A double-sided fireplace in the wall between your kitchen and living room (or living room and dining room) puts one fire in two rooms. It's also one of the most planning-heavy fireplace projects you can take on, because the wall it sits in has to be built around it.
This guide covers the four decisions to make before you pick a model: gas or electric, how thick the wall has to be, where the vent goes, and what each option costs.
Decision 1: Gas or electric?
Gas (direct vent). A real flame you see from both rooms. A direct-vent unit draws combustion air from outside and vents to the outside, so it needs a gas line and a vent run, installed by a licensed gas professional. At American Hearth Supply, the see-through gas options are:
- Napoleon Vector see-through: 38", 50", 62" and 74" models (LV38N2-1 to LV74N2), $6,179 to $13,189.
- Napoleon Tall Vector see-through: 50", 62" and 74", $9,459 to $15,019.
- Tall Vector see-through with Luminous logs: $13,909 to $19,479.
The see-through Vector models we list are natural gas. If your home runs on propane, ask before you plan around one.
Electric. No gas line and no vent. The Napoleon CLEARion Elite See-Through comes in 50" and 60" ($2,779 to $3,089). Napoleon sells a trim kit separately (Deep or Standard, $389 to $559); check the manual to see whether your installation calls for one. Electrical requirements are in the manual, and an electrician should confirm your circuit.
Rule of thumb: if there's no practical path for a vent from that interior wall, electric is the realistic option.
Decision 2: The wall has to be thicker than a normal wall
This is the decision that's expensive to change later. A see-through gas fireplace does not fit inside a standard stud wall. Napoleon's manual puts the see-through Vector's depth at 16 3/16", which sets the minimum thickness of your divider wall. Plan a framed chase or a thickened wall from the start, before drywall and before cabinets are ordered.
For framing details and finish clearances, see our see-through gas fireplace framing guide.
Decision 3: Where does the vent go?
A fireplace in an interior wall has no exterior wall right behind it, so the vent usually runs straight up through the ceiling and roof, or along a soffit to an outside wall. Napoleon sets a minimum vertical rise before the vent can turn:
| Model | Minimum vertical rise (per Napoleon manual) |
|---|---|
| Vector see-through 38" and 50" | 30" |
| Vector see-through 62" and 74" | 48" |
| Tall Vector see-through 74" | 50" |
Your installer measures the actual run. If the vent has to pass through a vaulted ceiling, read venting a gas fireplace through a cathedral ceiling.
Decision 4: Kitchen-side details people miss
- Cabinets and counters near the opening. Every gas fireplace has side and mantel clearances in its manual. Keep cabinets, open shelves and range hoods out of those zones. Check this before the kitchen layout is final.
- Which side gets the TV? Usually the living room side. If you're mounting a TV above it, see Can you put a TV above a gas fireplace?
- Traffic flow. The glass gets hot on a gas unit. Leave room for walkways and keep stools and chairs back from the opening.
Cost at a glance
| Option | Type | Sizes | Unit price at AHS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Vector see-through | Gas, direct vent | 38"–74" | $6,179–$13,189 |
| Napoleon Tall Vector see-through | Gas, direct vent | 50"–74" | $9,459–$15,019 |
| Tall Vector see-through, Luminous logs | Gas, direct vent | 50"–74" | $13,909–$19,479 |
| Napoleon CLEARion Elite See-Through | Electric | 50", 60" | $2,779–$3,089 |
These are unit prices. Venting components, the gas line, framing, finishing and installation are separate. Our gas fireplace cost breakdown walks through each part. Napoleon gas fireplaces carry Napoleon's President's Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Five questions to answer before you order
- Is there gas at that wall, and is it natural gas or propane?
- How thick can the wall be? Remember the 16 3/16" see-through Vector depth.
- Where can the vent run, and does it meet the model's minimum vertical rise?
- Who is installing it? You'll need a licensed gas professional (for gas) or an electrician (for electric). American Hearth Supply supplies the equipment; we don't install.
- If there's no vent path, does the electric see-through fit the look you want?
Get a model matched to your wall
Send us your wall width, how thick the wall can be, your fuel type, and a photo of both rooms. We'll match the model and list every part it needs: logs or media, trim and venting. Call or text (814) 440-4817, or use Get my recommendation.
