Wood stove in the basement, and a block chute on the side of my house, to drop the wood into the basement. Mine isnt a pretty stove, with glass in it, it is an old, cast iron All Nighter with a ceramic tile floor under it.
My favorite mix is oak, elm and birch. Elm sucks to split, unless it is below zero degrees outside, then it just pops like any other wood. Popple and box elder are ok, if you have plenty of wood of other species to mix with them. I have a ton of black walnut to burn, nothing to mix with it at the moment. But, my chimney needs work, and Im holding off until it is fixed.
I only run the stove from about 10 above or below. It cooks you out of the place, if it is warmer than that.
I love wood heat.

Best,
Ted