We had a 'real' fireplace- Heatilator brand, I think. Nice to watch but not really very efficient. Biggest problem was the furnace thermostat was across the room so when we were burning in the fireplace the living room was toasty warm but the rest of the house (upstairs especially) was cold.

I liked a mix: Birch was easy to start but burnt pretty fast. Oak or Hickory to burn hotter, longer.