Since the time when early man discovered fire, it has been a source of warmth for his comfort.

As civilizations advanced, fireplaces came into being and were the major source of warmth for residences for many hundreds of years using wood  ( and sometimes coal ) as fuel.

The fireplace was often the main design element in many rooms and was often also used for cooking and drying laundry.

In addition to the immediate warmth offered by a fireplace, it attracted and nurtured the senses  with the sight of colorful and flickering flames, the sounds of crackling, and the scents of burning wood.

The fireplace became a social, emotional, and psychological ” hearth ” for it’s users fulfilling needs other than the physical. It became a sort of magnet that appealed to our primordial humanity.

There have been many pleasant hours of my life that have been spent in front of a fireplace.

We now live in the 21st Century where many other systems keep our residences warm. But still today, fireplaces are a desirable feature for many people in their homes. In our current  world, fireplaces are usually more of a design and ambiance element than a sources of major heat.

Gas ” fireplaces ” are very popular today in that they are clean burning, easy to use, install, and maintain, and come in many sizes,shapes, and finishes and are a source of supplemental radiant heat. As such, they are often used in contemporary houses in ways that they end up being decorative flames rather than fireplaces which is all well and good if that is what you want.

The design aspect element to consider in these schemes: Is such being used logically, functionally, realistically, and aesthetically well? Be careful and intelligent in your approach. If not, you could easily up with something that looks out of place, gaudy, ostentatious, and simply stupid.

Food for thought.