For most of us, the appeal of a fireplace
is deeply rooted. Invariably a
symbol of welcome, it is a warm, safe
place where you can curl up with a
book, talk to friends over drinks, or
ponder the big picture while watching
the flames change shape.
There are two basic aspects to fireplace
design. One is the physical design
of the fireplace: the materials, dimensions,
and scale of the fireplace, hearth,
mantel, chimney, and fireplace surround.
This column, however, focuses
on how it fits into a room, and how
the furnishings around it are placed.
It is easy to find a place for a fireplace
in most plans, and it is not too
hard to put