Fire By Design at BBQ & Fireplace Centre
On the Sunshine Coast, winter is less about bracing against the cold and more about choosing to create warmth. Ida Fink Gundtoft turns to the experts at BBQ and Fireplace Centre.
There is something deceptive about winter on the Sunshine Coast. It doesn’t arrive with a cold snap or a sudden drop in temperature. Instead, it drifts in slowly, like an exhale after the long, salty days of summer. Mornings are crisp but golden, afternoons paint sunset stunners across the winter skies. And then, almost without warning, the light fades earlier and the thermostat drops – inviting us to gather, to slow, and to settle in around the fire.
Across the Coast, that expression looks different depending on where you reside. By the water, in the suburbs, or tucked into the hills of the hinterland, the season reveals itself through lifestyle as much as climate – and increasingly, through the presence of fire. Along the coastline, where the ocean still holds the memory of summer beach days and the architecture leans into the clean and contemporary, fireplaces have taken on a new form. Electric and gas designs are becoming a natural extension of modern homes – streamlined, architectural, and effortlessly ambient.
For Renee from BBQ and Fireplace Centre, fireplace choice reflects both place and lifestyle. There is no stacking of wood, no smoke curling into the night air, just the quiet flicker of flame set into stone or tile, often as much a design feature as a source of warmth.
“Coastal homes lean towards clean, architectural solutions designed for ambience without the need for wood or smoke,” she says.
This is a shift that local specialists like BBQ and Fireplace Centre have seen evolve in real time. With more than two decades of experience servicing the region, they’ve watched homeowners move toward solutions that prioritise both aesthetic and efficiency – electric, gas, ethanol – each offering a different way to create warmth without compromising the relaxed, coastal lifestyle.
In these homes, winter evenings unfold with the doors still slightly ajar, the sound of the ocean not far off, and a glass of wine catching the last of the light.
The flicker of flames is not there out of necessity, but intention. It anchors the space, draws people in, and creates that subtle shift from day to evening that defines this special time of year.
In the hinterland, where suburban life meets generous backyards and open decks, the story becomes more social. Outdoor fireplaces and built-in features are extending the way people use their homes – turning terraces and gardens into year-round gathering spaces.
It’s no coincidence that outdoor living has become such a strong focus across the region. From built-in firepits to full outdoor kitchens, there’s a growing desire to blur the line between inside and out – something reflected in the expanding ranges of heating and outdoor solutions offered locally. Spaces are no longer designed just for summer entertaining, but for evenings that stretch deep into winter, shaped by firelight and conversation.
There is a particular kind of evening that feels unique to the Sunshine Coast – friends arriving barefoot, children moving between indoors and out, food prepared over the barbeque as the air cools. The fire becomes the centrepiece, not just visually, but socially. It stretches the night, encourages conversation and allows outdoor living to continue well beyond summer, shaped not by temperature but by ambience.
Here, the season finds a more traditional rhythm. Mornings can arrive wrapped in clouds, and the sun, when it breaks through, feels earned. This is where wood-burning fireplaces are not just aesthetic choices; they are part of daily life. They warm homes in a way that is steady and grounding, cutting through the damp, cool air. There is a practicality to them too. Wood-burning fireplaces and cookers offer an efficiency that speaks to the realities of rising energy costs, while also helping to keep homes dry – an important consideration in regions where moisture lasts a little longer than wanted.
“Wood burning fireplaces and cookers are highly efficient over other fuels,” Renee says.
Beyond that, they hold something less tangible. A wood fire changes the pace of a home. It asks you to tend to it, to build it, to sit with it. It becomes a ritual as much as a resource. For me, this way of living with fire feels deeply familiar. Growing up in Denmark, fireplaces were part of everyday life. Lit on summer evenings as much as in winter, creating a sense of comfort and connection that went beyond temperature. The fire was always the centre of the room, a place people naturally gravitated towards. Some of my fondest memories are framed by that glow. Conversations that lasted late into the night, the quiet crackle of wood, the feeling of being held in a space that was both warm and calm. That sense of cosiness, of atmosphere, of presence, is something echoed here on the Sunshine Coast, just in a different language.
Winter, in this part of the world, is not about retreating indoors or enduring the elements. It’s about enhancing the way we already live. It’s about recognising that as the evenings cool, there is an opportunity to slow down, to gather, and to create spaces that feel intentional. Whether it’s the clean line of an electric fireplace in a coastal living room, the open invitation of an outdoor fire, or the steady warmth of a wood-burning stove, each expression reflects not just a climate, but a way of life.
A Sunshine Coast winter doesn’t ask much of us. It doesn’t demand heavy coats or long hibernation. Instead, it offers something quieter – cooler nights, lingering days, and the chance to shape our own sense of warmth. And more often than not, it begins with a spark of energy, thoughtfully chosen, beautifully placed, and brought to life with the guidance of the local experts at BBQ and Fireplace Centre.
LIGHT MY FIRE!
However you experience winter on the Sunshine Coast, there’s a fireplace to match your lifestyle. From design-led solutions for inside the home to outdoor entertaining and hinterland living, BBQ and Fireplace Centre offers a curated range of heating solutions to suit every space.
Wood – Traditional, powerful and grounding. Ideal for hinterland homes, offering efficient heat, reduced moisture, and that unmistakable crackle and glow.
Gas – Instant warmth at the touch
of a button. Clean-burning and convenient, perfect for effortless indoor comfort.
Electric – Sleek, modern and low-maintenance. A design-forward solution delivering ambience without smoke or installation complexity.
Ethanol – Flexible and flue-free.
A stylish option for adding warmth and atmosphere in spaces where traditional fireplaces aren’t possible.
Shop the full range with expert advice at BBQ and Fireplace Centre.
www.bbqandfireplace.com
