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 would definitely recommend getting a woodburner installed. We ripped our chimney out and had one installed a couple of years ago and not only does it (obviously) help with heating, but it creates a focal point, makes the living area feel cosy, even when not on and also adds value!

I'd keep it. I think it'll grow on you as part of the history of your home.

I'd get rid of it; it looks a bit odd to have such an ornate fireplace on a straight wall, and no chimney breast. While I appreciate it houses a gas fire, it seems a bit out of place, like it randomly landed in the room.

I like the fireplace. I'd never have a house without a real fire and that surround would go with anything.

Oh just seen that it's a gas fire. I'd definitely change it to a log burner in that case or remove it all together.

I really like the fireplace but am not sure about the layout of the room—would you consider closing up the windows? The room as it is doesn’t really make sense, the fireplace says warm, cosy nightingale formal room while the windows and sliding doors say more modern open plan living. If you look up Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen recent tv mornings show appearance he actually gave advice on a very similar room, where the owner was unsure of a very similar fireplace. The problem is actually needing to create a strong focal point on the fireplace (mirror on top) and distract from the tv, for example place it somewhere else against a dark backdrop so it doesn’t stand out so much.

Regardless will need to find a home for the tv, the layout is going to be really difficult because the location of the fireplace and the doors and windows don’t really make sense when a tv needs to be considered. But fireplace surround is not the issue.

Too ornare for the room so I would sell the surround and get a simpler one. It is such a focal point it would annoy me every day if I didn't change it.

It’s a shame it’s not original, in a period house this would be perfect. I can see what people mean about it looking incongruous but the plain modern surrounds are really boring imo. I’d keep it, maybe paint it the same colour you’re doing the walls. I think it would look nice with rugs, furniture and houseplants in place

What is it made of ? @Primotomb

We just ripped out our two fireplaces this weekend! Some of my friends/family are horrified but I’m so excited to have a wall and be rid of the huge ornate waste of spaces! We’re leaving it so it can be opened up in future if we sell.

I looked at stoves but I’ve young kids so would need guards for years and I also wasn’t happy with the waste particles they omit. I do like the floating shelf over the hollow opening but ours didn’t easily lend to that.

Anyway, long story short, I’ve no regrets 12 hours on!!

It looks really odd. Doesn't suit a modernish house at all.

You can get really lovely simpler fire surrounds that would look far better in that room. I don't agree that they're boring if they're good quality and appropriate in design and scale for the house.

It looks like it’s a replica from a fire mantle from the 1800s. I didn’t realise it wasn’t actually a fireplace ans just had a gas fire there. Although I did wonder why I couldn’t see a chimney breast.

Personally I remove it totally op, unless it’s the only heat in the room. I can’t see any radiators. If you have radiators I’d just remove it all totally.

I think I would block the windows in, build some display shelves in the alcoves, create a false chimney breast and have a modern inset gas fire, something like this would look good if your style is more contemporary and add more modern character.

We have just painted our fireplace the same colour as the walls! It looks really good!

It’s beautiful. It just needs the wall behind it to be a different colour. At the moment it all blends in to one beige/ creamy colour. When the wall is different it’ll stand out and look a proper feature

If you have gas there already, why not get rid of the surround and put in a gas stove like this.

chesneys.co.uk/product/stoves/gas-stoves/salisbury-gas-stove

That way you keep the focal point.

I think I would block the windows in, build some display shelves in the alcoves, create a false chimney breast and have a modern inset gas fire, something like this would look good if your style is more contemporary and add more modern character.

Are you serious ?

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

We've got one of those. I don't like it and hope to have a proper fire place one day.

@ToffeeNotCoffee

I think I would block the windows in, build some display shelves in the alcoves, create a false chimney breast and have a modern inset gas fire, something like this would look good if your style is more contemporary and add more modern character.

Are you serious ?

Yes look at the picture, it’s hardly outlandish

If you're not sure what to replace it with best to live with it while you decide. To me the crazily enormous TV is more problematic than the mantlepiece. Maybe it should go on the wall on the right and surrounded with bookshelves or pictures to hide it.

I think I would block the windows in, build some display shelves in the alcoves, create a false chimney breast and have a modern inset gas fire, something like this would look good if your style is more contemporary and add more modern character.

Love this idea!

I think the idea about creating a chimney breast, shelves etc is a good one. It highlights why the fireplace looks wrong (apart from the style) - no chimney breast! So it's just pastiche I presume and serves no purpose?

I subscribe to the William Morris maxim 'have nothing in your house that you don't believe to be beautiful or know to be useful'. I don't always achieve that obviously!!

@ZaraCarmichaelshighheels

I think I would block the windows in, build some display shelves in the alcoves, create a false chimney breast and have a modern inset gas fire, something like this would look good if your style is more contemporary and add more modern character.

This is lovely, and would be a huge improvement.