This smart design is also a bit more environmentally friendly as it burns denatured ethanol – a renewable fuel. The upside of burning ethanol as well is that it burns clean, and of course, there's no need for stocking up a wood pile.

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What's nice about the ecosmart as well, is that unlike gas fireplaces, which have a pretty unattractive (and unromantic) blue flame, the ecosmart flame is actually as close as you will get to traditional yellow wood crackling flame.

You can get the ecosmart in a number of configurations – free standing in a glass encased box (perfect to use as a room division between lounge and dining room, for example) or built-in to your wall. You can even get it in some funky pop-art designs if you have more modern décor in your home.

Of course the price of such style and comfort is not cheap – you are looking at about $7500 for a free standing model.

See: www.formanddesign.co m.au