Is a Linear Fireplace for You?

Known also as a modern or contemporary-style fireplace, a linear fireplace is a rectangular-shaped gas fireplace that is usually installed within a wall. The sleek shape of linear fireplace offers a panoramic view of a fireplace’s flames, which can be accented further by reflective interior panels or fire bed materials like crushed glass.

Whether you’re building a new home or planning a remodel, it can sometimes be hard to decide if your design would benefit from the addition of a contemporary linear gas fireplace. Worries about it looking out of place or too modern are common concerns we hear, as homeowners begin researching their options. Before choosing this style, consider a couple of basic questions.

One, where would you like your fireplace to be placed on the wall? Many of Heat & Glo’s contemporary fireplaces come with optional heat management solutions, which—through strategically placed venting and proprietary technologies—can allow you to hang a television or artwork closer to the fireplace, with no need for a large gap or mantel. By allowing the TV and fireplace to be stacked more closely, you alleviate neck strain felt when placing a television too high up the wall.

Another important consideration is how would you like to finish the wall the fireplace will be in? With a heat management system in place, you have more flexibility in bringing materials like stone, tile, concrete, metal and drywall all the way up to the fireplace opening. By bringing the finishing material up to the opening, you achieve a cohesive design for a wall without any visual interruption.

If you feel conflicted about committing to a fully modern look, mixing traditional stone around the fireplace or adding a mantel or traditional logs can help you strike a happy medium. This combination of stone and a modern, linear fireplace fits your home beautifully.

Lastly, it’s important to factor in the style of the rest of your home before finalizing your fireplace design. One helpful trick we first learned from Maria Killam, interior designer and blogger at Colour Me Happy, is a unique approach, but it works! “Your fireplace needs to relate as perfectly as possible to the style of your kitchen,” Killam writes in a blog post called Don’t Install a Fireplace Without Reading this First. “Architectural elements that are stuck down should look like they belong together,” she advises. Paying attention to architectural details in a pivotal room, like the kitchen, will help inform decisions including fireplace selection.

Ready to take the next step in your fireplace selection process? Our team of factory-trained fireplace experts have guided thousands of homeowners to the right fireplace for their space and are ready to do the same for you. Request a consultation or pop into your local Heat & Glo dealer’s showroom to get started today.