Ortal TR 90 Traditional 35x31

Quick Facts

• Heating Capacity: Designed for ambiance, not as a heat source.
• Viewing Area: 35 7/16" wide
• Fuel: Natural gas; propane with a conversion kit.
• Controls: Remote with thermostat included; wall switch and phone app available.

Who It's For

A formal living room or study often calls for a traditional fireplace: a squared opening, brick inside, logs you'd expect in a wood fire. You need that look without the wood. If you want a classic hearth as the focal point of a smaller room and don't need it to heat the house, the Traditional 90 is the one. It's certified as a decorative fireplace, so look at an Ortal certified as a heater if warmth is the goal.

What Makes It Special

The Traditional 90 opens 35 7/16 inches wide and 31 5/8 inches tall—nearly square, the proportion of an old masonry hearth—and the firebox is lined in brick panels in red, tan, or black, herringbone or horizontal, or flat black.

Ortal's passive cool wall lets a TV or artwork hang on the wall above. Your stone or tile meets the fire with no trim in between, and Ortal's passive cool wall means the space above can hold a TV or a painting.

A fine protective mesh screen keeps hands off the hot glass without hiding the fire. Skip the lighting and use the screen, and batteries alone can run it—it still lights when the power is out.

The included remote runs the flame from the couch, with timer and program settings.

Possible Downsides

• It's certified as a decorative fireplace, not a heater; if warming the room is the goal, look at an Ortal certified as a heater, such as the Front Facing line.
• For a larger opening, the Traditional 110 is about seven inches wider and two and a half inches taller.
• It ships set up for natural gas; propane takes a conversion kit installed by an Ortal-authorized technician.

If you want a traditional brick hearth in a sitting room, with gas convenience, the Traditional 90 is the right decision. The study gets the fireplace it was drawn around.

Configure it with logs, branches, or a bonfire set and red, tan, or black brick in herringbone or horizontal patterns, flat black, or Blackridge panels, and add a black reflective interior if you like.