Colard Winde: 'Been selling, restoring and installing for 29 years'

Colard Winde, owner-director of C.W. Rustic Construction Fireplaces, breathes fire places. Like no other, Winde knows the charm, design, rich history and do's and don'ts of fireplaces. "Driven by our passion for the trade, we do everything ourselves. From design to realization. So the foundation, the chimney cap, even the bricklaying: hardly anyone does day still".Text: Bart-Jan Brouwer
Online editing: Mical Joseph
Image: John van Helvert

Fire is my life

"For 29 years I have been selling, restoring and installing authentic fireplaces and unique designer fireplaces. When I was nineteen, I bought my first marble fireplace and proudly built it myself in my own home. I loved doing it, which is how my passion for building fireplaces was born. And that passion has only grown over the years. Fire is my life. From the age of 24, I entered the fireplace business. In the beginning I focused on classic fireplaces, over time modern ones were added. The fireplace, in whatever form, is a beautiful product. It brings warmth, comfort, peace and harmony to any home and is the centerpiece of a room! "

Automatic glass plate

"Everyone has their own set of expectations and there is a lot of choice. Stoking on wood or gas? Open or closed with glass? A modern or antique fireplace? And maybe someone has ideas for their own design. Inspiration can be found in our showrooms and we think along to make every wish come true. That we don't let that limit us is demonstrated by the recently launched unique glass lift-door fireplace. We make these to measure, whereas elsewhere they are only available in fixed dimensions. This type of fireplace can be closed by a sliding glass plate. This not only gives a safer feeling, but also provides more efficiency. If the plate is normally moved by hand, we are the only one with automatic control tailored to your needs, which can be connected to the home automation system or Wifi. We never sell no. Only when safety is compromised or it really is not technically doable. Because of our passion, expertise and customization, we are in high demand internationally. We work in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Russia ... And yet we only do this with six people. I want to maintain exclusivity and only work with people who have mastered the craft to perfection, speak multiple languages look presentable and share the same passion."

Crackling fire

"Which fireplace fits best in this time of energy transition? If you want to burn energy efficiently, consider one powered by bioethanol. This biological fuel is currently often built into gasless homes. While bioethanol used to give off an unpleasant odor, the updated composition of ethanol has made that a thing of the past. Safety standards have been tightened to the point that safety is guaranteed with our bioethanol burners, which is not the case with many other providers. The charm of a wood burning fireplace is unmatched, with its crackling fire and typical smell. Although in a gas fireplace you can also place a firebox with an aroma oil in it; then you will have a similar effect. A gas fireplace has many advantages: you don't have to empty an ash drawer, you don't have to lug around wood, and at the touch of a button it is on or off. Should the gas supply decrease due to political developments, a switch to propane or butane is also possible, as is already used in gasless living. What would currently help in the case of a gas or wood fireplace: a particulate filter in or on the chimney. Those filters have been on the market for thirty years, but you don't hear much about them. If politicians would subsidize them, the CO2 and particulate matter levels in the Netherlands would be a lot less. And burning well-dried wood is essential. This prevents many problems in the field of smoke and particulate matter. Nowadays over-dried wood is often sold, which still has to dry for at least two years."

Atmosphere Bringer

"In all the years I've been in this business, I've never had a crisis. In fact, during corona we couldn't handle the demand anymore. People used to want one fireplace, nowadays they want one in several rooms. I once put several fireplaces in a castle. A great challenge, a fantastic project with impressive results. A proud feeling... The customer satisfied and so are we. Driven by our passion for the trade, we do everything ourselves, from design to realization. So the foundation, the chimney cap, even the bricklaying: hardly anyone does that anymore. And also the maintenance, up to and including sweeping the chimney. That is immediately part of our strength: we are not dependent on anyone. Moreover, C.W. Rustic Construction is one of the last remaining specialists who can still make large castle fireplaces, the traditional work. Some customers want a fireplace that comes from the same time as their castle, say from the sixteenth century. Then I really have to go looking. There are dealers who search specifically for antique fireplaces, for example, when an old castle becomes vacant and is emptied. My house dates from 1625. It took some effort, but now I also have a fireplace from that year of construction. But it is just as much of a challenge and pleasure for me to install a modern fireplace. For example, we recently made a four-and-a-half-foot-long pool fireplace on propane fire. An eye-catching ambassador between pool and patio, with glass on one side and an open fire on the other. I would like to have something like that myself. Have to build a pool first, though, haha."

MASTERS MAGAZINE

The spring issue of MASTERS celebrates regained freedom after two years of corona. Its value is underscored by developments in Eastern Europe, where the freedom of an entire people is at stake. We live in a new reality, but we can plan again, eat out, meet people. The world is turning again! Only: which way? Time for new bridges, new initiatives. To which this edition of MASTERS offers inspiration.

MASTERS #49