Posts by mikeeide

Burning wood made simple It’s almost Christmas and frosty nights are moving in. Make no bones about it, Old Man Winter is here! Soon wood stoves and inserts across the country will rise to the occasion, heating our homes and warming our hearts all winter long. Make light work of building fires with this common sense…

Safety tips for operating your fireplace It’s a simple concept that we all understand – fireplaces can get hot. But sometimes, especially with gas fireplaces that have sealed combustion systems behind glass, it’s easy to overlook basic gas fireplace safety. When using any fireplace – gas fireplaces included – there are real flames and hot…

Not to sound like Cliff Clavin, but it’s a “little known fact” that masonry-style, old-timey wood fireplaces are inefficient – and they aren’t just slightly inefficient. They cost homeowners hundreds of dollars a year in wasted energy, and actually make houses draftier and colder than those without old wood fireplaces. If you have one in…

For most of us, our homes are where we spend the most time – and where we make the most significant investments. With the economy on the upswing and consumer confidence rising, many people are making their dream homes reality by building new or remodeling existing houses. In both scenarios, installing a fireplace is often…

Wood stoves and how to make the most of them It’s November and if you’re like most wood stove owners, the cordwood is stacked, seasoned and ready to go. Depending on where you live, perhaps you’ve already stoked your stove for those first highly anticipated fires of the season. Make the most of your wood…

REFRESH AN OLD HOME WITH A MODERN FIREPLACE INSERT When providing design services for clients with older homes, interior designers are presented with a variety of unique opportunities and challenges. Unlike new homes, many older homes have era-specific architectural features that offer a unique, creative foundation for expanding upon. At the same time, challenges are…