Variety of choices available in fireplaces

"I dont know anyone

VIOREL FLORESCU/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Vikki and John Ruisch at a fireplace they added when recently renovating their Woodcliff Lake home. Though the couples goal wasnt to increase the houses value, fireplaces are high on the wish lists of many buyers.

who doesnt like

a fireplace."

VIKKI RUISCH OF WOODCLIFF LAKE, WHO HAD TWO FIREPLACES BUILT INTO HER HOME DURING A REMODELING PROJECT

Vikki Ruisch had a fireplace in her house, but it was in a room her family barely used. So during a remodeling project last year, she had a fireplace built in her heavily trafficked living room, where everyone could enjoy it.

Ruisch figured it would add value to her Woodcliff Lake house, but that wasnt really an incentive. She grew up having a fireplace in her home and just wanted one, or two. She also had one put in the master bedroom.

"I dont know anyone who doesnt like a fireplace," she said. "We use ours, especially this winter. My husband puts the one on in the bedroom when he gets up about an hour before me, and then its nice and toasty by the time I get up."

Ruisch is one of many home and business owners installing fireplaces to add ambience, warmth and financial value to where they live and work. A fireplace can increase a homes value by 6 to 12 percent, according to the National Center for Real Estate Research of Littleton, Colo.

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Variety of choices available in fireplaces