For thirty years we built fires in a wood fireplace insert. Gas wasn't available on our street, and the wood insert saved our butts over and over again, as we lived in an area where power was often out for days at a time. We heated the entire house, boiled water, and cooked on the insert during outages. Firewood got more difficult and more expensive to acquire. It was messy and cleaning the insert was a pain in the ash.

Now, we have a freestanding gas stove. Building a fire is as easy as flippin' on a light. There's no blower fan, but the stove radiates heat just like a wood stove. It works even when the power is out. We've heated water for drinks on it, but I don't think you could cook a meal very easily. If I were in the market for another home today, I'd want one with a free standing gas stove.

For outside use, firepits rule! Your lil piece of paradise should have one. Then, you wouldn't need a fireplace on the porch. $$$ saved.