It’s been a while since we’ve posted; so many exciting things are happening. We’re catching up the blog now. In July, our house was featured on the cover of the San Luis Obispo Tribune Home & Garden section. It’s always interesting to find out what someone else sees in your home, and really fun to look at the professional photos.
Photo: David Middlecamp
The gas fireplace insert was added this spring; it’s a Heat & Glo Cosmo, and at about $3,400 installed, one of the best investments we made in the house. The original wood-burning fireplace was unusable because the flue was broken; a fireplace insert solves this problem because the exhaust gases are routed through a metal pipe that fits inside the old flue.
We had prepared for a fireplace in early 2013. The plumbers and electricians were underneath the house for several weeks replacing all of the corroded old pipes and faulty wiring; there was originally no gas line or electricity to the fireplace, so that was a convenient opportunity to install both. Like most gas inserts, ours requires both a natural gas and power source for the electronic ignition. Although wood fireplaces are romantic, cleaning up the morning after most certainly is not, and it’s wonderful to have the soft, flickering light and warmth at the touch of a button.
930 Stratford 
Beautiful home – and I agree with the fireplace. I’m doing the same thing with my old drafty wood burning fireplace.