Im planning to install a fireplace in our living room before winter hits. Ive wanted one since we moved in about 13 years ago. I had installed a wood stove on a hearth years ago in one of the back rooms when we moved in just so we had an extra form of heat in case the power went out. I loved it. The room was small but with a fan set up blowing the heat down the hallway it would heat the entire house up nicely. Well a couple extra kids later now that back room is now my sons bedroom so I removed the wood stove so he would have the extra space. I would have loved to put it in our living room but our living room is long but narrow. A free standing stove would occupy too much space. Which brings me to my dilemma now. I want a fireplace in the wall with the nice mantle etc. I would rather have a wood stove insert because of the better heating capability. My mother has a heatilator insert fireplace she burns wood in and it just doesn’t heat very well in my opinion. Most if not all nice double door with glass wood stove inserts I come across are made for sliding into masonry fireplaces. Since I have no fireplace at all would it be feasible to build/frame up a non combustible firebox to sit the wood stove insert into?? Im doing all of this on a budget so Im trying to save money best I can but also not burn my house down. We heat our home all winter with wood when we had the stove in the back room and would like to do the same this year with a new fireplace addition. What are some of you guys/gals thoughts?? I have a nice old hutch wood stove insert in my shop I picked up for dirt cheap I would like to use in my home but it is designed for a masonry fireplace.

Why can't you put in a free standing stove with heat guards, I believe you can then be 12 " from the wall, and you have a real stove...Fireplaces look nice, but not worth much for heating....you could still have a mantle above the stove on the wall...

We took out the insert in our fireplace because it won't heat much without the fan running, and replaced it with a freestanding stove on the hearth. It heats the house much better without reliance on electricity.

^ this.
So many ways a free standing stove is better then a fireplace. You can build a brick frame around them and make them look like you want and have a way better heat source.

I have a small stove at line shack and installed block around and have an opening above the stove and it acts as the oven. here are some pictures and ideas of ways to do a stove.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?...+earth+stove&form=IQFRML&first=1

Check with your insurance company if its an issue. Some companies frown on woodburning.