Srinagar, Jan 31: The fireplace, an architectural structure designed to contain a fire for heating, with typical heritage looks has been going trendy in the Valley at least for its cast iron avatar. Its sales, as per its dealers, have soared over 30 per cent this winter.
 Apart from many villas, restaurants and hotels too are now opting for the cast iron fireplaces used for relaxing ambiance.
 From Pine Palace hotel in Pahalgam to De Linz restaurant in Srinagar, fireplaces brought the warmth this winter.
 Its sole dealer in Kashmir, Continental Heating and Air Conditioning Systems (CHAC)–a City based concern, which provides heating arrangements for the past over a decade, said the sales have picked up over the years.
 Managing Director CHAC Urfi Mustafa Shonthu said the customers have shown a great interest to switch over to the fireplace.
 A mechanical engineer by qualification, Urfi said he has been trying his best to introduce the latest in the field for his clientele.
 For him this business has been such a passion that he gave up government job to continue with the central heating business.
 Urfi said the CHAC has pioneered centrally heating in Valley way back in 1996. “Kashmir apart, we have installed fireplaces at least at two plush restaurants in the national capital New Delhi,” he said, adding that many tourists in Kashmir who happened to see the fireplaces booked the same for their homes.
 “Basically, it takes time for a novelty to pick up and the sales are gradually picking up.  Same had been the story for centrally heating systems when I started it in Kashmir in 1996,” Urfi said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST