Fireplace Decor: Hot Hearths

Art galleries and museum shops offer lots of sculptural choices. But don't be afraid to think beyond officially-designated objets d'art. New York-based interior designer Amie Weitzman has mounted antique weathervanes and giant African currency above her own fireplaces; the effect, she says, is offbeat and dramatic. And in this client's home in Westwood, Ca., Los Angeles-based designer Nicole Sassaman placed an antique toy train on one end of the mantel. The off-center placement actually creates the feeling that the train is traveling down the track — adding a whimsical touch to this elegant room.

Photo by Jim Wright