With summer well and truly behind us and a distinct autumnal feel in the air, it's a great time to think about making your home cosy in readiness for the winter. A fireplace provides both warmth and a focal point for the room, and all the better if the style is in keeping with the dcor of your home.

The Boro Factory Shop in Lye, part of the historic Boro Foundry, offers a wide range of fireplaces and accessories from period styles to the very latest designs. Customers will appreciate the traditional aspects of the family-run company, which uses time-honoured manufacturing methods dating back 100 years and maintains the area's traditional industry.

There has been a foundry on this site since 1934, with the current owners, the Norton family, taking over in 1960. Originally producing castings for industry, they later branched out into cast-iron fireplaces and garden furniture, which form the basis of the business today. Products made in the foundry are sold through the factory shop, recently opened to the general public.

"We sell gas, electric and solid fuel fires as well as free-standing units and stoves," says operations manager Martin Borley. "Customers could choose a very traditional fireplace to suit a period home, or a streamlined minimal design for a contemporary house or apartment."

Accessories include cast-iron fire backs, fronts and panels, and traditional 'fire dogs', and a new range of cast-iron baskets has recently been launched, including coloured glass and pebble features perfect for a 'hole-in-the-wall' fireplace design. In addition to these products, the Boro Factory Shop brings in associated merchandise such as a variety of surrounds in marble or wood, so that customers can purchase 'the whole package'.

"Our Corgi-registered fitters will install every part of your fireplace, not just the actual fire," Martin points out. A free surveying offer is also currently available. Martin adds that compared to high street retailers, the factory shop is able to sell its products at very favourable prices.

With cast-iron garden furniture from tables and chairs to planters and urns also sold at Boro, it's well worth making a visit to see the choices on offer and sustain the industrial heritage of the Midlands.

Boro Factory Shop, Hayes Lane, Lye, Stourbridge Tel: 01384 896679 www.borocollection.co.uk