By Stephanie Graham Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Dec 02, 2016 at 11:40 AM

Editor's Note: Sponsored content is paid third-party advertising content. OnMilwaukee's newsroom does not write or edit this content.

At Steinhafels, we feel it’s not only important to be on the cutting edge of design, but also to keep up with societal trends. That’s one of the reasons we are especially happy to take part in monthly Sponsored Content with OnMilwaukee.com – a publication at the forefront of what’s happening in our community.

This month we are looking at Electric Fireplaces. Fireplaces can range from elegant to rustic, and add character and warmth to a room’s decor. While electric fireplaces are often looked at as a decorative piece, they are actually very functional as well! After all, keep in mind that fireplaces used to be the main source of heat in people’s homes.

We aren’t suggesting that an electric fireplace can replace your heating system, but they can be a valuable supplement to help drive your heating bill down. We can all save a few bucks on our energy bill. Get this – in a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a WE Energies spokesman said heating costs this winter are forecast to rise by 16% from last winter. That’s in part because last winter was mild and we saw low natural gas prices – but still, higher energy costs are something to prepare for as winter approaches (We know it seems like it’s never coming, but trust us, it’s Wisconsin … ‘Old Man Winter’ will show up, even if he is a little late to the party!)

We asked Steinhafels Accent Furniture and Fireplace Buyer Jenny Kordus why electric fireplaces are a smart choice for homeowners. She shared some interesting facts with us, and dispelled a few myths as well.

ELECTRIC FIREPLACES…

  • Efficiently heat your room for pennies a day. Electric fireplaces utilize zone heating, which allows you to lower the overall temperature of your home by 10 degrees or more, while heating only the room you are in. Gas & wood burning natural fireplaces actually create draft effects that pull heat OUT of your home.
  • Are an Easy Upgrade to your room. Electric fireplaces simply plug into a standard outlet so you can add the ambiance of a fireplace without remodeling your home.
  • Are Safe. Electric fireplaces feature automatic shut off timers, cool touch glass, and other safety features to give you peace of mind.
  • Can be used with or without heat. This allows year-round operation and decoration.
  • Select styles have extra features. Many of our styles have extra features such as Bluetooth technology and soundbars, easy turn on with the wave of a hand, multiple flame color and speed effects, and more!

Our bestselling fireplaces are as follows:

Enterprise

Seagate

Sedona

Fireplaces also follow other industry trends:

Barndoors

Grey Finishes

Industrial Styling

So get out the hot cocoa, turn on Netflix, and snuggle up with your sweetie in front of your electric fireplace! Check out our whole selection ONLINE.

And stay tuned to OnMilwaukee in a couple weeks … we’ll be debuting a new Steinhafels monthly article focused on interior design, and how you can transform your house into the home of your dreams in just a few easy steps!