This is a well-made fireplace. We like the flip-top feature of the mantel. It's a nice addition to have a little hidden storage. The mantel is a nice thick natural wood tone. The brick is faux brick, of course, but has a realistic look. Living in Florida we have not had to use the fireplace heat as of yet, but the flames are realistic-looking and it's nice to be able to have the flames on without the heat. We did, of course, try the heating aspect of the fireplace when we got it and it does put out very good heat. The assembly took one person about 45 minutes to assemble. The directions were clear. This fireplace is a little slimmer in design than some we had looked at, but it works well for our space. Overall, the only thing I would change is the height of the fireplace. It would be nice if it were or had the option to order one taller by maybe 6 inches. That's just my opinion based on the fact we have 10-foot ceilings, so it makes the fireplace look a little short. We are still happy with the purchase and would recommend this fireplace for sure. The feature going for it is definitely the flip-top lid with storage.