We are building out our daylight basement and want to install a wood burning fireplace. Our house was built in 1992 with a double flu brick chimney(we have a gas fireplace upstairs). We really like the idea of having a wood fire going downstairs that will rise up to heat our whole house. Originally we purchase an Opel3 from RSF from a local stove dealer. After 2 attempts to install they walked away. Problem is our flu-it starts out at a tile lined 8" round but then quickly changes to a 10"x6" rectangle so the liner wouldn't fit. Had another company try a Lennox Montecito (6" pipe)-still the same problem. Couple of more details-there is an in foundation cement alcove that measures 75"Hx44"Wx24 1/2"D with the flu in the back right corner-it travels straight up till it gets to the first floor, than bends around our 1st floor gas fireplace before exiting out our second floor. I was told that the original owner probably had intended to put in a wood stove. Unfortunately for me, my wife hates the look of wood stoves... So am now talking to masons and confused by the choices. Liked the idea of a heatilator-it wouldn't fit. Isokern or Russian fireplace looked interesting, but our chimney is on an outside wall so we would loose half of the effectiveness. One mason said he could build a regular fireplace and put a wrap/sheild behind it to reflect heat-but that would only get me 30% efficiency. So now looking at a Bellfire-looks like the best combination of looks(natural wood burning fireplace) and heating. Problem is the cost-was quoted $11,275 and that was just for the Bellfire BR 28 unit, cinder-block surround and hearth. Didn't include stone veneer or mantle, so my total cost was just shy of 15K. So more than double my original budget-which might be worth it if I was convinced the Bellfire would work, but am having a hard time getting references. Any testimonials as to their heating efficiency, or maybe an alternative solution would be greatly appreciated.