Modern fireplaces come in many varieties

ARLINGTON, Va. – Contemporary, see-through fireplaces that warm multiple rooms. Prefabricated gas fireplaces that mount directly to the wall. Electric fireplaces that look realistic and can really put out the heat. No, these are not the fireplaces homeowners knew when growing up in their parents' home.

Today's fireplaces are designed for visual excitement, two-sided exposure and installation in locations previously unconsidered.

"The conventional fireplace has all but been reinvented in recent years," Jack Goldman, president and CEO of the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, said.

"Today's...