We're glad to be using our fireplace again and we often forget it's not real (my husband has caught himself throwing a piece of paper into it to ""burn"" it)! No more smoke coming into our living room, worries about smoke effects on our pets, storing wood, getting rid of ashes, etc. The fireplace insert is a cozy focal point in our living room, and a stress-reliever after a long day. Only thing that might improve it would be if the frame were gray instead of black and would therefore blend in better with the surrounding fireplace--from close up you can distinctly see the frame; but it's really great from a bit of distance and looks quite real.