Nice work, Rev! The setup reminds me of the old Czech kitchen stoves (Austria, Bavaria had the same ones - kachelofen). They usually build a stove top over the fire for cooking & tile up the rest. And mainly, build a day bed of sort and benches around the ducts. It's famously a very popular lazy spot in the house in the winters - warm, and easy access to the stove top goulash/stew :-)