The most popular fireplaces
on the market are those that
use natural gas or propane.
peninsula-like fireplace with glass on
three sides is often used on a wall
between the master bedroom and
master bath.
A fireplace with glass on all four
sides gives an unobstructed 360 de-
gree view of the fire. Adding a
dramatic note to any interior design,
this island-like fireplace is sometimes
used to define spaces in a home.
While most pre-engineered fireboxes
are rectangular, Heat-N-Glo sells an
arched fireplace, a style once avail-
able only in masonry units.
Factory-built, free-standing fire-
places, usually contemporary in
design and shaped like cylinders or
spheres with openings on one side
to view the fire, are still available. But
people who want something free-
standing have had a rejuvenated in-
terest in the wood stove, especially
since new concerns about energy
conservation.
One free-standing fireplace that is
attracting interest is Vermont Cast-
ings' Dauntless model, an update of
Benjamin Franklin's cast-iron fireplace.
Burning either wood or gas, the unit,
in black cast-iron or three enamel
finishes, has a large open front with
glass doors to provide a full view of
the fire.
On the technological front, heat-
circulating fireplaces are popular with
buyers. In these models, air from the
Bricks are set in a herringbone pattern in this kitchen fireplace.
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room is pulled into the fireplace
through a grill or vent, heated in the
firebox, then forced out into the room
through a second grill or vent.
There are other options that boost
pre-engineered fireplaces' energy ef-
ficency. One option is a fan to en-
hance the convection process.
Another option is an outdoor air kit
to funnel air needed for combustion
into the firebox from the outside
rather than drawing air from the room
itself. These options can also be in-
cluded in masonry designs.
Mantels And More
Homeowners are faced with an
astonishing array of materials with
A fireplace of rough-hewn stone
rises a dramatic two stories.