This post is in partnership with Napoleon Fireplaces
As someone who loves decorating, I enjoy spotting potential in a home. I’m always imagining new projects and small changes that could improve our living space. It’s how I think and create.
Ultimately, what I want most from our home isn’t more stuff or constant updates. It’s about a feeling: comfort, warmth, and peace. That emotional connection is what guides my decisions more than trends or perfection in design.
Earlier this summer I wrote about possibilities for our living room and asked readers for input on a few fireplace ideas. I was torn between seeing the creative potential in the space and feeling content with the simple, calm look we already had.
Readers offered thoughtful suggestions—many agreed that little needed to change after the fireplace was refreshed with paint—but one recommendation stood out and resonated strongly with what was missing in the room.
Install a gas fireplace insert.
This is how the fireplace looked when we first moved in, before its painted makeover. We haven’t been able to use it because the previous owners had already capped it to accommodate a gas insert—so burning wood wasn’t an option.
At our previous home, a gas insert was one of our favorite features. It made the family room a natural gathering place through crisp fall evenings and the wet, cooler days of spring. I missed that warmth here and often pictured how much cozier the room would feel with a functioning fireplace.
As we pulled together a mood board, I kept returning to the idea of creating a specific feeling: a cozy cottage by the sea. That vision makes sense for us—our windows look out to saltwater—yet it’s also tied to deeper memories of comfortable, welcoming places I’ve loved over the years.
On a blustery fall or winter afternoon, nothing makes me happier than imagining family and friends gathered around a crackling fire, wrapped in simple comforts that make home feel peaceful and welcoming. Styling choices will change over time, but how the room makes us feel is what matters most.
Instead of a mood board that emphasizes everything we don’t have, we focused on the pieces and atmosphere we already love. That approach felt true and calming.
The missing element was the warmth of real flames—and the life and connection they bring. Adding a gas insert would complete the mood board and make the living room the cozy center of our home.
A new gas fireplace insert will finish the look and transform the room into the coziest it’s ever been.
We’re thrilled to be moving forward with this project and excited to partner with Napoleon Fireplaces for the installation. I look forward to sharing details and photos as the fireplace comes to life and becomes a new gathering spot for our family.
Thank you for following along as our living room evolves into a comfortable, cozy space.
*UPDATE* Ready to see the fireplace REVEAL? We love how this project turned out! Click HERE to see the after!