A combined furniture and heating device having a concealable electric fireplace insert installed within a fireplace compartment of a furniture apparatus is provided. The electric fireplace insert has a front surface from which simulated flames are viewable when an opening of the fireplace compartment is uncovered so that the furniture apparatus is configured in its open configuration. The furniture apparatus includes a concealing panel removably installable over the opening configure the device in a concealed configuration so that the electric fireplace insert and its simulated flames viewable at its front surface are at least partially concealed. Power to a heating apparatus of the electric fireplace insert is turned on and off by a disabling device as the concealing panel is alternated between the open and concealed configurations. The disabling device can include a switch or a thermistor.