Today's new homes see the home fires burning in all the traditional spots: living rooms and family rooms; but they are also showing up in unexpected spaces like bathrooms, foyers and kitchens.

In fact, the trend in new home construction is to have two, three or more fireplaces.

Undoubtedly, when planning your new home you will be including, at least one, if not multiple fireplaces, into your plan.

Canadians know a fireplace is synonymous with warmth and atmosphere, but few are aware that your fireplace is the focal point of your room.

"More decorative than functional, the fireplace has become something to snuggle up to and your fireplace will likely serve as a room's focal point. Fireplaces are designed to create ambience in a room, to be another source of light and to divide spaces without closing them off," says interior designer Anna Simone, part of the creative team of Cecconi Simone.

A fireplace is a fireplace — or so you thought. New home purchasers need to first consider what type of fireplace they desire and what can be implemented within the architectural and building guidelines.

There are three types of fireplaces — gas, wood burning and candle powered. Although there is nothing more charming than the crackling flames and the smell of real wood, you should consult your insurance company to ensure that there are no increased premiums for a wood-burning one.

Wood-burning fireplaces can be easily customized in new homes. A masonry fireplace made of brick and mortar can be built on site, to any size and design you and your architect require. Pre-built metal inserts for wood-burning fireplaces can also be purchased.

"I have shied away from using gas fireplaces in the past, because of the fake logs. Now what I do is fill the pan around the flame with rock or sand. It's brilliant and creates a very Zen feel in the room. Never imitate fire. Allow it to be what it is," suggests Simone.

Gas fireplaces are the most common type of fireplace used in new home construction due to the ease of installation, cost effectiveness, reduced emissions into the atmosphere, resulting in improved air quality, low operating costs and minimal maintenance requirements.

Gas fireplaces are also available in custom designs. I recently ordered a seven-foot log lighter gas fireplace for a home under construction, for about $16,000. The fireplace is going to look amazing in the living room of the new home, but with the BTU's being 150,000, this is a lot of heat output for a single fireplace. I also had to contend with the massive ventilation system required for such a large fireplace.

For interior walls and smaller spaces, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, dens and hallways, an electric fireplace may a viable option, since this type of unit requires no gas piping, ventilation or log hauling. Alternatively, you may want to consider the urban fireplace.

The urban or candle-powered firebox has a concrete or steel box complete with bottom pan for catching wax drippings. The urban fireplace can be inserted into almost any wall and provides a unique exotic ambience and soft glow.

Fireplaces are designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient. Similar to a home's furnace, all vented fireplaces have a BTU, or British Thermal Rating. A BTU is the measurement of the amount of heat produced by the fireplace unit.

Each model should also have an energy efficiency rating. With the rising cost of gas, this is an important number.

The energy efficiency rating of the fireplace is both on the EnerGuide label and in the product's technical information or brochure.

The rating is expressed as a percentage. Fireplaces range in efficiency from about 20 per cent to 70 per cent. More energy-efficient models have a higher percentage rating. All vented gas fireplaces must now be tested for their energy efficiency using the Canadian Standards Association CSA-P.4.1-02 standard.

The best place to start your fireplace design process is with photographs or pictures taken from shelter magazines of fireplaces that create the look or feel you want to achieve in your own room. Observe if they are gas, wood burning or candle powered, and note the size of the insert.

"It's critical that when you enter the room that the fireplace is within your sight line. A fireplace is naturally the focal point of a room. If the firebox is not located in an area that can be the focal point of a space, then it will throw off the entire room.

"Maintain a room's harmony by ensuring that your furniture can be arranged to highlight the focal point and that all electronics can be accommodated within this space," recommends Simone.

Your next step will be to consult your builder or architect to ensure that the size and type of fireplace is workable in your home and in the space you want to employ this luxury. Next step will be to source the fireplace insert itself, or give specific construction details to your mason. Detailing the mantel, hearth and surrounding space will become the following task.

Heat up the look of your space by exploring the beauty of a fireplace!

Cheryll Gillespie is a nationally syndicated Design and Décor columnist and an eRenovate.com Expert.