I don't miss having a fireplace

[Speedbird001]

I had a wood burning fireplace in my previous home and liked the idea of having it but only used it a few times. I since had a custom home built without a fireplace and don't miss having one at all. I think fireplaces in the majority of U.S. homes are for show.

Agreed. Hardly ever used the gas FP in my old home. (Probably wasted a ton of $ keeping the pilot light on ).

Gas FP option in my new home was a $9k option… Builder pushed it hard, I declined. Bonus; I am more free to configure the Family room layout now. With the FP kind of felt like I was always working around it.