- FeaturingEscea DF990 Gas Fireplace
- LocationAdelaide, Australia
- FeaturingEscea DF990 Gas Fireplace
- LocationAdelaide, Australia
When model and entrepreneur Jess Dover set out to build a new family home, she wanted it to feel anything but new. The result is a home shaped by warmth, texture and atmosphere, with a sense of character from the very first day.
Lived In from Day One
Jess’ family home in Adelaide is a new build, designed for everyday family life and for time spent with friends. From the start, she wanted to avoid the polished but impersonal feel that new homes can have.
“The vision for our home was always to create something that felt timeless, warm and genuinely lived in – a home that collected over time rather than feeling like a brand-new display home,” Jess explains.
She has always been drawn to classic American-inspired interiors, and to homes that feel inviting the moment you walk through the door. Every space needed to feel approachable and comfortable, while still feeling elevated and refined.
Feeling Before Finish
Rather than chasing a particular look, Jess designed around atmosphere, incorporating natural textures, soft lighting, warm tones and architectural details to give the home depth and character from day one.
That instinct comes from a long-held love of American homes. “I have always had an emotional response to American style homes, where they almost enforce a ‘more is more’ approach which I absolutely love.”
For Jess, the most impactful design choices were the ones that created feeling and atmosphere, not just visual appeal. In the living room, that began with a single decision.
The First Decision
The fireplace was one of the very first design decisions made for the living space. “The second I saw the mantel in the Stoke Adelaide showroom, I knew instantly it was the fireplace for our home. It had this timeless, classic presence that perfectly aligned with the overall vision for the house.”
Seeing each fireplace on display in the showroom helped Jess get a sense of how it would feel in her home, and she describes working with Adam and the Stoke Adelaide team as seamless from start to finish. “Their knowledge, attention to detail and guidance made what could have felt overwhelming feel really easy and exciting.”
The Escea DF990 Gas Fireplace brings a grand, square format and traditional design to the room. Behind its expansive window sits a Traditional Logs fuelbed, in keeping with the timeless feel of the house. Flexible flues and a Zero Clearance rating give flexibility in how the fireplace is installed and how its surroundings are finished.
Once the DF990 was chosen, the rest of the living area followed its lead. The styling finishes and even the feeling of the space centered on creating a warm, layered atmosphere around the fireplace.
Controlled by app or remote, the fireplace is one of the most used features in the home. “The moment the weather starts getting cooler, it’s the first thing I turn on.”
Soft Light, Natural Texture
Natural textures, soft lighting and warm tones run through the home, and in the living room they gather around the fireplace.
The styling follows the same warm, layered approach, carried through every room.
In Jess’ words, the fireplace makes the home feel “calm, cosy and lived in, which was exactly what we hoped to create.”
Warmth in Every Sense
The finished home feels exactly as Jess hoped it would: warm, timeless and welcoming, with a relaxed elegance that still suits everyday family life.
At the heart of it all is the fireplace. “It’s the visual and emotional centre of the room and completely shapes the atmosphere within the home.” Whether for family time, hosting friends or slow evenings at home, it is where everyone gathers.
Looking back, the project taught Jess the importance of creating a home that feels personal rather than simply following trends, and of going with her creative intuition.
As for the fireplace itself: “It adds warmth in every sense – not just physically, but emotionally too. It’s become the hub of the house and one of those features I genuinely couldn’t imagine the home without now. It’s also one of those design decisions I know I would include time and time again in any future build.”
The Escea DF990 Gas Fireplace is designed and made in New Zealand, and available through Stoke Fireplace Studio.