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Expert Review of Touchstone Electric Fireplaces

Expert Review of Touchstone Electric Fireplaces

Touchstone has been our best selling brand of electric fireplaces since we started working with them in 2014. Their fireplaces are innovative, high-quality, and affordable which explains their popularity.

About Touchstone

Touchstone has been manufacturing beautifully designed electric fireplaces since 2005. The company takes pride in their craft and customer satisfaction is their priority. 

The brand has a wide selection of wall-mounted, recessed, single-sided and three-sided fireplaces. Most of their fireplaces are for indoor use, but they also have an electric fireplace for outdoor use.

Wall-mounted fireplaces are the best choice for easy installation, just hang them on the wall like a picture. Recessed fireplaces require a bit more effort since they're built into the wall for a sleek look.

Let's take a look at Touchstone's electric fireplace collections, and see what our customers thought about them.

Quicklinks:
Sideline Elite Series
Other Sideline Models
Onyx Stainless
Mirror Onyx
Chesmont
Fury

Sideline Series

The Sideline series is one of the most popular electric fireplaces from Touchstone. All models come with a black frame. This makes them great for both wall-mounted or recessed installation because of front vents that won't be blocked if recessed into a wall.

Touchstone Sideline 45" - Recessed Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Sideline 45" - Recessed Electric Fireplace

Featuring multicolored flames - orange, blue and orange-blue mix, with a decorative log set and crystal set - these models are beautiful home accessories.

Touchstone Sideline is also capable of heating up to 400 square feet of space with 5,118 BTUs heater. It has two heat settings, high (1,500 W) and low (750 W), and a built-in sleep timer to save electricity.

The flames, heat, and timer settings can be set using the handy remote control that comes with the fireplace.

Available in nine sizes, 28", 36”, 40”, 45”, 50”, 60”, 72”, 84", and 100” wide. 

Sideline Elite Series

Sideline Elite is the new and improved version of the original Sideline series. It has additional flame colors, new features like thermostat, and a larger viewing area. All models are also smart Wi-Fi enabled, except for the 100".

Touchstone Sideline Elite Smart Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Sideline Elite Smart Electric Fireplace (Alexa/Google Compatible)

If the original Sideline series only has 3 flame color options, the Elite has 6 flame colors. And if that’s not enough, it also has 10 media bed color options allowing for 60(!) different color combinations.

While both Sideline series' have two heat settings, the Elite models have a built-in thermostat allowing you to set the temperature between 68 and 88°F.

If you want more color and a larger viewing area, this is the best choice for you.

Sideline Elite is available in five sizes, 42”, 50”, 60”, 72”, and the 100" wide which is the only model that's not Wi-Fi enabled.

Other Sideline Models

Touchstone made other Sideline models available to customers who want or need something visually different from the original series.

The 50” Sideline has a number of variants based on it. Here are other 50” Sideline models to choose from:

  • Sideline White has a white glass frame instead of the original black. 

Touchstone Sideline White - 50" Recessed Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Sideline White - 50" Recessed Electric Fireplace
  • Sideline Steel has a matte black steel frame - looks great in more traditional room settings.

Touchstone The Sideline Steel™ 50"- Recessed Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone The Sideline Steel™ 50"- Recessed Electric Fireplace
  • Sideline Outdoor has a black steel frame designed for outdoor use or installation in moist spaces like bathrooms. It is the only Sideline electric fireplace with no heat.

ouchstone Sideline Outdoor - 50" Recessed / Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace, No Heat
In photo: Touchstone Sideline Outdoor - 50" Recessed / Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace, No Heat

Forte 

Touchstone Forte 40” is a narrower and taller version of the original Sideline electric fireplace. Designed for recessed installation, Forte has almost all the features that the Sideline series has, but in a different size.

It comes with pebbles, crystals, and a remote. This is the only Touchstone fireplace that does not have a sleep timer. 

Touchstone Forte - 40" Recessed Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Forte - 40" Recessed Electric Fireplace

Forte is the best option if wall space is an issue and the shut-off timer is not a feature you need.

Onyx & Ivory

Onyx is a wall-mounted electric fireplace with a 5 ½” depth. Due to its top vent location, this fireplace can be built into a wall only if the heat is permanently disabled.

It has beautiful realistic flames and comes with a black frame, log set, crystal set, and remote control.

Touchstone Onyx™ - 50" Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Onyx™ - 50" Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace

Wall mounted, Onyx is capable of heating up any room up to 400 square feet with 5,118 BTUs. Installing this fireplace is so easy. Just attach the mounting brackets to the back of the fireplace, hang it on the wall and turn it on.

If you’d rather have a simple electric fireplace with a white frame, go for the 50” Ivory electric fireplace. It has exactly the same features as the 50” Onyx. The only difference is the frame color.

Touchstone Ivory - Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace with White Frame
In photo: Touchstone Ivory - Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace with White Frame

Onyx Stainless

Onyx Stainless is just like the original Onyx fireplace, but with a stainless steel frame. A slight difference between this 50” wide stainless steel model and the original Onyx and Ivory is its depth. Onyx stainless is only 5” deep. 
Touchstone Onyx Stainless - 50" Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace
 In photo: Touchstone Onyx Stainless - 50" Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace

Mirror Onyx

If you value style above other features, Mirror Onyx might just become your best friend. It has a glass frame with a mirror finish that will make a strong design statement in your living room, family room, or any room in your home.

Touchstone Mirror Onyx
In photo: Touchstone Mirror Onyx - 50" Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace

This stylish and functional fireplace doubles as a large mirror when not lit, concealing the decorative media. It also features realistic flames with 5 flame settings, and optional heat function.  

AudioFlare

Listening to music while relaxing by the fire is a great way to pass the time. Touchstone provides a unique fireplace experience with the 50” AudioFlare, an electric fireplace with built-in Bluetooth speakers.

Touchstone AudioFlare - 50" Electric Fireplace with Bluetooth Audio Speakers
In photo: Touchstone AudioFlare - 50" Electric Fireplace with Bluetooth Audio Speakers

You can connect any Bluetooth capable device, enjoy the music while basking in the warmth of a fireplace. It's the perfect choice for music lovers.

Available in two colors, stainless steel and black.

Three-Sided Fireplaces

Touchstone has 2 models in this collection, Chesmont and Fury. Fury is designed for recessed installation while Chesmont can be mounted on a wall.

One is a little more advanced than the other technology-wise. The flame of the Fury fireplace is more colorful compared to Chesmont and, unlike Chestmont, Fury has a thermostat.

Chesmont

Touchstone Chesmont 50” is a three-sided wall mounted electric fireplace housed in a modern mantel. Available with a white or black mantel, this electric fireplace is really easy to install. Just hang it on the wall.

Touchstone Chesmont 50" Wall Mounted 3-Sided Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Chesmont 50" Wall Mounted 3-Sided Electric Fireplace
Chesmont has the same realistic flame and colors that the Sideline models have, orange, blue, and orange-blue. It comes with a driftwood log set and glass crystals making the display beautiful from any angle. 

Available in black and white colors.

Fury

Touchstone Fury is a built-in three-sided electric fireplace with a black mantel. It looks similar to Chesmont but two inches taller.

One notable difference is the decorative media that comes with the fireplace. Fury comes with stones and crystals for a more contemporary look, no log set.

Touchstone Fury - 50" 3-Sided Recessed Electric Fireplace
In photo: Touchstone Fury - 50" 3-Sided Recessed Electric Fireplace
Compared to the Chesmont, Fury is more colorful with 9 flame and flame bed colors to choose from.

Similar to other Touchstone fireplaces, this fireplace has two heat settings, high and low. But, it has a built-in thermostat so you can set the room to a specific temperature from 62 to 86 °F.

Customer Reviews

We've summed up what our customers had to say about Touchstone products. See their actual and honest reviews below.

Sideline Series

Touchstone's best selling series got a rating 4.5 out 5 stars from 488 reviews.

PROS: Simple to install, comes with decorative media, no mess, no installation cost, low operation cost, realistic flames, reasonable price, can be used without heat, silent heater, timer, great for supplementary heat, with remote, safe for kids, ventless

CONS: No thermostat, only 3 flame colors, no crackling sound, not enough heat, flames can be taller, breaks easily, dim flames, burn off smell, loud beep when changing modes, heater overheats in 2 hours

Sideline Elite

This is an improved version of the Sideline series, customers gave this fireplace 4.6 out of 5 stars, 47 reviews.

PROS: Looks fantastic, easy to install, easy to operate, great value for the price, realistic flames, quiet heater, lots of color options, comes with decorative media, no smoke, feels like real fire

CONS: Can’t tell if heater is on low or high, looks cheap, flames can be taller, no pulsating log, noisy heater

Onyx & Ivory

These are electric fireplaces that only have natural realistic flames. Customers gave it 4.3 out of 5 stars, 652 reviews.

PROS: Affordable, easy to install, looks great, nice flames, remote, zero maintenance, easy to change decorative media, blower is quiet not silent, on demand heat, timer, low operating cost

CONS: Loud heater, breaks easily, insufficient heat, basic remote, orange flames only, heater overheats, no embers, can’t use the log set and crystals at the same time, dim flames, flames can be taller, no thermostat, top vent

AudioFlare

This one is a pretty unique electric fireplace with Bluetooth speakers. Customers rated it 4.6 out of 5 stars, 12 reviews.

PROS: Easy installation, easy to use, looks great, multicolor flame, Bluetooth speakers, comes with decorative media

CONS: Low quality speakers, insufficient heat

Chesmont

This is a newer three-sided wall mounted fireplace that comes with its own modern mantel. Customers rated this 4.2 out of 5 stars, 18 reviews.

PROS: Realistic flames, looks great, modern chic, elegant, easy to install, produces good heat, no assembly needed, front heat vent, on-demand heat, good quality

CONS: Poor design, flimsy mount, plug-in only, flames do not look realistic, pricey

Final Thoughts

To sum up, here are the important notes about Touchstone fireplaces:

  1. Touchstone has a variety of models to offer their customers at competitive prices. All are quite easy to install.
  2. All Touchstone electric fireplaces provide approximately 5,000 BTUs of heat. According to the customer reviews, that isn’t enough heat for cold winter nights.
  3. Customers in general were quite happy with their purchase. At best, these electric fireplaces are good for supplementary heat and are not meant to be the primary heating solution.
  4. The reviews reveal that a lot of people want a thermostat with their fireplace. If you want this feature, you can choose between Sideline Elite and Fury. Both are top of the line. These are the only two Touchstone fireplaces that have more than three flame colors as well.
  5. Touchstone does have one electric fireplace for outdoor use, the 50” Sideline Outdoor. Just remember that this model does not provide heat, but it does look fantastic and will surely bring that warm and cozy feel outdoors.
  6. Touchstone’s three-sided fireplaces with modern mantels are stylish and functional accents for any wall. If you want to have a fireplace with a gorgeous view from any angle, get the Chesmont or Fury. The best depends on the installation and features you are looking for.

We hope this handy guide helps you decide which Touchstone fireplace best suits your needs. If you have anymore questions, please don't hesitate to contact us and get in touch with our team.

 

We would like to hear from you. Comment below or get in touch with our team of fireplace experts. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions!

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Comments

Dyann - January 21, 2022

Hi, Ken!

Most Touchstone products can heat up to 400sq/ft. but this could vary based on a number of reasons like location and/or altitude.

You can browse the Touchstone Collection here: https://modernblaze.com/collections/touchstone-home-products

If you have any more concerns or questions, please feel free to email us at support@modernblaze.com.

Thank you!

Ken - January 21, 2022

How large an area can be heated by a TouchStone fireplace?

Dyann - December 30, 2021

Hi, Jim & Theresa!

RJ from our customer service team had this to say for your question:

We don’t usually ship internationally. We ship to nearby counties (Canada and Mexico) on a case-by-case basis. Most of our international customers use parcel-forwarding companies located in the US to arrange their shipping.

Considering the holidays, the soonest we can ship the product you mentioned would be by Monday, January 3rd, 2022.

If you have more questions, you can send us an email at support@modernblaze.com.

Thank you so much.

Theresa Ricciuti - December 30, 2021

Good morning. I really want to purchase your 60 inch recessed, front venting, touchstone fireplace. I live in Canada but want it for my condo in Mexico. Do you ship to Mexico? If not and I need it in Canada before I fly to Mexico on Dec. 30th, can you ship it to me before then? Is there a distributor in Canada? My phone number is 250 490 7859. Thank you, Jim and Theresa Ricciuti

Don - June 30, 2021

I wanted to commend the people of Touchstone. I could not be happier with the personnel for their prompt and speedy service. Would recommend this company to anybody who was looking for an electric fireplace. Thank you

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