I love this thing, so glad I bought it. One reviewer said that they liked this piece because it felt like a substantial piece of free standing furniture, and I agree. I think that the finish is a bit darker than in the picture, but it is a lovely piece that adds character to my craftsman bungalow. My house should have had a fireplace, and this arts and crafts design fits beautifully.
My package arrived missing one piece (or so I thought! check all the packaging!!) and a seriously broken piece. Great Offer Stock was responsive on both and sent replacements within a few days. When yours arrives, first be sure that you got two boxes. Unpack the firebox (smaller box), plug it in, and make sure it works. Then inventory everything else before assembling. And double check inside the packaging.
You can adjust temperature, flame height, and brightness of the glowing coals, independently. The flames are not super realistic, similar to others I have owned----but the ambiance is right and the frame is chunky and more substantial than other fakes.
I'm thinking of adding a tile "hearth" because the wood of the mantle is dark and my floors are also dark. Tiles underneath would enhance the illusion and make it stand out more.