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First, I must say that birds make absolutely wonderful pets! Their antics and impressionable personalities make them a joy in any household.
Drafts are not very good in general when it comes to any avian species. Cool drafts can chill them and make them vulnerable to an assortment of infections including upper respiratory infections. Hot drafts from a wood burner can suffocate them and aftern have toxic fumes, so I would keep your bird in another room if you have a stove like this. Bird lungs are very sensitive to any chemicals including cleaners, insecticide (even the unscented), perfume, candles, and air freshener. These all are hazardous to birds.
Your bird can come from a number of places including a breeder, a speciality shop, or a chain store. All of these different places have their own ups and downs. Personally, I like to get my birds from breeders because I know where the babies came from and the environment in which they were raised. No matter where you get your bird you should make sure it it fully weaned (no longer requiring hand/parent feedings) and can eat completely on its own. Also, you need to ask what diet the bird is used to, how old the bird is, and if the bird has ever seen a vet. It is completely up to you whether or not you get the bird from a department store. Petco, Petland, Petsmart and others can be good stores, but this varies from city to city. Our Petco and Petsmart here are good, but Petland is not. Just make sure that the birds seem to be in a clean environment (no caked on poop on branches or murky water) and are active an healthy. Never pick a bird that seems lethargic because it could be a sign of illness.
When getting a new bird (in your case a first bird) you have to consider what to want from the bird. Do you want a bird that will sit and sing to you in a pleasant voice or a bird that can mimic phrases? Are you looking for someone who will be a cuddle bug or someone who might like to play games with you?
If you are looking for a singing bird, a male canary or dove is a wonderful choice. Canaries have beautiful, and sometimes very extravagant songs. They come in many colors verying from an almost whitish yellow to a deep orange/red. Dove's don't have songs quite like canaries, but they make a very pleasant cooing sound that is very relaxing and nice to listen to.
If you want someone who can mimic phrases and will play games, a budgie (parakeet) is an excellent choice. Bird Talk magazine rated the budgie among the top three talking parrot species. Most people don't know that budgies can talk so well because their talking is often high pitched and difficult to understand. Also, they are very acrobatic and will swing from toys and climb on ladders all day long! My two also enjoy climbing in a make shift tree gym that I made from natural branches and toys. Budgies also make sweet chirping sounds.
If you were thinking cuddle bug, a cockatiel is a wonderful idea. Not only can you teach these guys to whistle tunes, (depending on your bird, not all will whistle tines) but they just LOVE to be held and cuddled with. My two cockatiels live for head rubbings, so be prepared to be your cockatiel's head rubbing slave. 
Even though some people consider the cockatiels "drabby" because they lack the color of other parrot species, their personality much outweighs their feather colors. Looks aren't everything, remember that!
If you were still thinking of a more "exotic looking" bird with more colorful feathering you might want to consider a small conure species such as the green cheeked conure. These guys aren't known for cuddling much, but they love to play, so provide them with plenty of toys and out of cage time! Contrary to popular belief, conures can make wonderful first birds for people who put in the effort to research their new pets. In fact most birds can (and will) make wonderful first pets. The key is research, research, research! You need to know the facts about whatever bird you decide to add to your family so that you can be prepared to provide an enriching environment tailored to their specific needs. Get bird books and read as much as you can from reliable internet sources.
If you have any more questions about getting a new bird, I would suggest subscribing to the Bird talk magazine or reading some of their articles on www.birdchannel.com!
I hope that was helpful! Good luck getting your new baby!
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