I don't think the floating shelves will look odd without the recess. You'll create a "sort of" recess just by adding the cabinets, so the shelves will float above that. I LOVE the look of the white cabinets... I'm sorry I haven't found your other posts talking about this challenge, but you might be able to save some money if you DIY by purchasing ready-made kitchen cabinet units to fit in those spaces, and just making a top for them. Then you could float your shelves above those as planned. Would save a bundle on the carpenter ;)

Yeah, I did look into the ready made kitchen cabinets, but the sizes are odd (just under 27" on one side, and just over 38" on the other). ALthough I guess I could try fillers?
Here's a mock up of the cabinets (of course including the mantle too)

I would have the carpenter give a quote for the exact mock up you just posted above. Then I would not do any floating shelves.

Maybe someone will have a different eye on this than I do but I can't see this idea working too well.

First you have the problem of the fireplace not being recessed and to make matters worse, it's not centered.

I'd save my money and get a nice chair and ottoman for the right side and try something else for the other corner, a plant, perhaps.

The off-center fireplace is unfortunate, but I remember how difficult this room is from your earlier post. I do think the cabinetry, though asymmetrical, visually widens your narrow room and looks much better than what you now have.

Hi, nadine -
So, your fireplace doesn't stick out very far and it's not centered, right? Don't you wonder what some builders are thinking? I'm not sure you'd be happy with cabinets on either side. The cabinets would be deeper than the fireplace, right?

I think it would be great if you want to "doll up" the fireplace with porcelain tile or granite tiles (and I LOVE the white mantel in your mockup), but I'm not sure about the cabinets.

To piggyback on what mjlb said about the white cabinetry widening the room (She's absolutely right.), maybe you could just extend some kind of white wainscotting on either side of the fireplace instead of cabinetry. That would also visually widen the narrow room. Of course, you've lost any storage that a cabinet would provide.

If you think having cabinets deeper than your fireplace wouldn't bother you, I wonder if there is a way to "fool the eye" into thinking the cabinets are the same width. Making the one on the left 27" wide, and the one on the right 27" wide and wrapping the corner onto the adjacent wall somehow. I'm not sure about the particulars of doing that; I just wonder if something like that would work.

Debbie

I have a fireplace that isn't centered downstairs, by the way. I didn't even attempt to do the same thing on either side because of that. Like parma42 suggested above, I went for the "chair on the right" look. I did put a built-in bookcase on the left, but I have a deep fireplace box. (Excuse the mismatched throw pillows. Oops!)

Deb
{{gwi:1808321}}

I used to work as a designer and drafter in a cabinet shop. I would use a 12-15" depth cabinets (depending on the depth of that fireplace) with 2 doors on the left cabinet and 3 doors on the right cabinet. That way all the doors could be made about the same width. If you have a carpenter or cabinet shop create the cabinets you could have the cabinets made so you would not need fillers.

Floating shelves would look fine and would allow you the option of removing them if needed. Is that a gas fireplace? Where is the turn on switch? A carpenter would have to accomodate that as well as access to any electrical outlets. The whole wood surround for the fireplace would be a very nice addition.

I like threedgrad's suggetsion. Right now there is no furniture there so we are focusing on the lack of symmetry, but I think once the furniture comes back in place you can adjust for the slight asymmetry.

Focus not only on the look but your storage needs. Deb has a much larger room than yours and so most likely was able to address her storage needs with a single built-in on one side. Yours on the other hand would be much smaller so I think you will really wish you had to--esp. since it looks like you have kids and you can store all their stuff out of sight for a less cluttered look. I would leave off the floating shelves for now.

With the stained trim around the 1 window showing, I'd avoid the "wall of white" in the living room....particularly if you have other stained trim in the room. Threegrad's idea is perfect and will held keep symetry against that wall. But I'd go with stained built-ins. I should also mention that I think the original stained wood in older homes is preferred to painted wood...if it's good quality wood.

I would just dress up the fireplace itself and not do the built-ins unless you can make the fireplace deeper. It would look odd if the side cabinets are deeper than the fireplace.

Thanks everyone.
First of all, it is a wood-burning fireplace so no need to worry about electrial. ALthough not sure if you can see, the knob to open the chimney is right there in the middle, and I'm not sure how difficult it would be to tile around that.
And yes the idea of adding the cabinets was to help my storage issues. The room is long and narrow and is the only room my kids have to play in, so all the toys are in here.
Here's a few other pics of the room from my previous post. (please excuse the mess, I didn't feel like picking up before taking the pics..although it gives you a good sense of why I need the storage!)

I think you can do it and it will look fine. we did a similar thing, except our FP didn't stick out at all. We ordered 12" deep cabinets to match our kitchen--and then with flat stock, my carpenter built out boxes to step the sides out from the fireplace. I think your shelves might work, too--but we put in windows because the room was a black hole. here are before and afters of the same wall:

before:

And after removing brick and installing windows and cabinets, etc.:

forgot to say that while it looks good, the storage is minimal because of how my KD ordered the cabinets. There are actually 4 sets of cabinets there--2 double doors and 1 single. the part with the glass doors ended up being tiny little cubbies.

Since we planned these mainly for books--I wish we had gone with open shelving. My kids are older and most of their "stuff" is in the finished basement anyway.

Morning, Nadine -
I came back this morning to take another look at your fireplace. The pics you've added have helped me to understand the dimensions/layout of the room.

I think what you're planning will look just fine. In fact, better than fine! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished results!

All the best -

Debbie

Nama -- what a fabulous example!

Great example!

My other option was to add bookcases on the opposite wall near the entrance to the room, flanking the opening. You can see it in my 2nd set of pictures. The only thing I didn't like about that was that there is a light switch that would be covered by the bookcase on the left, although there is another switch/dimmer near the other entrance by the dining area. (Unless I went with skinnier bookcases).
BUt the idea of having doors to "hide" the clutter appealed to me hence why I've been leaning towards the cabinets flanking the fireplace....

I was just browsing some of Oceanna's new additions in the photo gallery (TY Ocean, great work as usual).

There was a picture of what you want to do with your bookcases in the Gallery under fireplaces. The post was by Buehl and it's almost at the end, dated July 30.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fireplaces

namba, your fireplace cabs are outstanding.
nadine,
Threegrads suggestion is a good one, two doors on the left side and three on the other. To take it one step further, a lighted glass book cabinet on top (these cabs should not be as deep as the bottom cabs) about 2" less deep than the bottom cabs, these cabs should mimic the bottom cabs two on the left and three on the right, only they should be glass doors.
Connect the top glass cabs with a crown molding across the entire wall (on top of the lighted glass cabs). The bottom of the crown molding should start at the bottom of the opening to the other room on the left. The molding should be about 3 1/2 high. (to be more specific --the top of the crown molding will top off 3 1/2" above the opening on the left...
one more thing, don't make the bottom cabs too deep. The bookcase you have on the left is deep enough ...
then when the doors are included it would be about 1 1/2 " deeper.
can you photoshop that?
Joann

Nadine -- I think the cabinets will look great. What about cabinets with doors below to hide the toys/games and open shelving above for books?

I thought I would throw out a couple of other storage ideas from one cluttered toy mom to another BTW -- THANK YOU for posting the honest pictures of your room; it's so helpful to see that other peoples' houses also look like a toy factory exploded in the living room. :)

Storage furniture that we have in our living room:

coffee table with baskets that we use to sort and store various toys, including Mr. Potato Head + accessories, furniture and dollies from the Loving Family (Or something like that -- the dollhouse thing with the twins and multi-racial families) series; ABC blocks, small cars; Soft bowling set.

Ikea pine coffee table

Baskets that hide the toys so it looks like a nice pine coffee table instead:

Ikea baskets

This table is chipper chicken but it's a work horse. Looks nice and nothing kids try to do to it hurts it, and it holds a TON of toys. We only bought six baskets to fit in the table, but it could easily hold 12 (I always wanted to go back for more, but DH never got around to it). Cleans up easy peasy with dish soap or even soft scrub (for those bigger oops moments).

We also went with a TV unit that includes two side units with storage doors and bookcases above, plus we had a separate console built for underneath the TV that holds more baskets of toys (it fits the same size baskets as fit in our ikea coffee table). Here's a picture for inspiration:

I know entertainment centers are generally pretty $$$, but the reason I was showing mine is that it was actually an entertainment center for our old projection screen TV, which they don't make anymore -- plus a console we had a custom cabinet maker build for us to match. A lot of people are getting rid of their old 3 piece entertainment centers that were made for projection TVs -- you might be able to find something on Craigslist, ebay or a second hand store that is good condition for a low price, which you could then modify by adding a console (also fairly inexpensive through local custom cabinet shops). :)

Notice in the picture the giant laundry basket full of balls and the smaller lined baskets with books and other toys. Baskets are KEY. I keep them sorted by type of toy so that it's easier for the kids to find what they're looking for. Those baskets came from Michael's and I only buy them when they're 50% off + the coupon. :-) I like these baskets because they're sturdy, but look really nice and the liner is totally washable.

Here are the baskets from Michaels:

So I don't have much to add for your fireplace, but there is a lot you can accomplish with some minor furniture redos.

I just found some more pics of various cabinets that extend out from the fireplace. I really like the 2nd and 4th ideas.

So I'm leaning towards something like the 2nd pic above but having the bottom doors be a little taller, and then having just 1 open shelf for books and such, but still lining up the top to the top of our mantle. Still waiting to hear back form the carpenter, but I sent him these pics to help guide us. I do wnat to tile over the fireplace, and I could probably DIY but I just don't have the time. ANyone have any guesses as to cost of the tiling,and maybe what to expect for overall cost from the carpenter?