How To Build a Fireplace

I think solid wood doors down a shadowy corridor, fireplaces, timber floorboards… but I can’t think of much else. I guess it really depends on the person and what they find grand. For example when i think of grand old houses i don’t think of marble.
high ceilings, is another and big windows with expansive landscape views =P

I think of grand houses as having big windows, pillars supporting the second floor porch, which is closed in by French fencing. No stucco or exposed brick, it has to be painted wooden slats on the exterior. Chandeliers, expansive rooms filled with almost nothing, and a well manicured aura. Mind you, I would hate to live in a house like this. Give me the log cabin out in the woods any day.

I am just outside of Toronto, looking to build some sort of 3-4 season sunroom. My husband is very capable of building his it, but we just have not had much exposure to different designs, or materials which may work better than others. I just want a place where we can hang out, not necessarily in the dead of winter. Maybe have a floor heater, or fireplace or something if it is a little chilly.

Various companies make prepackaged sunrooms, but you would probably save money by having your husband do the work. Here’s one idea for a three season porch using stock wooden storm doors with interchangeable screen and window inserts as stationary porch panels:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1541906,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes

Here’s another idea, this one a screened porch, but you could adapt the ideas for a three season room.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20053984,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes

I need some fireplace designs. i Would like some websites for photos or something….
Thanks in advance.

Here you go… this should help
http://images.google.ca/images?sourceid=navclient&hl=fr&rlz=1T4ADFA_frCA345CA346&q=fireplace%20designs&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

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

. 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!

I recently hired a small construction/design company to do some small living room remodeling for me. This involved putting up drywall and painting. They said they would be done in 3 days, and they were. The problem was the work was done very sloppy. There are "tape" lines visible in the wall, paint on our carpet, coffee tables, and brand new $800 fireplace. We called the owner, and he gave us alot of attitude on the phone, but sent the guy back out to correct everything. He came back out, but could not get all of the paint off the fireplace, and the tape lines are still there, as well as new "puddy" marks where he tried covering up other things. I don’t want them coming back out, cause who knows what they’ll do next, do I have to keep giving them the opprotunity to fix it, or can I just tell them to get lost? We have a contract that he signed, but he never had me sign it, and it says "payment due upon completion", but it is not complete. Can I stiff them?

Payment is due when you consider it "completed". Let them know you are not paying until it is satisfactory

In the Arts-and-Crafts Living Room episode of Divine Design, there was this really awesome slab of rock that hung above the fireplace, depicting two fossilized fish. I know Candace mentioned where she got it from, but I don’t remember what she said!
Can anyone help me find out where I can find a company that sells fossil-ridden rocks?

Have to tried going to hgtv.com and finding out there? And see if you can some how get a message to her? You could also go through Genevieve and she might be able to help you or ask Candice.

does anyone know where i can buy a portable fireplace for cheap?? preferably online… im looking for a one with a mohagony finish in a square-shaped design, possibly with some detailing on it…and, it has to be gel fuel. my price range is around $200. thanks
i think i seen some on ebay they might be a little higher throw.

Im making my tiny house into a small gallery for pictures so I want to keep it all very simple - no complicated design anywhere.
The biggest room, (not large) has a very ugly old granite fireplace in the corner, it is chest high, just plain, block slabs of granite, - one accross and one down on each side. and the inside - is all granite also. (theres a log burner, free standing, in the space). On one side - the granite slab looks narrower than the other - because it is partly covered by the dry wall insulation of the adjacent wall.
Imagine an upright, very large, lopsided, stumpy freezer with no door, with a large log burner inside,
but all made of thick, very discolored, blackish/greyish/patchy/sooty/ granite slabs, that stick out of the wall about six inches, all around. (ie - it isnt flat to the wall)
It is impossible for me to remove it - it weighs a few tons. If i just paint it - that doesnt conceal the lopsided look - which I must keep also - (its impossible to remove dry walling, adjacent)
I must keep the log burner for the winter & want to discover a very simple way to make the whole thing look less hideous.
Anyone got any ideas, please? ;o))
Ive considered making it a ’statement’ - ie - a ‘work of art’ on its own - with a painted design in very bright, or powerful colors, but I would prefer it to be unobtrusive, so that it does not detract from the other art to be hung in the room…

Just get a wooded fireplace surrond and mantle from a home center. It should fit over the top of the existing fireplace and hide the granite.

It will need to be secured to the wall and caulked in. You can paint or stain them.

Almost all knitted or decorated fireplace hung stockings are
usually designed with the bottoms facing to the right.

i believe its been a tradition for many years so people wanted to just kept it that way