Fireplace design ideas

[MsCoconut]

DH and I have just purchased a 1930's terraced house and are doing up the living room. There are still some original features (parquet floor, coving) which we like. However, there is also an UGLY fireplace surround circa 1960 which we don't. It stretches from the chimney along one wall to the window. Other than getting rid of the brickwork ASAP, does anyone have any ideas on what to to do with the fireplace once the brickwork is gone?

Make the hole larger amd stick a log burner in it?

I've been eyeing up wood burning stoves. Now how to enlarge a small hole?

I feel like this question might be setting myself up for some interesting replies

Sledge hammer?

We had a firm do it all for us as its quite technical with flue linings, etc.

Yup, it's one i would get professionals into do.

Would places that sell and install fireplaces also be able to the building work/demolition or does it require hiring a few different people one for the demolition/enlargement and one for the chimney flue/hearth/installation?

The two stove shops we got quotes from both had their own workmen.

One of the shops said we'd need to sort our own scaffolding out but the other firm didnt want to bother using it.

Took a day to do. I just picked the stove, hearth and beam and they did everything.

Thanks viva I'm going to start speaking to shops. They will hopefully know specifications about what size hole is necessary for a model.