What if the picture over your fireplace changed every day? During the winter, you could watch snowflakes gracefully fall into the fire, and in the fall, you could enjoy the jewel tone colors of the changing leaves while sipping hot cocoa near the fire. This ever-changing portrait over the mantle seems impossible, doesn’t it? With the use of a solid masonry and invisible glass, a window can make your living space and mantle more interesting. From the outside, it breaks up the vertical chimney and

adds a visual element to this structure. Also, the gas fireplace exhaust can be diverted through a small vent below the chimney. Even if you’re trying to find a way to increase the natural light in your family room, adding a window can achieve this goal. There are only so many ways to decorate your mantle, but a connection to the outside world is sometimes just what you need more of.

The rest is here:
Ever-changing Portrait over the Mantle