What would you do with an empty fireplace

[TheBullfinch]

I have a big kitchen diner at the back of my house. It has two radiators but no fire. The people I bought it off removed all traces of the original fireplaces, simply covering the internal chimney opening with plasterboard, then plastering, skirting all around, so there's no surround, mantle or hearth.

I planned to get a wood burner but obviously cant now.

What would you do if you wanted the look and feel of a traditional wood burner? I'm semi-detached so share a chimney stack with next door.

Please don’t poke lights on Gerards eyes, it could give me nightmares for weeks 😳🤯😂

Loving the stoat @ComtesseDeSpair

I need something like that!

I think these are nice for a kitchen and useful! No flame but heat if you want it. However if you would only use a woodburner for high days and holidays I would get one fitted, even unlit they look lovely and you can always put candles, fairy lights etc in a real woodburner and just use it occasionally if the environment is your concern.

@prettyteapotsplease
Good effort but where's the bleedin' stoat?

Everyone's got to have a stoat.

I'm off to Stoats 'R' Us' first thing, to see if I can bag one before the Christmas rush.

@waltzingparrot that's beautiful and I have something very similar in my sitting room fireplace but I'm really hankering after a proper fire but I cant seem to get a builder out to quote for the whole lot, such as;

Open up fireplace
sweep chimney
Re-line it/prep it
put a lining in the fireplace (or hack off the plaster)?
Put a hearth in
Re-do skirting
Fit some kind of fire
Fit a lintel

With electric burners/stoves/fires, where does the lead go? would i need a plug socket installed in the fireplace?

Does anyone know 'ballpark' how much it would cost to:

fit a woodburner & surround
fit an electric fire & surround
fit a gas fire and surround

I agree with no lights in the stoats eyes - that'd be the stuff of nightmares.

I have a bio ethanol fire - used it a couple of times and I would not recommend it . Have to store the fuel ( if you have a garage or shed - fair play - I don't - had to pay the council to take it ( the fuel )
away as it is something you can't dispose of yourself )

This will sound absolutely rubbish & I am sure you will get a better answer but during winter I just shoved some of those battery operated candles into the fireplace and they look cosy ( but - to be clear we don't need that fireplace for actual heat. )

@TheBullfinch - best wishes and all love to the stoat

thanks @BasiliskStare I think the Stoat stole the show.

I actually had a bio ethanol fire in my last house - it was only small though and i hated the smell & it always felt a bit fumey if you know what i mean. That was 8 years ago though so Im sure theyve come a long way. I used to have real problems getting the stuff as well.

Thanks for your input everyone and ...er ... Gerard.

A fireplace company or reputable fitter will do all that. Google wood burner companies in your area, visit a couple and they should quote for the lot .

Price- we have gas stove, oak lintel, slate hearth, brick chamber, all associated works just over £4k

Everhot make a lovely electric stove which just needs a standard plug. Lots of gorgeous colours too

Gerard for P.M.

I'm afraid there seems to be a shortage of taxidermied stoats round here @TwoLeftSocksWithHoles but I'm aiming to get a felted bunny for the festive season. I'll smack my legs.

Not keen on the Everhot, it reminds me of our office safe.

I think Im going to get an oak mantle, an electric woodburner effect heater and a nice stone hearth plate. Thanks everyone, especially Gerard the stoat.

Top stoat, really love him and great idea

Someone prior to us filled the fireplace with firelogs, which is probably a complete spider haven
So we put a chest of drawers in front of it and completely pretend there's no fireplace at all.
In a previous home we had a bookcase exactly the size of the hole so stored all our CDs in it, with the cd player on top.

I'd love some form of taxidermy, but it would have to have died of natural causes, so probably be fairly mangy.

oooh i like the stoat!

I am hoping to find a fireplace in the other room when i manage to prise out the daybed they somehow secured and built in along that wall.

AND I have a bit of taxidermy that is going to need a new home as "somehow" the glass front got cracked between it going into storage and dh bringing it home....he doesn't know how.

anyway he baulked at me saying I'd have to buy a large glass bell jar at great expense for Mr Owl and his Mousey friend, but that's going to be way cheaper than an actual wood burner so I think I win!

Thanks for the idea @ComtesseDeSpair

Oh I love those little Everhot stoves, they’re so cute. But how would you every decide which colour?!!