I'm the same as firebroad......I'm not crazy about the style. But that is some AMAZING artwork and talent that went into that stuff. I'd be interested in seeing you fire some of your own stuff, AP. I'm all about the "homemade" factor, and you've got that talent.
I love the traditional hearths; colonial, federal, and even the mountain rustic ones. I'm building ours with natural stone and some hand-hewn barn beams, that project will commence in a couple of weeks. Hoping to have a fire in it by Thanksgiving......
Here's some pics of the styles that I really like......ours will be a close mix between the first and last pictures. I threw the middle pic in because I really like that raised stone hearth in front of the fireplace...
(broken image removed)