I figured it was probably going to be an expensive venture, and honestly, I dont see us using it that much. It is a nice thing to have for decorative purposes, but I don't see any other way of fitting more furniture in there with how it's layed out.

benjesbride I really like that idea! The only concern is that it is a load bearing wall so I do not know what the options would be without getting very expensive. Piggy backing off your idea, I think it would be cool if I could have a half-wall from about the middle of the slider door to the right of it. The top half of the wall would be removed. And then make an archway to the left of the slider door going into the sunroom. The point is that we are converting the sunroom into a bar room, so that idea might be nice to open it up to the living room as well. Thoughts on that?

You lost me. Ha! I think I made assumptions about what’s happening on the wall opposite the fireplace that aren’t true. It’s not a big deal to add a header and a new door in an exterior wall. At least when we’ve hired that done it was never a big deal.

Now might be a good time to sketch out your space with dimensions and post here. It’s tough to brainstorm ideas without details.

Alright, excuse my truly horrific drawing, but maybe this will give you an idea of what im talking about. The first picture is the wall as it is now, the second is what im referring to.

Edit: The purpose of the half wall would just be so I can still put a couch back up against it while keeping it feeling open to the bar room.

I think removing your fireplace will be a lot harder since you have to go up through the attic and roof to take out the chimney and then have to drywall the whole wall, fix the ceiling and fix the roof. Second, I think just taking off the part of the fireplace above the mantle and dry walling it would be a nice place for some pretty art. You mention you need more seating...Is there room for another chair on the left side of your couch (as you are standing in front of it)? I personally think the TV is too high if you put it over the fireplace...it will be at least a foot higher than it is now. (going by height of entertainment console and wainscoating near the fireplace.)

Where have you been watching T.V up till now. IMO TVs and frieplaces do not play well together when my clients are building new I always encourage the to have a media space and an adult conversation space . I think fireplace removal in most instances lowers the value of your house I would keep Drywall over the area above the space from the row of bricks above the firebox . INstall a nice mantel where that row bricks sre and if you use great and if nort who cares.I think it make alovely space for conversation.

Move the TV to the wall left of the fireplace and have one sofa facing the fireplace and the other facing the new sliding glass doors. Put the TV on an articulating arm so you can pull it out and angle it for those sitting on the far couch.

I do love that fireplace- but I get it- we have one too in our family room and never use it (wood burning). It takes up an entire wall and makes the wall unusable- our solution is to close it up with insulation, and build a false wall in front of it- VS removing it all together. We do plan on removing the hearth- DIY. Labor intensive but worth it. You could do the same with yours- just build a false wall around it- this will still leave you with your current layout- but still gives you more blank wall space to work with.

orginally I was going to put in a electric insert in the false wall- but after thinking about it, I’m not certain we would use it often enough- and the problem of a “lost wall” wouldn’t be solved by doing that. The only benefit would be the new faux firebox sitting lower,

allowinf for the TV to be hung

Thanks everyone for the responses. After speaking with my wife, We're strongly considering what I depicted in the pictures in my comment above where we would add an archway to the left of the slider, add a column, and a half wall for the couch to go up against. What is everyone's thought on that?

You also might want to consider if you ever sell the house if it would depreciate the houses value. If you could place the TV to the left or right of the fireplace you could still watch TV easily with the fireplace in the room.

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Randy Trainor you make a good point, however, unlike the picture you shared, this will be our main area for watching television and we want to have the couches in a good viewing position. HOWEVER, based off the responses and some online research, I think we may choose to avoid the TV mounted to the fireplace.

Now what I am thinking is going to be the best option, is to have the TV in the same spot it is in picture 3 of my post, add an archway about where that mirror is in the same picture, and then add the half wall as shown in my comment drawing.

I appreciate the no-TV-above-fireplace idea, I just thought I'd point out...

if you don't use the fireplace and a mantle and TV can be placed at a reasonable viewing height above it, a TV above the fireplace would be visible from your new bar room :-)

My sister removed the fireplaces in her family room and in her basement rumpus room. It made the house so much more livable and I don't think it cost the much. I'd do it in your case. Resale value is all very well but what is more important is that the house works well for you while you live in it.

It's an old fashioned style and, for resale, the house might sell just as well. In any case, the chimney will still be there if someone wants to add a stylish new one back in.