So my husband went into the local appliance specialty store with his most common pots and pans (Staub grill pan, Chinese carbon steel wok, Le Creuset Dutch oven, and a pasta pot) and just did not like the DCS with its large burner in the center. He also looked at the Blue Star, Wolf, Dacor, Thermador, and Miele. Ultimately, based on the layout he needs and the specs (e.g., simmer, BTU, continuous grate), he chose the Miele with the contemporary (linear grates). Frankly, I think it's not as pretty, as it's a little industrial looking, but whatever. Husband is the one who does all the cooking. It should be delivered next week and I will try to report back in a month or so what our experience has been with it. Here is a link that might be useful: Miele KM3475G

First, get another insurance agent! Many don't have a clue about these things! They get nervous because many inexperienced homeowners install the stoves themselves and then there's a fire because they didn't take all the necessary precautions. "But I SAVED money doing it myself!" From what I see the location is perfect for a wood stove or another gas unit. You already have a raised hearth and a non combustable back. The only place I might see a situation arise is the chimney itself. Today's stoves need a 6 inch flue. If your chimney is 8 inches you'll need a liner installed. That can be labor intensive but for a professional it's done every day. Go to a COUPLE of stove shops. Tell them what size area you wish to heat and they'll find the right size unti for you. Also tell them the dimensions of the raised hearth. The hearth might be too small for a wood unit, but only a professional can tell for sure. Also write down the height of the centerline of the opening in the back wall from the base of the hearth. I like wood fires. Not gas. But that's a decision only you can make.

Thanks for the info. I liked the look of the black enamel as it seemed more contemporary (but not too odd) but I noticed a whitish area on the enamel liner near where the flame had been once the fire was off. It was faint but I could see it from across the room since it was white on black and was concerned about how bad that would become over time or whether there was any way to get rid of it (cleaner, new paint, etc.). Has anyone had a black enamel liner for a few years to see how it holds up?

The very first thing you should do is find a fireplace/stove dealer within say, a 50 mile radius of your home. Not the local garden center or patio center who sells stoves in their off season. Someone who will sell and service them all year round. You want to look for a lifetime warranty if possible. A good shop can advise you on placement, the cost not only of the unit, but the chimney and installation as well.