I found the fireplace. I owe all of you a lot of thanks for dissuading me from getting the gel fireplace because you were right, I’m going to be much happier with this in the long run. Although it is still not exactly what I wanted I think I made a great compromise. To begin with, it is not a vented model. I wish it was, but they were simply out of the budget. If I could have, I would have, but I can’t. As an unvented fireplace it burns cleanly enough to not require a flue pipe. Which does have some positives. One of which is that all of the heat stays inside the house rather than going out the chimney. I read some mixed reviews online about them but it seems as though, as with anything, if used sensibly will be quite safe and very efficient. Nevertheless, I will be installing an extra C02 detector just to be safe and drilling a vent in the storm window to crack open while it is being used. The instruction manual claims that the fireplace puts out about 26,000 BTUS and can heat about 1,200 square feet (almost double the size of the whole house).It is also equipped with a blower to help circulate the air.
This model is a few years old, but buying it used saved me over $800 dollars and it is exactly the same as what I saw in the showroom. So far I have spent $400 for the unit itself and $75 for the materials I needed to construct the new mantle.
So this is where we are at currently. I built the new mantle from 3/4 inch Oak Veneer Plywood which I had cut to size at The Home Depot. I then screwed it together on a a simple 2×4 frame which I will show you another time. All the screws and the seams and the plywood look will be covered with decorative moldings and stained later. Here’s the general concept:
I’ll also spray paint the brass with the Rustoleum High Heat Spray paint to make them black. And yes, that is a mock-up of the TV on top (because there is nowhere else for it). However, I do have plan for that that I spied online today at Remodelaholic.
Cool right?
My father will be coming up on Sunday to install the gas line. Because that is not for amateur hour.
Ittybittybungalow 
It looks amazing so far!! Great choice-I think you will be happy with it.
I just bought a bungalow that has a gas fire place and can’t wait until I can get it converted to wood – hopefully I can. Wish you luck with yours – looking good!
That’s great Susan! I wish I could have had a wood burner but, since there was no existing hearth I would have needed to install a chimney and that is more than I am interested in doing! Good luck with yours!
Great placement, it’s going to add so much to that room!
Can you say more about what you learned about brands, etc. for non-vented gas fireplaces? I need to do something for power failures… I have gas baseboard heat, but the pump for it is electric. Thanks.
That’ll be pretty nice. Our neighbor just put one of those in the back of his newly remodeled kitchen and he’s very happy with it. Our rather ho-hum looking fireplace has an amazing old original gas burner in it with the original unbroken ceramic heating blocks; however, it’s unusable as the gas valve is stuck in the off position, plus the chimney isn’t lined so it wouldn’t really be to code. It’s sort of been a long term hope that we’d get it fired up again, and there’s also another gas heater in the attic that we’d like to move to the sunroom where there had evidently been another one at some point. Honestly though, I’m wondering if an electric unit like yours wouldn’t just be a better option.
Hi Conan,
I hear ya! I decided not to get the electric, this is gas. It works without a chimney and they have plain log sets that might work in your existing hearth. Try looking into them!
Hey guys don’t forget to install carbon monoxide alarm inside your home. The fireplace is great, but i could generate the silent killer gas, carbon monoxide.