When former All Black Andy Ellis set out to build his dream home in Christchurch, comfort and quality were non negotiable. So when it came to heating, he turned to the team at Simply Heat, working alongside Stoke Fireplace Studio and ZoneTech to create a setup that's as good looking as it is high performing.
We followed the whole journey on camera, from the first showroom visit right through to the final walkthrough. Here's what went into making Andy's home warm, efficient and ready for whatever Christchurch winters throw at it.
It all started at Stoke Fireplace Studio, where Andy got to see the fireplace options up close and get a feel for what would suit his home and his style. After weighing up the choices, he landed on the Escea TFS650, a freestanding wood fire that delivers serious warmth without compromising on design.
The TFS650 is built from heavy duty 4mm and 5mm steel, finished with precision robotic welding for a fireplace that's made to last. It pumps out 6.75kW of heat through a generous viewing window, so you get all the atmosphere of a real wood fire with none of the fuss. Escea's Direct Vent Technology means the fire draws its air straight from outside rather than pulling it from the room, keeping draughts out and air quality up. A built in, heat activated Smart Fan then pushes that warmth further through the living space, so the heat doesn't just sit by the fire, it gets to work across the whole room.
With the fireplace locked in, the focus shifted to the bigger picture: how to heat the entire home efficiently. That's where the Simply Heat and ZoneTech team came in, working through a full technical assessment of the build to design a ducted heat pump system tailored to the layout, size and performance needs of Andy's house.
ZoneTech technology means every room can be heated and controlled independently, so different parts of the home can sit at different temperatures depending on who's in them and what they need. It's a smarter way to heat a big home, giving comfort where it's wanted without wasting energy where it's not.
From there, the Simply Heat team got to work installing the ducted system and fireplace into the build. It's a big job getting ductwork, controls and a freestanding wood fire all working together seamlessly, but that's exactly the kind of project the team thrives on.
Once everything was in and running, Mick, Andy and the ZoneTech team walked through the finished home together to see the system in action. The result speaks for itself: a beautifully designed wood fire as the centrepiece of the living space, backed by a ducted heating system that keeps every corner of the home comfortable all year round.
It's a great example of what's possible when good design, the right technology and a skilled install team come together. Watch the full video above to see the whole process, from showroom to finished home.
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