January, I p i 6 
17 
mm hp "! 
Much of the effectiveness of the fire¬ 
place depends upon the arrangement of 
the mantel garniture, as in this case 
Some say til es should not be pictorial. 
But one would readily forego criticism 
of this interesting nursery fireplace 
In this case the mantel shelf is merely 
rudimentary. An old Italian wood me¬ 
dallion relieves the austerity of line 
EIGHT 
COMFORTABLE 
HEARTHS 
Niches above the mantel, 
when having the same 
character as the adjoining 
woodwork, are always ef¬ 
fective. The excess of bric- 
a-brac here is unfortunate 
In restoring a Colonial fire¬ 
place one must restore its 
atmosphere by a multitude 
of both homely and deco¬ 
rative objects. This is in¬ 
formal and Mayflowery 
Though built-in ingle seats should be 
kept at a distance from the fire and not 
so close as in this case, there is some¬ 
thing indescribably cosy about them 
An ensemble formal in every respect: 
the rich carving of the mantel with its 
symmetrical garniture surrounded by 
simple though exquisite panelling 
Compare this with the niched fireplace 
shown above. The absence of fussy 
bric-a-brac makes possible this seemly 
and thoroughly restful arrangement 
