We're now leaning more toward having gas fireplaces, instead of wood-burning. Moving us away from wood are things like the mess, the effort, the wood storage issue--and the really cool looking gas fire "appliances" we're seeing.
Then last night, our neighbors suggested that if it's "resale value" driving us toward a wood-burning fireplace, we should consider that the likely buyer, should we ever sell, would be 50+ and would therefore be "smart enough" to know that gas is much cooler. :)
In particular, here are some of the looks we like from GeoFlame Ltd. in the UK:
I think most, if not all, of the ones pictured require a real flue, but we'd like to find one with the clean elegant look of these--but that would vent through the wall.
This is because we'd think we'd like to have all windows ABOVE the fireplace. So far I've found THIS ONE that vents through the wall, and now I'll be looking for more.
This is fun. :)