After Using This Smokeless Fireplace, I Don’t See the Point of a Real One

A low-commitment way to bring mid-century warmth to your home or yard.

Published October 26, 2024

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Die-hard fans of mid-century modern design are in a constant conundrum: how to furnish their digs with legitimate pieces from the time period without having to take out a second mortgage. It’s a tough place to inhabit — you’ve got the taste and the vision but more often than not, the bank statements aren’t aligning with the picture in your head.

For example, if you’re looking for a Malm fireplace, as I so often do, the base price starts at two grand — and that’s not factoring in installation. (For the record, average installation costs start around $1,885 for an entry-level unit and can run to more than $3,700 for a large one.)

This is where the the Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace comes in.

Manufactured by Solo Stove, makers of those trendy smokeless fire pits, this entry-level fireplace promises a relatively affordable way to bring both mid-century vibes and smokeless flames to your abode. I tested one to find out if it lives up to its looks.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

At a Glance

Solo Stove Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace

Pros

Genuine mid-century modern aesthetic for a reasonable cost
Easy to move and clean
Warms rooms quickly

Cons

Annoying to set up
Instructions are almost indecipherable

$700 at solo stove

The Lloyd puts off plenty of heat while maintaining a minimal — and moveable — footprint. Portable, sleek, easy to clean and stunning to look at, this little fireplace fits anywhere from poolside hangs to your apartment.

While setup leaves a little to be desired, once it’s up and running, you’ll forget all about the minor inconveniences that come with getting it going. For less than a thousand dollars, it’s hard to find anything else that compares.

It’ll get you warm inside or out — with no smoke

Besides its design, the thing I liked most about the Lloyd is its smokeless flame, courtesy of the clean-burning Fire Gel Fuel canisters.

These are essentially tiny paint cans of what looks and smells like rubbing alcohol, easily installed into terminals in the device. The Lloyd lights immediately, and it even crackles like a wood fire.

a person lighting a terraflame fire pit — When lit, the gel fuel canisters cackle like a real fire but produce little to no smoke.

I’ve tested freestanding fireplaces that take upward of half an hour to get things toasty, but the Lloyd had my living room warm within 15 minutes. Outside, it’s less effective at keeping you warm — you’ll lose most of the heat out the top — but the ambiance is hard to beat.

The Lloyd lights immediately, and it even crackles like a wood fire.

Either way, be sure to read the instructions for the snuff tool before extinguishing the fire the first time; it looks simple, but you should know exactly what you’re doing before messing with an open flame.

I made the mistake of thinking the snuff tool should be placed over the top of the open gel canister, blocking oxygen and quelling the fire — but I didn’t realize the snuff tool’s circumference is much smaller than the gel canister’s, and I ended up dunking the snuff tool in the gel and catching it on fire. (Facepalm.)

The proper way to quench the flame, in case you’re wondering, is to pick up the lid with the magnetic snuff tool, slide the lid onto the canister, and wait until the flame goes out.

The vibe is immaculate

A major part of the appeal of the Lloyd fireplace — besides the warmth it provides — is its design. Taking cues from the iconic Malm fireplace, the Lloyd is sleek, sophisticated and polished. It’s available in five colorways; I went with Mist, a serene gray. At first I was a little nervous setting it up in my home — we’re all about warm hues and tones — but I was pleasantly surprised to find the fireplace fit right in.

lloyd modern gel fuel fireplace in a corner of a living room surrounded by plants and a person sitting in a chair — The fireplace’s mid-century modern design looks absolutely dynamite in virtually any space.

More adventurous folks may want to try the blue or orange colorways, especially if you’re really going for the mid-century look. The Lloyd is lightweight at 31 pounds, and I’ve been able to lift it up easily and transfer it to different rooms in my house. It’s been in our living room, office and primary bedroom, and it elevates the look and feel wherever it goes.

Setup is a little clunky

Although there are only five main pieces that need to be attached with minimal hardware to bring the Lloyd together, I found myself growing frustrated at the setup process. While the instructions are simple to the verge of being unclear, it wasn’t the process that bothered me; it was the construction of the unit itself.

Yes, $700 is far less than any other mid-century fireplace plus installation, but when the holes don’t align while you’re trying to screw the hood and base together, perspective goes out the window fast.

The kit comes with an Allen key with a Phillips-head screwdriver, but I’d recommend having a power drill and an extra set of hands nearby to get the job done. And wear gloves — some of the openings have sharp points and edges. Setting up the Lloyd fireplace is a little like having a baby; painful in the process, but once it’s done, you like it so much you consider having another one.

Alternatives

As stated previously, there aren’t a whole lot of options out there that combine the looks, easy setup and low cost of the Lloyd. If you want a true Malm fireplace, it’s going to cost you thousands of dollars, will need to be installed in your home and is a lot messier and more difficult to run

The closest competitor is arguably Modfire’s ethanol-fueled Hausfire indoor/outdoor fireplace ($2,750), which is of similar sizing and styling to the Lloyd — but at more than three times the cost.

Le Feu’s Dome ($2,195) doesn’t resemble a Malm, but it still offers a very cool mid-century modern aesthetic and uses BioEthanol fuel. But it also costs over two grand.