Palm Residence is a warm, quietly expressive family home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Designed by Lane & Grove, the project balances generous open living with moments of softness and detail — a place that feels calm, considered, and deeply liveable.

Strong connections to the outdoors, carefully scaled spaces, and a fireplace that anchors the main living area all play a role in shaping how the home is experienced.

230427 dw laneandgrove s12 0285
230427 dw laneandgrove s12 0285

We spoke with Deborah Quigley and Margot Lane, Directors at Lane & Grove about the thinking behind the design, the fireplace specification, and a few practical insights worth considering when designing with fireplaces.

Can you tell us a bit about the project — the original brief, your role, and how you approached it?

Palm Residence is a series of juxtapositions. A calm and hardworking family home. Luxurious and affordable. Simple and detailed.

The original building was a 1900s semi-detached dwelling, common in the beachside suburb of Coogee. While old, it did not contain many redeeming features of the era. Lane & Grove proposed removing the rickety lean-to extension and replacing it with a generous open-plan living space, seamlessly connected to the rear garden through 3-metre-high sliding doors.

Windows and doors are oversized, framing landscape and sky. They are designed to remain open and take advantage of Sydney’s temperate climate. The addition of a second storey enabled us to unlock views of the valley and create space for a home office, which will ultimately evolve into a parents’ retreat.

Let’s talk fireplace — did you specify the fire, and why did you choose gas, Escea, and the DF960 model?

Lane & Grove specified the Escea DF960 gas fireplace for its simplicity and scale. The design features a custom curved black metal backing, which worked beautifully with other curved design features throughout the home.

We added a Calacatta marble hearth — although it isn’t required for the fireplace — because we wanted the stone to introduce a sense of luxury. It’s a simplified take on a traditional fireplace.

230427 dw laneandgrove s06 0156 copy 025x_2
230427 dw laneandgrove s06 0156 copy 025x_2

How would you describe the finished home — and the role the fireplace plays within it?

The home is very calming and inviting. The fireplace is a beautiful centrepiece that helps separate the kitchen, living, and dining spaces. It also breaks up the high light window, which looks up into the mature tree beyond.

230427 dw laneandgrove s12 0285_1
230427 dw laneandgrove s12 0285_1

Inside Tips: What are the top things to consider when designing a fireplace into a home?

  1. Scale and location are critical.
    You shouldn’t have an oversized fireplace in a small room, and vice versa. Heat output needs to be considered for each space, as well as where people will sit to enjoy both the view and the warmth.

  2. Choose materials that work with the room.
    Fireplace cladding can be a design statement or a more subtle element, depending on the mood you want to create and how it sits within the wider material palette.

  3. Consider remote operation from the start.
    It’s worth setting the fireplace up for remote operation, as you can preset it to turn on at a particular time of day — for example, before you arrive home from work — so the room is already warm and welcoming when you walk in.

 

Browse Stoke's range of gas fireplaces for your next home renovation.