To keep the house warm

Good morning. If there’s something I’ve always loved in houses, it’s wood-burning fireplaces—that’s at least what I’ve always called them. Maybe it’s a habit I kept from childhood, when families would gather around the fire to chat, drink mate, or simply get lost in the hypnotic dance of the flames. Perhaps that’s why, every time I walk into a house, the first thing I do is look carefully for that special corner: the wood-burning fireplace. And if I’ve already spotted the chimney from outside, the curiosity and expectation only grow stronger.

These days, there are all kinds of fireplaces. I’ve seen very modern ones, with tempered glass, minimalist designs, and even some that mimic the effect of flames with lights and electric systems. They give off heat, yes, and they even look nice, but to me, nothing compares to the experience of a real wood-burning fireplace. The smell of the wood as it burns, the crackling sound in the background, the warmth that doesn’t come evenly like from a radiator but instead wraps around you little by little, like an embrace—that is irreplaceable.

This time, I want to share something that truly surprised me: a gigantic real wood-burning fireplace, the kind you’d expect to see in a movie, that I found when I walked into a restaurant. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes were immediately drawn to that enormous wall covered in stone and wood, designed entirely to frame the star of the place: the fire. I walked over slowly, almost as if I were afraid of interrupting something sacred, and I spent a while just admiring the details. The contrast between the solidity of the stone and the warmth of the wood was striking; you could tell the builders wanted to give it character, elegance, and a rustic feel all at once.

I would have loved to see more firewood burning that day, with tall, strong flames giving off plenty of heat, as I like to say. But instead, there were only a few shy embers and small flames playing hide-and-seek among the logs. Probably they hadn’t put in much wood because the weather didn’t really call for it—it wasn’t very cold outside. Still, the fireplace was there, waiting patiently for the right winter day to unleash all its power.

And the truth is, even if it wasn’t in its full splendor, just seeing it filled me with joy. It felt like finding an old friend in the middle of daily life, a reminder that simple things still hold value. I imagined what that dining hall must feel like in the middle of winter, with snow or rain outside, and everyone gathered around the fire, sharing a good meal, a glass of wine, and the warmth that only a wood-burning fireplace can offer.

I hope you enjoy this little story I’m sharing, because for me it’s not just about a beautiful wall with a nice design: it’s about rescuing a piece of tradition, about keeping alive the magic that fire brings when it becomes the heart of a place.