How To Build a Fireplace

yellow pages under gas grills/ fireplaces

I am looking at houses to buy very soon and a fireplace preferably wood burning is very important to me -Tennessee-a house I really like doesn’t have one and I would have to build on in a corner angle (outside wall) prefer brick and later add mantle bit I need to know how it will cost so I can figure it in my negotiations. Thank you

Dan the Brick man knows what he is talking about since this is the business he is in.
A masonry fireplace from scratch is a big ticket item, you are looking at $7K at least for a single story. If Dan says $10K then odds are it will be $10K. Brick laying is not cheap.

Me and my boyfriend are thinking about renting this house. It has a great yard, new apliances, and…a blue fireplace?!? http://nvpm.net/images/IMG_1673.JPG
I was thinking that it wouldn’t be so bad if we could somehow incorporate it into the design and make it look cool, so it flows nicely with the room and doesn’t stick out like it does in this picture. Any ideas? Thanks so much!

That’s not bad. It stands out because it’s so WHITE in the room. If you do a taupe or a gray on the walls, it won’t show up as much. If you can’t paint, put curtains up and pictures and accessories. The room is too stark. Check out hgtv.com for ideas. Also before your paint check out paint swatches and bring them home to look at them in the light of that room. Roxanne

If you want to use it for heating the house, you need a fireplace insert. It’s essentially a wood stove that fits into the fireplace. There are very attractive models on the market that will not take much away from the appearance of the fireplace. You will lose the ‘open hearth’ effect, but it is the least wasteful use of your wood, which is not cheap. A good one should come with a thermostat-controlled blower to circulate warm air into the room. Be sure to use only wood that is seasoned and not fresh-cut (green). Green wood burns with difficulty, less heat output, and creates far more creosote (the black gunk that lines the inside of the flue and causes chimney fires).

Talk to local home and garden, or if they have them, fireplace specialty shops, about the proper way to select good firewood.

If you only plan to burn wood occasionally and more for aesthetics than heat, don’t spend the extra money on an insert. A good quality glassed-in screen will do. Get one that’s insulated around the outside to minimize heat loss while not using the fireplace.

. Which of the following is a principle of design?

A. Form
B. Color

C. Pattern

D. Balance

2. Of the following expressions, which best describes the concept of harmony in a room’s decor?

A. A consistency of mood
B. Strongly contrasting color values

C. A mix of assorted furniture styles

D. A mix of items that have various sizes

3. Normally, a prime consideration in designing a child’s bedroom would be to ensure that the

A. mood is conversational.
B. furnishings are sturdy.

C. colors provide contrast.

D. room has a secondary focal point.

4. Which of these statements is correct regarding how pattern is used in design?

A. Only the largest, dominant pattern affects the overall appearance of the room.
B. A large pattern will appear most dramatic when used in a large room or on an oversized object.

C. The secondary print used in a room’s decor should be as strong as the primary print.

D. Decorative patterns should be selected to harmonize with structural patterns.

5. Which of these statements best describes the concept of line as it’s used in design?

A. A line is a straight shape that’s much narrower than it is long.
B. The use of lines in a design will always create a sense of restfulness and stability.

C. A line leads the eye, conveying a sense of motion.

D. The use of lines in a design will always create a sense of strength and dignity.

6. Which of these statements is correct regarding the design concepts of proportion and scale?

A. There’s no difference between proportion and scale; these are interchangeable terms.
B. Proportion has to do with the sizes of the parts of an object; scale refers to the size of an object in relation to the size of other objects.

C. An object’s proportions refer to its size in relation to the size of other objects; scale refers to the object’s measured dimensions.

D. Proportion refers to the dimensions of objects that are parts of a single group; scale refers to the

7. Which of the following expresses a color value?

A. True green
B. Dark green

C. Blue-green

D. Yellow-green

8. Which of the rectangles shown here has the golden oblong proportions?

A B C D

A. A
B. B

C. C

D. D

9. The bodies of the lamps shown in this figure have harmony of

A. scale.
B. line.

C. texture.

D. value.

10. The basic shape of the lampshade in this figure is a

A. cone.
B. cylinder.

C. sphere.

D. pyramid.

11. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the design concept of scale?

A. The scale of the objects in a room can be varied for contrast.
B. To preserve unity, the scale of all the objects in a room must be the same.

C. When objects are arranged on either side of a centerline for formal balance, good scale will result.

D. If an object possesses good proportions, good scale in the arrangement is guaranteed.

12. The room in the figure above has two focal points. One is at the fireplace wall, and the other is in the dining area. As a decorator, you decide to use a painting procedure to unite these two focal points. In the dining area, you would paint the walls

A. a lighter value than in the living area.
B. a different color than in the living area.

C. white to reflect the living area.

D. The same color to reduce contrasts.

13. Which of the following shows a good example of rhythm used in a room’s decor?

A. An arched line at the tops of dining room chairs repeated in a sofa back, a mirror top, and a window’s drapery line
B. A rectangular red area rug, oval-backed dining chairs, and a blue dining table

C. A dark-blue print pillow on a white sofa and a light-green, solid-colored pillow on a wooden chair

D. An oval coffee table in front of an L-shaped sofa

14. Which of these statements best describes the concept of form as it’s used in design?

A. A form is a series of lines enclosing a space.
B. A form is any series of three-dimensional shapes arranged in a group.

C. The concept of form refers to art objects, while shape refers to furniture.

D. An object’s form is either inherent or derived.

15. Generally, the most effective way to use texture when decorating a room is by

A. selecting one texture only for use throughout the room.
B. combining only similar textures throughout the room.

C. using only smooth textures.

D. combining different textures in ways that provide contrast and balance.

16. Which of the following is an element of design?

A. Form
B. Unity

C. Scale

D. Proportion

17. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the design concept of emphasis?

A. Generally, there should be only one focal point in a room.
B. Focal points inherent in a room’s architecture must be emphasized with contrasting colors.

C. A focal point can’t be established in a setting where formal balance is used.

D. Generally, a focal point should be visible from the entrance to a room.

18. Which of the following should be your primary concern when creating an arrangement with informal balance?

A. Leave a space between each piece equal in size to one-half the combined width of the two widest pieces in the arrangement.
B. Place those items with the greatest visual weight nearest the centerline.

C. Balance all the items around a central pivot point.

D. Make certain that no two identical objects are placed on opposite sides of the centerline.

19. The basic shape of the body of the lamp in this figure is a

A. cone.
B. cylinder.

C. sphere.

D. pyramid.

20. Which type of balance is represented in this overhead view of a table and chairs?

A. Formal
B. Informal

C. Radial

D. Combined

If you didn’t want to find your own answers -you shouldn’t have taken the class!