It's freezing! No matter where you live in our nation right now, except for perhaps Hawaii or Florida, it's chilly out. I live in the southernmost point of California and even we are mumbling and moaning about the cold. So, naturally, I'm thinking about fireplaces. In fact, last night I built a fire. While it was charming, my big black lab was frightened by the crackling and sulked off to my bedroom. I found him on top of the covers, which is definitely not allowed in this house! But I was determined and noticed that we went through a lot of wood as I refused to turn on the gas heater. It tickled my interest in how much wood we'd need if the fireplace were our only source of warmth during the winter.

I realize that there are incredibly efficient wood-burning and pellet-burning stoves out there. Scandinavia has perfected the pellet-burning stove with respect for the environment. Their cutting-edge technology was developed in response to the poor air quality created when massive amounts of wood had to be burned during sustained cold months. As populations grew in the frozen Nordic countries, so did pollution. Necessity pushed companies such as Rais to practically eliminate particulate emissions and become one of the first companies to receive the Nordic Ecolabel in recognition of being environmentally friendly. Rais America is based in Bowling Green, Ky.

I've personally had a lot of experience with the humble potbelly stove from years vacationing in a log cabin in the Sierra Nevada. Those old-fashioned stoves can nearly drive you out into the snow for relief, they are so effective. However, the massive amount of wood one has to get in to last the winter is no small feat. It makes you respect those who heat their homes in this way. Most urban dwellers heat via gas, oil or electricity. Urban high-rises often feature zero-clearance fireboxes that don't look as though they can heat up a room and bear little genuine resemblance to real fireplaces.

I'm in love with the modern idea of glass chips that heat up via a stainless steel burner or shallow burner box. The heat generated is amazing. We rented a house in Palm Springs last February and the black glass threw off so much heat that no one could sit in front of that fireplace! Not only that, but the look is just spectacular. A quick Internet search reveals a gorgeous range of colored glass for any interior decor.

Another new technology is the ultra-realistic Opti-myst flame. Water is utilized to produce a mist that rises up through logs, creates the illusion of flames and smoke when the light reflects against the water molecules. The appearance is so authentic that it is mistaken for a true wood-burning fire. One of the leaders in this technology has developed a few styles that offer unusual solutions. Dimplex has built a media console equipped with smoked glass doors, ample storage space and room to support a 60-inch flat panel TV. Called the Debenham, the unit is 60 inches by 17 3/8 inches by 32 1/8 inches.

This is a perfect space-saving, dual-purpose revolutionary way to combine the appeal of a fireplace with the practicality of a media piece.

Of course there are more traditional ways to build a fire that have been appreciated for hundreds of years. Whether a small colonial brick fireplace that provided life-saving warmth in the colonial north east, or a rounded kiva in the southwest of New Mexico or a stone fireplace of a log cabin in Montana, the fireplace still holds one of the original spots as a multipurpose element in a home. This is the traditional way we have warmed our homes, cooked our food and lit a room.

Photo Credit: Dimplex

Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.