i'd like some feedback on the two windows, as I am currently looking at the same thing without windows. Why r they there given the expanse of glass on other wall. My mum had two narrow vertical windows either side and as they were un curtained they look like black rectangles at night which I found spooky. They didn't let in much light because of trees outside, but I guess if u had a skyline view say they may be useful. They also compromised positioning of artwork.

We are currently building and we have a double sided tile fire going in. This will sort of help to divide our large open plan. After lots of investigating we were going to apply stacked stone but the cost is enormous. Instead we are going to tile it. There are some fantastic tiles out there (that don't look tacky) that give a great appearance if not better than stacked stone and half the cost of stacked stone. We chose not to render due to the possibility of the heat making the render crack and as we have three metre ceiling heights we thought it would look too bland.

a_m_b_a Firstly, I would start with the cheapest option. Give the fireplace a lick of paint. You can do this yourself at a minimal cost and this may give you the look you're after. If it doesn't, then you haven't wasted a lot of money on cladding, render or anything else you may be thinking of. Secondly, don't touch the pelmets. Paint them yes so they don't stand out as much, but pelmets are there for more than just hiding curtain rods. They actually help circulate the air in the room as well as help minimise heat loss. If they aren't a sealed pelmet, I would look at sealing them. Also get rid of the blinds ans install some heavy curtains. This will also stop heat loss through your window. Other than those two things, have a look at some of the images on Houzz to give you an idea of what you can do. The window seat is a fantastic idea and I would definitely put one in. Most of all have fun with it. Don't be scared to try something different. Whatever you do, can always be changed if you don't like it. I know this isn't everyone's taste, but I would possibly go with a bright coloured paint as well. Make it a focal point of the room, instead of just a heating element. Going a bright orange or lime green would really set it off. Enjoy... Giuliano green design & consulting

Got my answer - non combustible material such as, natural stone - marble, granite or concrete etc.