turned the electric fireplace into a very upscale piece of furniture. New designs and
engineering have made it possible to add an electric fireplace to almost any room. Space
is really no longer a limitation. Now you can make that empty wall or corner the focal
point of the room.
Having a fireplace once meant the need to clean and inspect chimneys, remove soot and
ashes and haul wood all season long. Forget that! The new ventless fireplaces have
eliminated all that. Now you can have an elegant electric fireplace that assembles
easily and plugs into any standard electric outlet in your home or office. The new
advances in engineering and design makes these ideal for apartments, condos, offices,
conference rooms and anywhere else you don't want to tear out walls, install chimney
flues or take on major remodeling activities. These portable fireplaces can easily be
moved from room to room or packed up and moved to a new home or office. While most
people choose the portable models, there is the option of hard wiring for a permanent
installation. Be careful if you choose this option and then you go to sell your home. It
will be considered a permanent fixture of the house unless you explicitly exclude it on
the sales contract.
These electric fireplaces have many new features designed to make them both a versatile
and functional piece of furniture. They include the simulated flickering flame, a heat
source and a fan or blower. On many models you can select flame only, heat only or heat
and flame. They can be turned on and off with a switch mounted on the cabinetry or
controlled remotely. Now these are not meant to replace your primary heat source, but
they will give off some heat - about 4000 BTU's. That's about enough to heat a small
room.
When selecting an electric fireplace you have several options to consider. If you're
looking to renovate an existing fireplace you will want to select an electric fireplace
insert. These are available in different size fireboxes to fit your existing fireplace.
You can also purchase a fireplace surround and mantel if you want to completely redo the
fireplace look. The other and probably more popular approach is the freestanding or
portable electric fireplace.
Electric fireplaces are available in wall and corner models. The options for cabinetry
styles and finishes are almost unlimited. Styles range from rustic to contemporary to
classic. Many finishes are available with mahogany and oak being two of the most
popular. Various fireplace doors and grills are available giving you more choices to
choose from.
One thing is for sure. The electric fireplace has come along way in design and
engineering. It has become an elegant upscale piece of furniture that will significantly
enhance any setting and provide flexibility in interior design. Now you can add a
strikingly stylish piece of furniture to your home and at the same time add the warmth
and charm of a beautiful fireplace.