what to do with a fireplace, that doesn't involve a fire?

[Kveta]

we have a fireplace in our lounge, and want to block the chimney up, but keep the fireplace (as getting rid of it seems like a more expensive option at the moment). It has a white wood surround, which we want to keep. we just have no need of any further heating in what is already a ridiculously warm house in winter.

DH thinks we could make the hole in the wall into a set of shelves, which I'm not altogether on board with - I think it might look a tad ridiculous. However, he has challenged me to come up with another use for an empty fireplace.

Any ideas?

Doesn't seem like a great height for shelves for me. Candles? Big plant? Some ideas here

Vase and flowers (tell DH to keep it topped up!)
lamp?
Sculpture (driftwood for budget)?
Stack of board games?

Wine rack built into the hole?
Some kind of large, centre piece type ornament?

Personally I would stack it full of different height white church candles, I know that 'look' has probably passed now but I really like it, and you can light them and have the flames flickering to give the feel of a fire on those dark winter nights

how about getting a firebasket (if you don't already have one) and then stack the firebasket full of something decorative like large mercury glass christmas tree baubles.

Or put a couple of big hurricane lanterns in, with big candles inside.

Or a big urn-like vase, with or without fake/dried flowers in. See here

I reckon all these will work best if the back of the fireplace (the "hole") is painted black or white.

You could put a big mirror over the fireplace hole and put candles in front of it, (perhaps in a nice holder or two) - this will double the candlelight in the room and even when they are not lit in the day it will reflect the room and make it look lovely.
I do this with my fireplace (working) in the summer - hides the soot behind it!
If you just use 2 screws it would keep the mirror safe from tipping over, and would still be an easily reversed option

thanks for all of the ideas!

we have a toddler and another child on the way, so anything too tantalising to little fingers is out. I think making it into some sort of children's toy storage for now might be best, then when they are a bit older, see about the array of candles, as that sounds lovely.

How about cupboard doors painted with blackboard paint?

The famous MN 'twigs and shit' !

isn't it "twigs and pebbly shit"? Actual shit would be far less cliched...

Oh yes, my bad!

You need to be careful about making it into a cupboard - we have a cupboard in the chimney breast in our kitchen and it has caused patched of damp on either side. You need to have ventilation in a chimney breast I think. Don;t know much about it but you should get proper advice before you put a cupboard in.

We have big candles in the unused fireplace in our bedroom, they used to look nice but are filthy now and need replacing!