There are several types of wood heating systems that can be considered. First and foremost, at least in historical terms, is the fireplace. Burning wood is a delightful way to heat a room. It is also pretty inefficient - only around ten percent of the heat is usefully used.
Of course water can be heated from a fireplace - it is an old fashioned system that works, but not much more than that. It is not usually in keeping with the way we live today, though the fireplace is nice! There are several ways to improve the efficiency of the hearth fire, but none of them seem an ideal solution.
The other traditional form is the home wood fired boilers - say a pot belly in the kitchen. These are feasible, and have changed a lot recently. Unlike those of a couple of generations ago, current units are heat sealed. This brings problems and some units are liable to buckle within at high temperatures. You should look out for units tested by the Underwriters Laboratories. Check the exact model, since not all a manufacturers models will be approved.
Perhaps a smarter option to investigate is the wood furnace. Often these can work in tandem with a oil or gas furnace system, so you will never be cold or without hot water. They provide good even heat through the house and have the advantage that you can locate them in the garage, keeping the wood soot and so on out of the house.