RMS heater that is compatible with vintage famhouse furniture.

Hi Guys,
I stumbled on this RMS concept quite by accident, yet now find myself fascinated by it's possibilities.
We are nearing retirement, and consequently our income level will drop so I am looking for alternative heat methods here in Michigan.
Our home is an 1880's farmhouse in a small town and in looking through the images and video's of RMS I have not seen one that will pass the wife's muster as far as fitting in aesthetically with the furniture.
Has anyone created a room-size version that would be appealing to the scrutinizing eye of a sixty-ish year old woman who would string me up if I were to tell her I want to build a large "butt warmer" in the corner of her living room?

Thanks
Rich

Hi Rich, welcome to the forum from Cornwall, UK

Have you seen Paul's video wit the portable RMH that was built inside a wooden box. It might be worth thinking about. It could be hidden in a nice piece of joinery and you would hardly know it was there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHOwmKyL7A

Have fun

aman

Hi Rich,

my only thought is to move the mass to the floor, so instead of a butt warmer, you have a toes warmer. but that involves a lot of dig and demo so if the Mrs asks, you did not get this stupid idea from me. =)

toan

Thanks for the input guys.
I'll research it a little further.

This guy's stove looks pretty interesting..
Maybe something along these lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSsJZ3ru0ME&feature=plcp&context=C3592efdUDOEgsToPDskJuN-zMPLvkYjGcxOzGUbiA

Dressing up the heater should be no problem at all. Plenty of options out there, should be possible to find something that will fit with your decor.
Bricks/blocks/stone can be done attractively, hold heat and release it slowly to keep a room toasty for hours.
Wood can be used, but if the stove got too hot there could be problems. Wood gives you all kinds of versatility-frame for tinwork, steps, mitten and boot dryers, seating and carving just for starters.
Tile may offer the solution-looks, ease of installation, easy to maintain, holds up with the heat.

In my experience, repurposing old farmhouse furniture can give a piece new life and preserve the flow of the living space. Perhaps an old toolchest or jelly cabinet could be used along with the stove?

My suggestion is to make plenty of drawings of what how you might built it and how you might make it please the wife. A mass bench with a face and sitting surface out of polished stone would work for mine. Good luck. Let us know how it works.