The 88-Inch Fireplace That Installs Four Different Ways
Most built-in electric fireplaces make you decide, at the moment you order, exactly which way the thing will face for the rest of its life. Front-facing, corner, or bay — pick one, and that is the unit you are buying.
The Dimplex IgniteXL Bold 88" does not work that way. It ships with removable side panels, and which ones you take off decides the installation. One unit, four configurations: front-facing, left corner, right corner, or bay.
That sounds like a small thing on a spec sheet. In a renovation, where the wall you thought you were using turns out to have a stud or a duct in the wrong place, it is the difference between adapting and re-ordering.
Eighty-eight inches is over seven feet
Worth saying plainly, because the number is easy to skim past. At 88.23" wide this is a fireplace that will define an entire wall. It stands 23.9" high with a viewing area of 16.1" — and that viewing height is where the drama comes from, because tall flames read as real in a way that a thin letterbox slot never quite manages.
If seven feet is not enough, multiple units can be connected together for a longer run.
The mirror trick
Dimplex's patented mirror effect is the feature that separates this from a screen with an orange loop on it. The reflective interior multiplies the flames and pushes the apparent depth of the firebox well beyond its actual measurement, so you get the sense of looking into something rather than at something.
Pair that with the media bed — small and large acrylic crystals mixed with natural-looking driftwood — and the effect at dusk is convincing enough that people will walk over to check.
Three flame colours, or all of them at once
You can run a single flame colour or display several simultaneously. The multi-colour setting is the one worth trying first: a real fire is never one colour, and layering them is what stops the effect reading as a video loop.
What you are getting
| Width | 88.23" |
| Height | 23.9" |
| Viewing area height | 16.1" |
| Wattage | 1500 / 2500 |
| Voltage | 120 / 240 |
| Controls | Multi-function remote, built-in thermostat, timer, automatic shut-off |
| Warranty | 5-year limited |
The one thing to check first
The voltage. This unit is 120/240V, and at 2500W the higher setting will want a dedicated circuit. Before you order, have an electrician confirm what is available at the wall you have in mind. It is a straightforward job if it is planned and an annoying one if it is discovered after the unit arrives.
Beyond that, an electric build-in is about as forgiving as fireplaces get. No gas line, no flue, no clearance calculation, no annual service. If you have been put off a fireplace by the installation, this is the category that removes the obstacle — something we went into in more detail in our piece on whether electric fireplaces are actually worth it.
Take a look
The IgniteXL Bold 88" is available now at $5,849.99, with the owner's manual and full brochure on the product page so you can check framing dimensions before ordering. Free shipping over $299.
Eighty-eight inches too much wall? The same unit comes in 50" and 74", and if you are torn between brands, our Modern Flames versus Dimplex comparison lays out where each one wins.
