Modern Flames Orion: Exclusive Interview With Brand Founder

Welcome to the Modern Blaze show! I'm Anastasia Vankova, the founder of Modern Blaze, and today we're diving into the world of virtual fireplaces—the most realistic electric fireplaces available on the market right now.

In this exclusive interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kris Richardson, the founder of Modern Flames, one of the leading brands of electric and virtual fireplaces. Join us as we explore the benefits, innovations, and future of virtual fireplaces.

Watch the Full Video:

The Evolution of Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces have come a long way since their inception 40 years ago. Originally using incandescent lighting, the industry saw a significant leap with LED technology. But, as Kris Richardson explains, the latest advancement is the virtual fireplace, a category pioneered by Modern Flames about two years ago.

"Virtual fireplaces are the most realistic electric fireplaces available on the market today in 2024," says Kris. These fireplaces use LCD screens to create a lifelike flame experience. The flames are not just projected images but videos of real flames recorded in a professional movie studio, offering a variety of flame patterns and colors.

Smart Innovations

Modern Flames' virtual fireplaces aren't just about aesthetics; they're smart and are getting smarter. The Orion series, for example, can be controlled via an app, allowing users to set timers, adjust the thermostat, and even connect to Alexa and Google Home.

Kris adds, “Our app has almost five stars on the app store, and it offers the ability to control your fireplace from your smartphone.”

The Benefits of Virtual Fireplaces

Aside from realistic flames, one of the standout features of virtual fireplaces is their reliability. Unlike traditional LED fireplaces, which have mechanical parts that can fail, virtual fireplaces are mostly solid-state electronics. This makes them more durable and reliable.

Additionally, these fireplaces can be set up for higher heat output. "The Orion multi has the ability to be wired for 240 volts, providing up to 10,000 BTUs of heat, which can heat about 800 to 1,000 square feet," explains Kris.

To add to the realism, many virtual fireplaces like Orion have the crackling sound of a wood-burning fire, a great feature that makes the entire fireplace experience come together.

Innovations on Display

Modern Flames continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with electric fireplaces. One of the most exciting innovations is the introduction of real wood log sets, a first for electric fireplaces.

"We are launching a new wood upgrade log set this year, which will be available in August. It's a hand-cut, handpicked, charred wood set that adds a unique aroma and look to your fireplace,"

Conclusion

Virtual fireplaces represent an exciting revolution in electric fireplace industry. They look better and perform better than their LED counterparts. A fireplace is a long term investment and it's probably worth spending a few extra hundred dollars to get the best fireplace you can get so that you don't have to upgrade it two years down the road. Speaking of upgrades, Modern Flames are introducing over the air updates to all of their Orion series fireplaces so that you can get the newest flame patterns right through the app. 

Are you excited about virtual fireplaces? Do you have any questions we didn't answer? Please comment below.

Ready to start shopping? Click here to check out our collection of Virtual Fireplaces 

Interested in Orion? Click here to see all the different Orion models.

We have some free downloadable virtual fireplace resources. Click here to get them.