Since we were cave dwellers, the hearth has been the heart of the home. Over time, fireplaces naturally became the focal point in the family room, dressed up with elaborate moldings and ornamental mantels.

But designers are seeing fireplaces return to basics, where the fire itself is the star of the show. Behold the modern fireplace.

"More people are gravitating toward minimal surrounds," says Jonathan Kelly, manager of Fireplace & Bar-B-Q Center in Overland Park, Kan. "Fireplace interiors are becoming more streamlined, too."

Until recently, gas-insert manufacturers tried to replicate real logs. But now tumbled glass or river stone inserts are becoming more popular.

"People don't want to look at big, massive logs," Kelly says. "What's soothing and relaxing are the flames."

Design consultant Kim Ebner of Kansas City went to a more streamlined fireplace when she remodeled her Dutch Colonial home a few years ago. She replaced the patterned green-tile and wooden mantel with three large pieces of unadorned limestone that reach to the top of the 8-foot ceiling. No mantel.

"I wanted the fireplace to look sculptural and simple," says Ebner, an artist.

Instead of wood logs, the fireplace uses gas. The insert is made of cement spheres.

"I love the organic look of the ball shape with the linear surrounds," she says.

Because she loved the warmth and ambience that a fireplace provides, she added a ventless gas fireplace between the kitchen and dining room. It is a see-through glass firebox simply surrounded in drywall. She had the black box painted silver for a more updated look. The look is pared down but elegant, like a classic black-and-white photograph framed in a white wooden frame instead of an ornamental gilded one.

Ventless fireplaces have a few downsides, Kelly says. It means hiring a plumber to install a gas line. The fireplaces also can produce an odor that some customers worry about.

But because of ventless and newer fireplace options, such as biofuel burning, interior designer Sara Noble of Olathe, Kan., is seeing fireplaces in more areas of the home. One of her clients, Wendy Lucas of Overland Park, installed one in her family's new home that is visible in the master bedroom and bathroom. It is a modern, unadorned look with a rock gas insert.

The focal point in Lucas' living room is a concrete fireplace by Liquid Stone Designs of Lenexa, Kan., with a dramatic floating hearth-perfect for sitting around.

"I love its patina, its color and its smoothness," Lucas says. "It's modern yet organic."

Noble says more of her clients are going for a modern look, and therefore, more modern fireplaces. In her home, her husband, Todd Noble, tiled over the ivory porcelain square tiles of the fireplace and removed the dentil molding. The couple incorporated horizontal gray glass, slate and marble tiles in a style that's reminiscent of the style of HGTV designer Candice Olson, who likes to mix in a bit of bling.

"Just this little bit of material made a big difference," Noble says. "I get more compliments on the fireplace than anything else."

BIOETHANOL BURNERS

There is no need for a gas line or chimney. These fireplaces use denatured alcohol - not gas or wood - as fuel.

The odorless flames don't emit smoke. There's a slight smell of rubbing alcohol that dissipates when the fire is extinguished.

While they mostly create ambience, they do provide a little warmth: about 13,000 BTUs vs. 36,000 to 80,000 BTUs from gas fireplaces.

They're versatile from room to room. But if wall-mounted, they should be installed on a solid, fireproof wall. The room should be well-ventilated, and it should have at least an 8-foot ceiling and be about 250 square feet. And a 12-by-12-inch burners start at about $1,680. Surrounds are separate.

Screens are available that attach to the fireplaces, protecting children and pets.

Electronic burners will be available next year so people won't have to manually switch off burners.

BIOETHANOL BURNERS

There is no need for a gas line

or chimney. These fireplaces

use denatured alcohol — not

gas or wood — as fuel.

The odorless flames don’t

emit smoke. There’s a slight

smell of rubbing alcohol that

dissipates when the fire is

extinguished.

While they mostly create

ambience, they do provide a

little warmth: about 13,000

BTUs vs. 36,000 to 80,000

BTUs from gas fireplaces.

They’re versatile from room

to room. But if wall-mounted,

they should be installed on a

solid, fireproof wall. The room

should be well-ventilated,

and it should have at least an

8-foot ceiling and be about

250 square feet. And a 12-

by-12-inch burners start at

about $1,680. Surrounds are

separate.

Screens are available that

attach to the fireplaces,

protecting children and pets.

Electronic burners will be

available next year so people

won’t have to manually switch

off burners.