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accesories, electric, fireplace, fireplaces, furnishings, furniture, gas, mahogany, mantel, wood
With hints of cool weather and holidays around every corner, it is past time to say goodbye to summer and welcome the final months of 2013. Fireplaces have provided warmth and the ability to cook since the Stone Age; they have been against the wall and at the center of rooms and have been fueled with wood, gas, and lately electricity.
Electric fireplaces are an effective alternative to traditional ones. Want a source of heat, ambience, and style without remodeling your living space? Need something more stylish than a space heater? Consider an electric fireplace.
Lavelle Melange/Marble Electric Fireplace
Cherry Electric Fireplace Mantel
Mahogany Traditional Electric Fireplace Mantel
Most electric fireplaces are decorative, affordable, nonpermanent, and environmentally friendly. There are even outdoor versions available for lavish patios and lanais. No matter the design space, electric fireplaces duplicate the aesthetics of a traditional fireplace for a fraction of the price and effort. Some versions* have a “no heat” setting, so that you can enjoy only the view.
Two-story buildings became popular between the 11th and 17th Centuries. The fireplace relocated from the center of the room to exterior walls because the prospect of second-story fireplaces was thoroughly frightening. Soon thereafter, the chimney came into existence, and mantels became popular.
Prince Rupert added to the design in 1678 with an innovative grate to hold firewood. Oxygen-rich air could then circulate underneath and better fuel the flames. Benjamin Franklin introduced the Franklin stove in 1700; it sat in the center of room and radiated heat for a while after the all the fuel burned.
Eventually the advent of central heating led to a minimized use of fireplaces for heating or cooking. Since the 1980s, society has been increasingly interested in environmental and financial consciousness. Today landowners and householders continue looking for creative ways to maximize heat as well as minimize cost and pollution. Electric fireplaces represent such an alternative.