fireplaces

I am generally not impressed with fireplaces. It's probably mostly because I am not impressed with fires in general. A stone fireplace would be prettier than most brick fireplaces, and the adobe hearths are pretty neat, but regardless, a fire does not distribute heat very evenly - it's too warm when your are close and too cold when you are far away. Plus fireplaces are a pain to clean. And that's not even considering the risks of house fire created by a fire in a fireplace - it's not a huge risk, but definitely more than if you don't have a fire at all! I'd just as soon have NO fireplace and create an entertainment corner instead!