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Like this? This is a Finnish fireplace made by Tulikivi in Finland. This is the most efficient wood stove made.
Like he said, burn for 30 minutes and heat the house for 12 hours. Burns very very hot and reduces a big armload of wood into a few tablespoons of ash.
Since you aren't interested in coals, pine is as good as oak.

I wanted badly to build one in my new log cabin 20 years ago, had all the brochures etc. but finally figured that, ironically, it was just too hot for the NC mountains.
I think you need to be up in South Dakota or Minnesota to fully enjoy the Finnish fireplace.