We have a woodburning fireplace - it's built in 1980 and has metal lining it. I have asthma and allergic to smoke, so we never use it. We wanted to have a gas insert but we're in a condo on concrete slab and the gas is at the other end of the unit - no practical way to run a line without extreme expense and hassle.

So we're looking at electric inserts for ambience and radiant heat. We live in California so we're not looking for something that needs to heat a cold house, but just put off that soothing fireplace warmth while giving us the ambience of flickering fireplace. We are OK with a more modern or transitional look as our condo is that style. It seems like they make some pretty good ones these days that look nice and put out heat. Ideally we're looking for the DIY plug in type but we are open to a built in with electrician installation.

Can anyone recommend brands, or brands/vendors to stay away from? Below is a link to just one of the many I have bookmarked as an example of what we're looking at.

firelpace insert