Customer Reviews

The Fireplace Book

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A well presented book with a wide variety of photographs making it a good source of ideas for interior designers. Beyond that there is little to commend it. Most of the pictures are not referenced, even those of grand or unique designs of fireplace. The commentary is lacking in technical and historical detail and the organisation into historical periods is only loosely adhered to. Not a bad coffee table book but not much good if you want information on designing, building or choosing a fireplace.

In The Fireplace Book there are lots of beautiful pictures and a short introduction for each topic (approximately a few pages per topic); however, there is no depth. The author talks about a lot of designers, periods, and parts of fireplace design. She talks about historical changes and adaptations. What this book could really use is twice the information and an improved index (the existing one is VERY weak). It absolutely needs a section for sources and further reading, along with a glossary of terms and people. If you are looking for a coffee table or idea book and know all the design terms, this could be the one for you. If you are looking for information on designers, periods, historical development, etc. or don't already know all the terms this book could be interesting, but you will need to a more wordy book to complement it.

Photographs of hundreds of fireplaces worldwide offer options for giving your fireplace a different look. What's your preference? Art Deco? Something reminiscent of the Renaissance period or more Contemporary? Included in this book is a directory. Detailed information is presented covering salvaged fireplace parts, antique and reproduction mantels. Miranda Innes has provided a timely book to enrich the beauty of the home and hearth. There's no place like home for the holidays sitting before a warm fire or the glowing embers emanating from a classic fireplace.