Fireplace in new house - keep or replace

[Primotomb]

Just that really. Starting to plan decor in our new living room and can't decide whether to keep or replace fireplace. I think I like it, but can't decide whether thats just because I've always wanted a fireplace - 20 years in previous house without one.

Fireplace is a warmer/creamier colour in real life than it looks in the photo

We're planning on oak flooring and neutral beigy cream walls.

Ignore the temporary furniture, will be replaced with M&S Sonona oak and denim blue leather sofas (2 x 3 seaters), with rugs/ curtains to pull it all together.

The room is quite large - 2nd photo for scale

I love a fireplace (don't have one). Think this one is a little too ornate, for my taste. Windows are modern so if money allows I would probably change it for something simpler.

I think it’s lovely, I like an ornate fireplace but I’ve lived in Victorian and Edwardian houses so not sure what I’d do in a modern one.

PS @minmooch I can totally understand your desire for a fireplace. My friends last week (on zoom call) showed us where they’d ripped theirs out and I was horrified!

Something like this perhaps.

I would definately keep the option of having a fire, we insisted that our chimney was lined so we could use the fireplace, when our house was built. (Penny pinching builder didnt want to ...) We only use it in the evenings in the coldest winter weekends but its great to have the option. We are in a village and have had some 3-4 day power cuts, so its handy for those as well.
I like the design of yours but you can get more modern designs

I like the surround, not as keen on the fire. I don't have a fire at the minute but we're planning to add one, I miss it being the focus of the room.

Is it level?

I’d be tempted to have a log burner installed and just have a simple mantle piece. We have both and am considering changing the open fire in the kitchen to a log burner.

I don't love the style of the fireplace for the style of the room a d size of the wall. I've always lived in old houses with fireplaces. I'd replace it I think maybe with a log burning stove. And/or a different style of surround.

I love a fireplace but would replace that one for x something more modern.

Beautiful fireplace. What you are planning to replace it with is inferior IMO.

What heathens you are! The fireplace is lovely. The problem with that room is the fugly TV obscuring the windows.

Lovely fireplace! I wouldn't change it.

It’s way too big for the room and looks weird with the windows. Would get rid!

@Dozer

It’s way too big for the room and looks weird with the windows. Would get rid!

I think I might actually agree with this, there’s a bit too much on one wall. Looks like an electric fire so might be best moved to another wall?

I'd rip it out to leave a hole and just put a simple wood beam over the cavity

To be honest, I don’t think it suits the style of the room and likely house. It’s highly ornate.

Personally I’d get a plainer one and put a log burner in. Open fires are hugely inefficient.

Is it original to the house? That would sway my decision. If it's not original I would consider replacing but if it's original I would keep it.

@roses2

Is it original to the house? That would sway my decision. If it's not original I would consider replacing but if it's original I would keep it.

It might be, but that doesn’t mean it’s old, it could be a reproduction. The view outside the window makes this look like a modern house, but hard to tell

If this is a period property then it shouldn’t be removed. I’m not sure it is though.

I really don’t like the style of it at all! But it’s a lovely light room, I would swap it for something simpler - perhaps a log burner and a wooden mantelpiece Not sure I’ve ever seen a house without a fireplace at all? What’s in the centre of the living room?

Thanks all. Definitely not original - house built in the 70s.

Gas fire, so can't move to another wall.

Not keen on log burners.

@ToffeeNotCoffee that's my worry. I'd maybe like it to be a little plainer, but still with some detail. It is very good quality though and was clearly expensive. I doubt we'd be able to afford something as good quality as a replacement.

@minmooch I do like that one, but worry its too plain.

I think I just need to embrace it and keep the rest if the room fairly simple.

As someone who has had a house with both an open coal fire and a log burner I would go for the log burner every time.

70s house would defo get rid and if you want/need a gas fire get a modern one, incl fitting with minimal surround.

Open fire is 20% efficient so unless you really hate the next generation, don't. Woodburner 80% efficient and a useful backup, especially given what electricity is going to cost.

If you can't afford a replacement of good quality, then decorate the room for now and live with it a while. You may decide that you actually like it and if not you can get it replaced down the line and touch up the decoration at that point.

It's a gas fire not an open fire. It will be more efficient than a log burner.
I'd keep the fire but change the surround.