What should I do to update fireplace?

3 years ago

Hi all!

My partner and I just purchased a new home and we are at a loss of how to update the fireplace. The mantle seems to make the ceiling feel shorter than it actually is.

Originally we were hoping to raise the insert to install a higher hearth so people could sit around the front but figured that would be more costly and would require a contractor. Ideally, we would do something that is DIY.

does anyone here have experience about how to get the fireplace to sit flush against the floor? Or design ideas? its a bit of an awkward spot being so close to the patio sliding doors.

any help is appreciated.

I should mention that the floors will be refinished and stained to a royal mahogany colour. If that helps any.

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Comments (8)

Seabornman
3 years ago
It is quite massive. Is it a vented or unvented unit? Can you tell if the oak flooring goes under that low base? I'd look at removing the entire surround, removing that base and building something more in keeping with your design thoughts. If the unit is vented, leave it at the height it is. See if you can find a make and model tag on it and get the manufacturer's guidance on clearance to combustibles, etc.
HU-187528210
3 years ago
First off. It’s very big. I would take it off and reface it with something smaller and more modern based on the tinyyy bit of furniture I see in the room. Also the ceiling looks low because the top few inches are painted the color of the ceiling. Yes I see that it’s rounded... but maybe paint the entire room walls and ceiling the same color so it looks bigger.
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Thanks everyone for the encouraging comments about the fireplace - maybe it's not so bad after all! Ha! Rugknots - you're probably right that I've gotten so used to it that I'm just thinking it looks dated. But we'll see what it looks like after the repainting. You've all got me thinking now about moving forward with getting rid of the entertainment center before I was really planning to! Perhaps I should really move THAT to Phase 1 and move the new furniture to Phase 2! Hmmm! tylerandabby - I never THOUGHT about taking off the side pieces! I know they are screwed into the main center piece (because I remember the RACKET the screwdriver made when the installer screwed them together!) But the top piece is connected to the bottom piece so I'm not sure I can take it apart. Something to investigate though. Thanks for the idea!
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Before the demolition started, the entire room was paneled. There was wood everywhere! I guess the wall on the right that was paneled balanced out the doors that were on the left cabinet, wood box and old mantel. We have replaced all the wood in the rest of the house with white doors and mouldings and all the walls are painted a light color. All the carpet in the bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, entry ways, living room, & dining room (literally wall-to-wall carpet) has been replaced with a medium stained hardwood floor and porcelain tile. The great room is going to have the same hardwood floors and the kitchen cabinets will be white.
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What room is this? Dining Room???? I have been watching Escape to the Country the British equivalent of House Hunters and most would kill for such a lovely feature in their home. I would use gas logs that are lifted off the floor using andirons and add all the other accessories appropriate for this type of fireplace. I'm guessing you might be living in some type of colonial style home.
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I think the fireplace is very well done. The main problem is the incremental addition of all the clutter that has occurred. If that were my home, I'd remove every single thing on the hearth, the two lamps, and -- though you probably don't want to hear it -- that television. The tv is a distracting focal point and it's very high placement is terrible from an ergonomic standpoint. Yes, people put tv sets above the mantel all the time, but that doesn't make it a good idea either from a practical or a design standpoint. The placement of a tv for viewing comfort should be approximately at a height where the midpoint of the screen is at eye level or a little higher when you are seated; yours is probably 5' higher than it should be. The only thing I would do to that fireplace is paint the mantel -- maybe a semi-gloss black -- and then consider putting one, nice vase on it.
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Cathy HN
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi @Seabornman The unit seems to be vented in the front. there are vents placed on the top and the bottom. I believe the oak flooring does go underneath the unit. I will check when we have access to the home again for the make and model.

@HU-187528210 yes. I think it is quite oversized. the home is currently staged, and we don't have any furniture yet, so any thoughts about furniture placement is welcome! I think ideally we would paint the walls a different colour than the trim. Is the only way to elongate the ceiling to paint walls and ceilings the same colour of white?

Overall, I think the idea is to do something wall to floors for the surround so that the ceiling looks taller. There was debate about installing book shelving but given the right side being so close the door we're unsure. It would have to be tapered on that side if that was the case.
Cathy HN
Original Author
3 years ago
@Seabornman on second thought the vents in the bottom I think are just housing the manual dials for the fire place, when we were there we did not feel heat being vented out of the bottom vents. Regardless I will check
Seabornman
3 years ago
By vented, I meant does a flue go to the outside, either through a wall or a roof?
Cathy HN
Original Author
3 years ago
sorry @Seabornman, misunderstood. It goes through the wall.
Seabornman
3 years ago
Then it's not DIY to move it up or down.
HU-187528210
3 years ago
I agree floor to ceiling would probably add to the illusion of taller ceilings. I also think yes the way to deal with the paint is to do one color because of the coved/ round ceilings if you don’t want that maybe add molding to make the round aspect disappear

What should I do to update fireplace?

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Seabornman

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What should I do to update fireplace?

Comments (8)

Seabornman

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