You can repurpose your fireplace to make it a perfect place for a pet area. Add a few blankets and favorite toys—along with sleeping baskets. It’s sure to become your best friend’s new favorite spot!

Despite the 30-foot-high vaulted ceiling and a wall of windows almost as tall, the oft-used family room of this 1980s-era contemporary in Florence felt less than light and airy. The redbrick fireplace ...