Cunning plan....NOT!

This doesn't help you either but..................... the little cottage I bought in West Wales had a central chimney between the bedroom and living room. The previous owner had put a double fronted woodburner there, with glass doors that could be opened from either room. The initial effect was great BUT because the stove wasn't built into the opening but just sat on the hearth, there were big gaps at the sides of the stove through which you could see into the next room! The stove had to work twice as hard because it was heating two rooms, not one. - and the cold air whistled through when the front door was opened!!
I had wooden shutters made to close off the bedroom side but, soon after decided on adding an upstairs floor with living area. The chimney breast was blocked up one side and the staircase built against it.