I love my litte cottage but it has no fireplace and only electric heat. That fact did not bother me until a couple of years ago when my neighborhood was without power for a week following a severe winter storm. Both me and my house survived the ordeal (thankfully no broken pipes despite temperatures in the 20's) but I swore I would be ready for the next one. And so the hunt for an altnerante heat source for emergencies began. I considered a wood stove but as someone who grew up with a wood stove I can tell you that despite the stylishly charming photos in the magazines they have their draw backs: they are messy, often burn too hot, expensive, and in my case they take up space my little cottage just did not have. Plus where do I store the fire wood?
This item was the perfect alternative.
First off, the antique bronze finish looks terrific, it looks both classic and modern at the same time. But let me tell you about the warmth. The flame heats up the metal and the metal radiates heat in every direction -- fast! I definitely recommend a portable fireplace. I was surprised just how much heat this thing puts out. You can use it in fireplace mode with the gel fuel or put candles in it for every day use. The fuel is affordable but not cheap. Figure 2 cans at $2.50 each for a 3 hour burn. I use it occasionally for those times during the holidays when I want the charm of an open fire. Plus when the power goes out again I will be ready.
The gel fuel burns with more moisture in the air so don't be surpised if your windows steam up. This gets 5 stars in my book!