I was planning to use this fireplace surround for my remodel: but when we were laying it out with the location of the existing firebox I found the proportions very odd. The firebox is 20"X42", and 6" off the floor. If I leave the surround as is, I would have a 6" filler panel to the floor (flush hearth) and a 14" filler panel on top before the surround. Thought about cutting the surround down so I'd have 6" above and below the firebox, but I have 11'3 ceilings and I'm worried about the proportions if the surround is only 41" high. Thinking about adding a raised hearth, but I don't think that solves my problem. Maybe a raised hearth and raise the whole thing up to the full height of the surround? Has anyone seen a good solution to this type of problem?

I looked at your ideabooks. You are going about this the right way. You might want to consider starting an idea book for your three seasons porch. Bear in mind that there are many different names for a “three seasons porch”, such as sun room, solarium, all seasons room, and Florida room. using different names might get you more results in your search.

I definitely waffled over whether to have the TV over the fireplace. I had seriously planned on doing a TV to one side or the other, sitting in (on?) the bookcase at a lower level, but then I feel like only half the seating in the room will have any decent view of the TV (which is worse than looking up at the TV in my opinion). This is going to be a vacation/beach house. Total room dimensions are 18x23. "Usable" portion of that will actually be more like 18'x18' - I want plenty of room to walk behind furniture to get outside (12' glass slider will be on the "right hand"/23' wall as you are looking at the fireplace. Entire thing is open to the kitchen/dining area, which is to the "left" as you are looking at the fireplace. I have also waffled over whether anyone will "use" the built in window seats. Its hard to say! I do want some shelving for display - but not a ton. I admit I really am not a person who likes to have a lot of "stuff" just sitting around, but I am certainly a lover of books. You have all given me some really important things to consider as I try to figure this out and I am so grateful!

how fun to be doing a refresh of your room. I am not a professional so I dont know the regulations and code for fireplaces, so i cant answer those types of questions. I do think though that I would keep your fireplace surround very simple. I say that because you also have to work with the 3 windows on the right and right now the fireplace seems to not quite work with those windows. I think part of it is the color, i would keep the wall color consistent with the rest of the room. the other idea is to just tile that corner and feasibly not have a mantel or hearth, just keep it simple. heres a few ideas. I will also say the way you approach the fireplace depends on the feel you want for the room in total. heres the concepts I was trying to explain