Fireplace or fireplace insert

We're planning on building a new house in the UP. I am familiar with woodstoves and currently have a Woodstock Keystone stove which I love. My wife would like a fireplace and I know that fireplaces and fireplace inserts can be efficient at heating. Are there any brand names you guys recommend? I would love some advice - Thanks in advance!

 

Woodstock has many happy customers here...no insert stove model that I know of though. A free stander will always be a little more efficient than an insert...plus not need electric to work well.
Would your wife consider a nice stone hearth extending up the wall to mimic a fireplace? Cheaper to build than an actual fireplace too. I've seen pics of some pretty sweet setups like this!

 

Buck 80 or 91 either can be used as an insert or free standing. Both are catalyst stoves but there are equivalent models in secondary burn tube models.

 

Personally I don't understand wanting a decades old "traditional" design fireplace that will never get used as a fireplace.
A "traditional-looking" fireplace "box" designed to fit a specific insert might make sense if that's the look you want, but an alcove can still look somewhat "traditional" and allow for a greater choice of standalone stoves and upgrades in years to come.

As much as I do like the look of a traditional fireplace nothing says welcome to the 21st century like a big stone alcove style hearth with a modern stove placed in it. You get your formal living room/family room centerpiece and a heating appliance/solution just like in the old days.

 

That is beautiful & still looks quite functional. I imagine when you get all that stone warm it does a nice job of radiating heat.

 

What about the Napoleon nz3000 like Scotty Overkill's?
It looks like a fireplace...but its not
The Napoleon NZ3000 Build Thread

 

That certainly looks beautiful as well as functional as well.

 

and it has duct work to move the heat around.

 

Keep us updated on whatever you decide! Love the UP and hope to move there too some day!

 

As well as my quadrafire insert heats our place, it's not as efficient as a free stander stander. That said, not everyone likes the look of a free stander. I think that's more a female perspective though. Now, the nz3000 or similar combines both and is the way to go. If you are building a place, that's the way I would go. I'm sure there's other brands now that are options.

 

Hey now! Youse two just wait a danged minute, hey? Youse may have decided to live here, but it hasn't been approved by the board as of yet!

This ain't sumpin that is taken lightly, youse both have to go thru an approval process!

 

Many of the stove web sites have pics of marvelous modern installs showcasing their stoves, many are owner submitted.

 

Wherez' does I gets the application eh? Are youse on da approval commitee ?

 

Fireplaces are pretty but also pretty useless as heating sources. If need the look, and many do, go with a built in insert stove. Adding it when building the house gives you a lot good looking choices. If you already have a fireplace get a slip in insert that fits into your fireplace. It will put out so much more heat than your fireplace it is no comparison. If you want the most out of your heating appliance, get freestanding hybrid stove.

 

An insert is a solution for the problem of an open fireplace. Building a fireplace with the intention of adding an insert seems like a giant waste of money.

 

That's basically my understanding of fireplaces as well. I understand the whole"ambiance" thing, but I'm either too practical or too cheap to understand putting in a device that will eat my labor and provide no benefit. Might as well go haul/cut/split/stack and burn your wood outside and set it on fire. I know I know, I'm no fun.