This is the picture I took of our giant, ugly corner fireplace when we did our home inspection. Now, maybe you don’t think it’s an eye sore, but we sure did. In addition to the bizarre laundry room placement, the corner fireplace took up way to much room in the family room.
To me, a family room is a place to gather… to hang out and relax. And that’s kind of hard to do if all you can comfortably fit in the space is a love seat.
I wanted to get rid of the fireplace all together and square off the room. But Chino the Handyman, Girly Girl, Patrick the Irish Realtor and just about everyone else I talked to about it said NO, a family room needs a fireplace.
So then we went back and forth about taking out the corner fireplace and installing an indoor/outdoor fireplace. Which would have been kinda cool, but then we’d have to take out a window for it to look right and yada yada yada it was more work/money than we could spend. Plus, one of my favorite features about this house is the window layout and all the natural sunlight that streams in all day.
So we compromised. We decided to demo the fireplace area and then drop the fireplace down about a foot {the pipe thing a ma do will be lowered later}.
By dropping the fireplace down a foot we were also able to push it back about a foot as well. {Flowers are from my 85 year old neighbor}
It may seem silly, but a foot in every direction will make a huge difference when it’s all finished.
The end result should look something similar to THIS or THIS when we are done {using a lighter chip tile}.
What do you think? Any suggestions? Chino the handyman LOVES suggestions. 😉
~Mavis
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Gwen says
Interesting! I was expecting a vertical flue, not the side exit.
We have a small house (less than 900 sq feet w/ two bedrooms). A huge fireplace dominates one wall in the living room/dining room. We don’t use it, so wish I could have it and the brick chimney removed too.
Thinking now of at least removing the mantle 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration.
Cecily says
I would take the whole thing out and install a small wood stove and hearth. In my opinion there is nothing more comforting than a real wood fire and a stove, as opposed to a fireplace, is super efficient.
jestjack says
Not a fan….Has anyone spoke with a structural engineer? Moving that wall five feet should be researched and my thought is you have a major suppot running the length of the room which is gonna look a little “different”. I also have big concerns about moving the fireplace. Those modular fireplaces have definite limitations and there are “set backs” because of the heat transfer. I don’t see any kind of fire retardent “backer board”….Please research this….
Chris M says
I think it needs some kind of hearth — the perfect place for one of your hooked rugs! 🙂
Peggy Stenglein says
Are you going to have a gorgeous mantel like the pictures? That would be beautiful. At our farmhouse, my dad used a huge piece of solid oak he came across for the mantel in our living room. 🙂
Robin says
I hope the Chino looked into how far the fireplace could be moved back. They have regulations on how far they have to be from combustible material, like the walls. Hopefully it has a good heat shield on the back. I can’t tell, is it a gas fireplace? Maybe these have different regulations. Good luck!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes it is a gas fireplace. 🙂 He knows what he’s doing, and knows the regulations. 🙂
Heather says
Mavis…I love the change! We just bought a new house a month ago too and are into making it “our own” too! Love the bouquet…we had a surprise visit at our new home from an 11 year old neighbor girl and her father who wanted to welcome us to the neighborhood with a homemade blackberry/apple pie! She made it for us! So sweet…love old-fashioned traditions.
Diana says
I love the fireplace adjustment. I’m glad you are keeping it in the room. With the enlarged room, it won’t be such a dominant feature…except when you want it to be. Ditto what Robin says above, about making sure the fireplace isn’t too close to the walls behind it, and/or that there is a sufficient heat barrier in there. I’m sure Chino is on it. Go Chino!
Sarah says
I would remove the whole shebang. Seriously.
Corner fireplaces are not an asset, they waste space and are difficult to arrange furniture around. My first home in Portland had a corner fireplace and I lived with that awkward thing for five years. The woman I sold to made fireplace removal her first project. Like, she did it before she moved in. When she showed me around, I was like, “Why didn’t I do that!!!”
I know all those folks told you to keep it for resale and stuff, but I doubt they can promise you that it’s going to be a deal breaker or that you’re going to make thousands more dollars because of it, years down the road.
You need that corner for a functional, cozy furniture space plan. Do what you want, Mavis! You won’t regret it.
Katie in WI says
I’m going to start giving the people in my life descriptive names like you do: Patrick the Irish realtor, The Hottest Electrician on the Planet, Chino the Handyman, The Girly Girl. It really adds something to your tales of life!
janet says
I think your changes are terrific and you’ll be so glad you just did it! Either fireplace stone and mantle will be wonderful, no wrong answer. About your Costco shopping trip, it is ok. Next time buy those platters of veggies, cut up fruit too! You are still my hero, maybe even more so. Congratulations on the right sizing! I can’t wait to see more pictures.
judy says
I so agree about a wood stove as opposed to a fireplace. Fireplaces are so inefficient. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Beth says
I vote for free-standing wood stove with a nice tile/decorative hearth…..
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! Hey Beth, how are you? You should come visit me when you’re up in my neck of the woods.
Helen in Meridian says
Congratulations on your new home. We have 3 fireplaces in this house. Have never used any of them, except for Santa to come down to fill our socks. I would gladly rip it all out, and use those walls for cupboards and counter space. Wowza, you are so full of energy and use it. Did your freezers full of cooked food make it to your new house? I am using Costco more than ever before. Found some of their stuff with their coupons, and even without, are cheaper than any cioupon deal I can find. We save over $1,000/yr with Costco’s insurance on our cars, house, and umbrella policy covering both. Do you lie in bed planning all these projects at night, or are you so tired you sleep soundly for what little sleep you allow yourself? Did the girl see the new house before she left for college?
Claudine says
I agree with you. I don’t like it in the corner either. I would have maybe had it moved to the wall so its perpendicular to the exterior wall. Plus it’s a metal firebox. And coming from someone who has one, it’s pointless, they cannot burn too hot like iron or masonry fireplaces. So be careful! I tend to think fireplaces messy and I only burn the clean logs anyways (recycled paper). It looks like you have ceramic logs which are perfect although when you light a fire the gas needs to stay on the whole time or the fire goes out. My mother has one of these set ups and now that it’s ceramic logs as opposed to real ones, they never light a fire. So what’s the point?
I may be being pessimistic, but I think about the price you pay for square feet and if it’s useful it pays for itself more than if it is just visually pleasing.
I love your remodeling ideas by the way, you are a very smart woman 🙂
Cenith says
Oh a wood stove is wonderful! Not only is it more efficient but I can tell you after an ice storm I was glad to be able to warm soup and water for coffee.
Jumbe says
Move that sucker to the master bedroom. Read in bed with footy jams, tea and a warm fire all winter.
Nikki says
I throw in my 2 cents worth and say put in a pellet stove. Just as toasty and comfy as a wood stove, just a heck of a lot cleaner to use.
Nicki says
A beautiful freestanding ceramic firepot could also be an option. They fit nicely into the corner, don’t take up too much space and look great both winter and in summer when you are not using it. We have them in South Africa under the name of Earthfire if you want to look for an example. I am not sure if they are available elsewhere or under what name. I really think the current fireplace is overpowering for the size room. Have lots of fun looking at your newsletters!
Diana says
Love the wood stove suggestions. That’s what I have, and I agree about the efficiency, it can practically heat the whole house. It’s charming to have in the room, imo.
Terri says
Oh Mavis! Sorry to be somewhat of a party-pooper, but living in earthquake land (25 miles from the San Andres Fault), I worry about brick fireplaces. I know you heard of the one recently in Northern California. A brick fireplace fell on a teen boy who was sleeping in front of one and broke his pelvis. I also lived through the Northridge quake, not fun. Many were injured because of brick fireplaces. I guess it’s the grandma in me, but a wood stove does sound nice!
Leslie says
I think I’m with you- I would have removed it, or at least relocated it. But it sounds like all the votes were contrary to that, so what do I know 🙂
Alice says
I would remove the fireplace. My family room has no fireplace, I have a fireplace in the dinning room. Much more “traditional” 🙂
I would replace it with build in book shelves all along that wall. I would move couches in front of window and in front of built in book shelves like sort of not too near the windows but in front and tv on that wall you are planning to move back. I am sure you did not consider that positioning, but try it, you will be very surprised by how cozy the room feels. Just keep in mind your couches do not need to be right next to a wall. They can be near a window with a person able to stand between couch and window.
I would get really cool drapes to close off when you are watching tv, otherwise too much sunlight.
People visit my house and they often comment about how unexpected some furniture positioning is but its sooo comfortable.. they get home and move things around too.
Alice
Mrs. Mac says
It ‘reads’ like she is having the TV mounted above the lower and further pushed back fireplace .. so a wood stove, would not work well.