If I lived in your place, I'd leave it in place. I'd get paint stripper (Peelaway) and remove the paint. Sorry, I can't support taking it out.

you might think it looks out of proportion now, but i predict it will be very difficult to get a new mantel and surround that are the "right" size and shape. they will likely be too big for your older house--- more suited to a great room or for retrofitting in a family room with 8 foot ceilings (so too wide, yet short). unless of course you get a custom carpenter to build you one. that's expensive...why not paint what you have matte black? or dark brown? or if you have the energy, strip? good luck kren

First I just have to say that your LR is GORGEOUS!!! Looks like you and I have a very similar eclectic style. Really, it looks like it could be in Metropolitan Home.

What if you put something taller over the fireplace, so it gave the fireplace more weight. I think that mirror is too tiny for the space. Also, maybe you could flank either side of the fireplace with some tall plants. It might help to give it some heft.

Have you posted on the Home Decorating forum? Maybe they will have some ideas.

I appreciate your endorsement of the existing one but I was hoping that someone had experience changing his fireplace so that I had a better appreciation of the undertaking.

We took out a 10' long raised stone hearth, a woodburning box and the 10' mantel. We installed an energy efficient unit at ground level. We lowered the mantle and right now all has been drywalled. Next we will spray knockdown texture and install granite surround and hearth.

If you are doing a premade, your job will be easier. The only thing we hired out was the fireplace store set the new unit in and hooked up the pipe.

I too like what you have but others liked mine before I changed it too.

The big box stores could help with premade that should not be too expensive.

I will be unable to change the firebox - only the mantel, surround and the hearth. Therefore, I don't think I could go in a similar direction with a premade fireplace, unfortunately.

Did you try the fireplaces forum, it's in the links at the top of this page or maybe the interior design forum. The way I see it the beams, (is there one missing?), seem to throw things off more than the fireplace, though the latter does look undersized. Maybe adding woodwork to enlarge the fireplace to fit better into the large room; framing in the mirror for example.

As far as the opening size, I imagine that could be a battle with your association or building owner or fire inspector.

shannon - how did you take out the box?

Mahlgold...
We tore out the raised hearth, removed the faux rock surround. I think dh then removed the doors. He may have had to take off the drywall that the faux rock was on. When I came home the unit was outside. He detatched the chimney pipe from inside so I think he was able to just pull it down. He MAY have gone outside and removed the top but I don't think so. The unit was fairly light but he may have set it in a wheelbarrel (ow) to take it outside. It was a wood burner so there was nothing to disconnect. Other than the 3 solid loads of debris to the dump and the hours of chiseling the rock with a pneumatic jackhammer attachement, it was fairly simple.

wryorwhite -- I am in the process of removing mantel, surround and hearth, starting with these lovely, lovely firebox-to-ceiling mirrors. :-) Then we're removing the odd shelf and marble hearth, and hopefully getting rid of the strange bump out.

We've got glass folks coming on Monday to take off the mirrors so that we can see what's underneath. From there, I'll be getting some estimates to fix the Mirrored Beast. Our firebox is both a wood burning and gas burning box, so we're leaving it as is (we also like it at floor level), but we'll be adding a new glass door, hearth, surround and mantel. I'll keep you posted.

Too bad you're so far away -- I'd be happy to take that mantel off your hands!

Here's where we're starting from.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mirrored Beast

Yes, I see what you are saying about the mirrored beast.

And yes, bill g, one of the beams is missing which I plan to install. Interestingly, only 3 beams in the 25' LR are structural and for unknown reasons, prior owners must not have been bothered by the lack of symmetry.

I have found some mantels that I like but am concerned that the small firebox will necessitate a lot of surround stone or slips such that it may look odd.

Have you checked the antiques section of ebay? I have seen a number of very nice mantels there, many of which seemed a tad small.

I would agree yours looks lovely - but it's your home, and you have to do what YOU like

We recently remodled our entire interior - One of the Best parts was ridding the LR of the hideous mantle, surround - god awful - not fitting to the rest of the home at all (1930's dutch col revival)

here is the beast

She said thanks for the face lift - not the greatest pic bu

Not an easy undertaking the prior mantle was really framed & bolted quite heavily - so the carpenters had to frame out a new wall so to speak - I got the mantle fr. a home in Cambridge Ma (via son who was working on a job there) and had crema marfil slabs for the surround & hearth

So very glad we went the extra mile

good luck w/your project

Here is a link that might be useful: salvaged mantles

I'm not sure what your budget is but here are some mantel websites I bookmarked which have reasonably priced mantels.

Foster Mantels, CJ's home decor, Sticks N' Stones, Pearl Mantels, Mantels Direct

jejvtr -- does your drywall surrounding your firebox stick out a bit from the rest of the wall? Could you show a picture of the finished fireplace from the side view?
TIA!

Thanks for the mantel suggestions. Do you recall approximately how much the labor cost to install the new mantel, surround and hearth?

sarcholos
does this one help?

If you look at the 2nd pic - you can kind of see the orig mantle/surround/ firebox was nearly flush to a plaster wall- however look at the framing - this thing was 2x4's lag bolted and would have required a significant amt of demo (remember plaster!) as well as repair - thank goodness for the great idea from one of the carpenters who rec just framing out that section of the LR wall - it worked quite well it juts out about 5" - I can locate more pics if needed

Wry - I think the stone lentils & hearth were around $800, then tile guy & carpenters - unfortunately I don't have a breakdown, as we did an entire interior reno - they were paid on time & material - but I'll try my best to recreate
Carpenters were $50/hr - so, lets say it took 1/2 day btwn demo, dry wall, installing new mantle (which they had to add a piece to) - tile guy not sure I'll guess he was additional $300 - maybe around $500 for labor + $800 for stone - is my best estimate - Hope that helps

Curious - do you know what is under the paint on the surround? what is the hearth material -?

Thanks, jejvtr. That helps a lot. We've got a similar bump out issue (well, we really have 2 bump outs -- the firebox and then the monolith). :-)