What are the room dimensions and height? Can almost never go "too big", especially for the route you're going

Have you already reviewed your local building codes on fireplaces? In some areas, wood burning is no longer permitted. Gas logs are often preferred in kitchen settings to avoid litter from bringing in wood logs and cleaning out the ash.

Can't the person that designed the house design the fireplace?

Apple- No building codes regarding woodburning fireplaces to be worried about.

Mark - the architect did design the fireplace but the design called for a linear one that I cannot get installed my area. (he lives in a city 4 hours away so was not aware of this issue - actually I wasn't either) And, truthfully, I do not want to go back to him with this design issue unless I can't solve it myself.

Sprinkles - my room is roughly 32 x 23 and includes the kitchen and hearth room with 10 foot ceilings. I am concerned about getting a larger fireplace for fear that it won't look like it 'fits' with the plan. When I look around online, this style fireplace (in the actual houses built from this era) appear to be more rectangular in shape so was trying to recreate that.

Does anyone know if I can put a tv above an open fireplace with gas logs? This is the other part of the equation as the tv must go above the fp in this room.

Thanks so much for any input or advice.

Most fireplaces today are gas appliances.

Dealers typically specialize in Brands but there will be comprable linear fireplaces in most brands.

if not a fireplace dealer contractor you're next most qualified contractor to install one of these would be your HVAC contractor.

Most of these can be purchased and shipped anywhere a semi goes.

I'd keep making the circle wider until you find a dealer.

Jeffrey - you would be surprised at how hard this has become. Heat n Glo will not allow my HVAC guy to install any of their products involving a Power Vent without specialized training. In St Louis, my nearest city, the dealers there will not travel to my town to install. I can get the fireplace, just can't get it installed.

This is why I punted and am thinking I will just install a regular masonry firebox with gas logs rather than a vented gas fireplace 'unit' like the Foundation Series or other enclosed gas fireplaces.

We do not want to burn wood in our fireplaces so gas logs in a traditional masonry box with flue or a complete gas log 'unit' are our choices. Since I am having trouble with the install of a gas unit - the new power vent technology that allows a tv above these hot fireplaces is what seems to be tripping up the local installers - I was trying to compromise with the other option. But, does anyone on this board have a tv above this set up?

Also, even if I could manage to find a linear option that someone could install, I worry that it won't have the same upscale look and performance of the brands I have tried to buy, Does that make sense?

I really, really appreciate your comments.

We installed a gas fireplace in our extension two years ago....we conform with all codes, etc, etc....but the heat thrown off by the fireplace was so great that we extended the nonflammable surface above the unit, because the paint would have literally peeled.and possibly caught fire...it was our painter and our GC who insisted...the trained technicians were “it meets specs”....you should be able to get an installer to travel....it should simply be a case of cost.....and you may need to contact the manufacture, who may have assigned exclusive “ territories”...which may obligate a distributor to provide you with service.

^ that's kind of the funny irony with fireplaces these days. Most of us don't use them for a main heat source, it's just for ambience/looks. People want them on, but then they end up getting too hot just like you're saying (and I agree). To combat this, they're trying to make the fireboxes smaller while keeping a big "viewing area" and it looking pretty. For example, I deal HeatNGlo and they make "slim line" models that are shallower but still appear "large" and put out less heat.

I'm not sure which models all have this feature, but I have a huge Heatilator "fortress" 2-way gas fireplace in one of my commercial buildings that allows me to choose the "flame height". Low setting does put out less heat, but it's less pretty to look at. These options help but in the end, just gotta suck it up and crack a window and figure out what works best for your room

In my current house I have a huge 50" HeatNGlo wood burning (open) fireplace with folding glass doors. In theory, an "open" fireplace sucks out the warm are from your house and shoots it up the chimney. Most of these today have dedicated outside "fresh air intakes" to combat this. Anyway, I love lighting (small) wood fires in my big 50". Awesome ambience, but eventually my great room gets too warm. So I crack the nearest window, life is good, I keep stoking the fire, and I keep sipping my bourbon.