Our Fireplace(s) Before
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF4IVxD6LpeuiHTcy3ut3dhW1YF5mH0tn-jXxArtBJONDI7b7z8NlkiEW5cA44oAIqPamVjC8CxI51qoNvmXOmv_-7VDYyeInVCPSl9xlvwaVXYUKvSLBcjcuVi27p3VlIv6qLibJjQc/s400/familyroom-fireplace.gif)
We started (re)construction of our house in September of 2008. There's still! things that need to get done inside including the "finishing" of the fireplaces. We put in 2 42" direct vent fireplaces - one in the family room and one in the front room (living room). That's right....42"-ers. Some folks brag on their plasma screens, I brag on my HUGE fireplaces - they type of which you have to go to Panera to see in person. (Note...I think they might actually be too big/hot for a house our size!) Direct vent fireplaces (for those that don't know) have a piece of glass on the front of them and a 2 chamber flue/pipe that takes hot air out in one chamber and pulls cool air in. It is a pretty slick technology. The downsides of direct vent are (obviously) it is NOT a wood-burning fireplace. So, you don't get the smell or sound of those. On the positive side, it **looks** like a real fireplace (they've gotten pretty good), it is clean (no dirty