Fireplaces are rarely functional in modern homes, but the desire runs deep to curl up by a blazing fire. So does the American preference for convenience over tradition. From nowhere ten years ago, natural gas is poised to pass wood as the fireplace of choice in new homes. Some 800,000 sets of gas logs were sold last year, a record.
Wood may smell nice, but it's inconvenient and messy. Natural gas fireplaces come with remote controls; you start a fire by pushing a button. Higher-end units allow you to adjust the height of the flame and the amount of heat. Afraid you'll fall asleep in the warmth? Put the fireplace on a timer. Ceramic logs come in several arboreal varieties, sound systems broadcast crackling noises, filters produce the scents of burning cedar and pine, modulating valves make the flames leap more or less like those of wood fires. "The deception is complete," says Philip Mercer, a fireplace distributor who is based in Baltimore.
