Especially for my friends who are in the cold snowy parts of the world, while I am here in Hawai’i suffering with a fan on to keep my room cool enough to sleep in… 😀
A quote from Godey’s Lady’s Book 1870 –
“A fireplace goes farther than anything else in giving to a room character and beauty. Every parlor, dining-room, and nursery, at least, should have one. In the cool weather of spring and fall, when the morning and evening air is a little sharp, or when a long cold rain-storm is making everything damp, moist, and uncomfortable, there is nothing more delightful, both for old and young, than a brisk fire upon an open hearth. With what beautiful rosy light and a gentle warmth, it fills a room, and how it laughs and dances and seems to say to every one, ‘be glad with me!’ And then, aside from its home-like beauty and good cheer, the depressing chills and miasma, the floating seeds of disease, will be seized by its friendly flames and whirled up the chimney before they have time to lay a finger on us.” – Sarah J. Hale
What does a fireplace bring to a room in a novel. Do they gravitate toward it for warmth? Do they need the light to decipher a strange message? Perhaps they need to burn a document or piece of evidence?
Is it a stately marble creation with grand designs? Is there a dent in the copper plating? Would it benefit from some cleaning? What does that tell you about the occupants of the house?
STEAMED! 
I’m originally from Minnesota, so hearth = everything for 9 months of the year. It’s where we snuggle, gather to talk, lose ourselves in thought, and obviously warm up! I currently live in Texas, but purchased a house with a central walk-around fireplace in the living room. I’d say it’s high on the list of places that anything can and will happen :).
So much fun! Living in Hawaii, we don’t have many fireplaces. When I go on vacation to the ‘mainland’ I love to go places where it’s cold and yes, find myself a fireplace! In Arizona, I stayed in a Navajo Hogan. The center of the room had a cast iron stove, alas it was TOO HOT in the summer to use it!