Before styling any fireplace, there are a some basic considerations that are usually addressed so that an overall fireplace design can be completed. Essentially there are three all-important parts to the design of any fireplace, and great care should be taken to ensure they all merge well with each other so that the the entire design will flow well with each other.
The three key components to fireplace design include the firebox, hearth and the fireplace opening.
The hearth is probably the best place to start. A hearth might be flat with the floor, raised above the floor, or even situated below the level of the floor. Often times, there might not even be a hearth incorporated into the fireplace design. In those cases the firebox should probably be raised a few inches above the floor, as the hearth is there to protect the flooring from the intense heat that the fire can produce. Another kind of hearth may include …