How do I decide what size fireplace to put in a large room?

Question

I am writing a book and I want to describe the fireplaces in a couple of the rooms but I have no idea what is an appropriate size for different size rooms. This is a mansion so some of the rooms are very large.

Answer 1

I have been in a few Palaces and Castlles in Europe and some of them had Immense Fireplaces really Gigantic. So we are talking about anything Between 6- 12 Feet long and 4ft 6inches to 6ft high. In some they had no Mantle shelf where you could rest youre Hand on just a fancy Carved Chimney Breast. Most Fireplaces are made out of very Ornate Marble. White, Green,Red, Black with White Flecks. Some are made out of Granite or Limestone.These can have the Heraldic Arms of the Family who own the Mansion or Demesne carved into the Stonework.

Answer 2

Hey...look up Biltmore Estate..lotsa fireplaces there...In main dining room a triple hearth ( 3 individual fireplaces ) that you can walk into. Size is kinda aesthetic....but size & efficiency are not so relative. A tiny Rumsfeld fireplace has huge heating effect...

Answer 3

My second cousin has a greatroom (probably 30x30 ft.) that has a fireplace. It has big white marble columns about 7ft. apart that reach the ceiling. The mantle between them is about 6 ft. high. The opening is about 5ft. wide by 4ft. tall.

These are all approximate from memory.