love it!
 heat is from a typical heater and comes out of the top so my dog does not get the direct heat when his bed is in front of it, . flames look real from a distance. it adds warmth and ambiance to my small living room. tried moving the shelves but they can not stand alone because the molding is only on one side- can be pushed together but really think they make the fireplace look more real so I kept them.
love that I can  turn it off and head out of the house without worry of fire. Unbelievable that  flames are not real- they are just a light.  you can turn the   light on the bricks on/off, adjust the flame height and even the  brightness of the flames and bricks.
Doesnt smell like a fireplace but for the money and no hassel of changing electrical outlets it does the job. (uses regular plug is a bonus.)