Pleasing designs result from exercising good taste in use of materials and mantels that suit the room. The photographs in this bulletin have been selected to illustrate various architectural effects that can be developed and should help in the choice of a type suitable for houses of different designs. The essentials for safety and utility, however, should not be sacrificed for style. [Illustration: Figure 31.--This 36-inch-wide fireplace does not seem too large for the small room, but its size would have been accentuated by the use of a mantel.] CONSTRUCTION The ordinary fireplace is constructed generally as shown in figure 34. It is essential (1) that the flue have the proper area, (2) that the throat be correctly constructed and have suitable damper, (3) that the chimney be high enough for a good draft, (4) that the shape of the fireplace be such as to direct a maximum amount of radiated heat into the room, and (5) that a properly constructed smoke chamber be provided. [Illustration: Figure 32.--An adobe fireplace of the Mexican-Indian type commonly built in the Southwestern States, especially when the house walls are of adobe. The logs are stood up, leaning against the back of the grate, in order to secure a high-licking flame.] DIMENSIONS Table 3 gives recommended dimensions for fireplaces of various widths and heights. If a damper is installed, the width of the opening j, figure 34, will depend on the width of the damper frame, the size of which is fixed by the width and depth of the fireplace and the slope of the back wall. The width of the throat proper is determined by the opening of the hinged damper cover. The full damper opening should never be less than the flue area. Responsible manufacturers of fireplace equipment give valuable assistance in the selection of a suitable damper for a given fireplace. A well-designed and well-installed damper should be regarded as essential in cold climates. When no damper is used, the throat opening j should be 4 inches for fireplaces not exceeding 4 feet in height. Table 3.--_Recommended dimensions for finished fireplaces_ [Letters at heads of columns refer to figure 34] Table Key _w_ Opening Width _h_ " Height _d_ Depth _c_ Minimum back (horizontal) _a_ Vertical back wall _b_ Inclined " " _o_ Outside dimensions of standard flue lining _i_ Inside diameter of standard round flue lining _w_ _h_ _d_ _c_ _a_ _b_ _o_ _i_ ------+-------+--------+-------+-------+-------+--------+------- Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches Inches