In the past, new-home buyers usually had two places for a fireplace — the family room or the living room — and two materials: brick or stone.

Now, the options are almost endless.

Home buyers are asking for fireplaces in bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and patios as well. And they have more choice of materials, modern designs and temperature and remote controls.

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Assn.

A direct-vent gas fireplace manufactured by Travis Industries is shown in a bathroom.

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“Last year, we saw more manufacturers come out with a very contemporary style of fireplace,” said Leslie Wheeler, a spokeswoman for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.

Contemporary gas fireplaces come with faces — what’s called the “fireplace surround” — of sleek faux stone or stainless steel.

Instead of traditional log sets, buyers can opt for flames emanating from rocks, colored glass or geometric shapes.

Or, seemingly, out of nowhere: A new design, called a ribbon fireplace, allows custom builders to use fire as a design element: a line of natural gas-fueled fire that seems to float. Most are framed in clean lines, with no hearth or mantle.

In 2006, Spark Modern Fires introduced ribbon fireplaces to high-end hotels such as the Ritz Carlton. Now these fireplaces are taking off in the residential market.

Lynn Sugarman chose a Spark ribbon fireplace because its sleek, clean design fit the look of her new loft home at Studios 1019 near the Design District in Dallas.

As it turned out, the fireplace was practical, too.

“Despite the cold snap, we haven’t had to turn on our furnace yet this year,” she said. “It’s been our primary source of heat. There was a cost savings that we didn’t expect.”

Such fireplaces are terrific zone heaters, said Ms. Wheeler. Homeowners turn up the fireplace and turn down the thermostat — warming the space they’re using while lowering the temperature in the rest of the house. This can cut energy costs 20 percent to 40 percent, according to the hearth association.

And with many new gas fireplaces, Santa will need to use the front door. Some fireplaces are now “ventless” — they have no chimney — or “direct vent,” through an outside wall.

The advantage is efficiency. Without a chimney, no heat escapes outdoors. “We estimate that about 80 to 90 percent of the heat generated goes into the room,” said Douglas Holland, a spokesman for Spark. “So you can definitely save on your heating bills.”

And no matter how sleek, modern or efficient, fireplaces still serve as a place to gather on a cold winter evening.

“It’s the centerpiece of our living space,” said Sugarman.