January 09, 2012

Parisian fireplace


It's pretty rare that Parisians have a fireplace that actually works, and though, yesterday, I had a nice afternoon with friends who have, what we call a Poêle Prussien (I looked everywhere, I could not find their origin). Very cool! Most Parisians think it's forbidden to make fire in a fireplace in Paris, whereas it is allowed, under several conditions (you have to have you chimney pipe cleaned twice a year, you're not allowed to burn just anything, etc.). I have a couple of fireplaces in my apartment, now I'm tempted... (Of course the price of wood may put me off this idea, but that's another story).

16 comments:

  1. Do it Eric!! There is nothing like a fireplace for comfort and ambiance!! We have "do not burn" days here in California where you are not supposed to burn wood(especially this winter with the strange warm weather)but many people just ignore it or possibly don't know. It can be awful though because you are walking down the street choking on the fumes. We also buy "Enviro Logs" which you can use anytime, cheaper than wood and they still radiate warmth. I don't know whether you can find them in Paris but it might be worth researching. Perhaps you can get an axe and find a forest???

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  2. I would adore a fireplace. To me it says cosy nights on a big couch with a book and hot chocolate. I guess I'm more homey than romantic. Unfortunately they set off my husband's and daughter's asthma. sigh.

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  3. Lovely fireplace! I had no idea one could have a fireplace and not be allowed to use it.

    It feels strange to look at the date on your posting which is tomorrow for me but must be today for you. Time just confuses me.

    I enjoy your blog!

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  4. I love the detail on the doors of the fireplace. We never have a fire in our fireplace because we don't like the messy clean up; instead we have a lot of large candles in it staggered at different levels which works quite nicely as well.

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  5. We have regulations in southern California, too. I don't know them all. guess I should do some research before it gets cold again.

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  6. Really nice fireplace. I think that's all cast iron, which would be really good for heating the room

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  7. First I must say that I love the famous Tenin perspective here (of course!). Have to agree with Tonton Flaneur—take an axe and find a forest. And enjoy your fireplaces, for goodness' sake!

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  8. What a nice, warm photo and the fireplace is really pretty.

    I have always wanted a fireplace and a bathtub but I have never lived in a place with either one. If I ever move again there has to be both.

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  9. That's a good looking fireplace, and a nice fire going too. I think you should give your own fireplaces a try this winter. You never know unless you try...

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  10. Living in the countryside, lost in the middle of nowhere, I do enjoy my fireplace all winter long!
    But I'm paying my wood much, much cheaper than in Paris: 1 stere (1 cubic meter) costs quite less than the 160 litres offered by "Buche à Buche" (which means "log to log"!)...

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  11. We had a fireplace at our first house, and it was lovely -- even when a log burst open and popped embers onto the carpet and the couch! (We ended up with a new laminate floor because of that!) But there was nothing better than sitting in front of the fire with a pot of tea and a book.

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  12. Go for it Eric and hang the expense.
    When we occasionally light our open fire in our little back room, the rest of the house empties and everyone is round the fire. Must be some primitive instinct coming in to play.
    I love to sit by the fire, reading a book (Kindle?) with a glass of something slightly stronger than Christie's pot of tea. :)

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  13. Making the most romantic city in the world even more romantic.

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  14. Great winter time photo. I saw on YouTube during Christmas that you could watch a fireplace burning a yule log. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-t0hsNM-dA&feature=related

    @Christie, "...log burst open and popped embers onto the carpet and the couch!" Things like that put people off when considering a fire in their fireplace. And, also the after-fire messy clean-up.

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  15. Hmmm I can just visualize Eric coming back from "the forest" and making his way through the Paris traffic jams with a bunch of wood and an axe tied up to the back of the scooter ;)

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  16. I would adore a fireplace. To me it says cosy nights on a big couch with a book and hot chocolate. I guess I'm more homey than romantic. Unfortunately they set off my husband's and daughter's asthma. sigh.

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