I love the concept. Maybe some pros will come along and shoot it down for a practical reason, but I love the way it looks. I like the idea of breaking up a big space to make it more human-sized. Cavernous spaces can seem cold and unwelcoming. A fireplace will further warm up the room. If that's actually your view, congratulations!

I am assuming that the fireplace will be an insert with glass on both sides, rather than an open fireplace that is wood burning or gas.

The important part, if it is an open fireplace (which I don't think you can build anymore in some areas) is that the flue be properly sized for the firebox opening and to take into account there are two openings. If the flue is too small, the fireplace will smoke, if the flue is too big, the chimney runs "cold" and condensation and creosote will build up on the sides.

A conversation area with the relatively low seating of sofas, etc that close to a dining table will not be comfortable. Make the entire area on the kitchen side of the fireplace a dining space.

Love it in theory. However, it definitely breaks up the view. Seems like it could be one of those "what were we thinking????" issues in a few years...but, if you love it, go for it!

If it is going to 'break up' the space, don't do it; if it is going to help 'define' the space, go ahead and do it.

One thing I think of is that it does not need to be centered in the space. It could be centered with the island, it could be centered on the design of the seating groups, there are a number of positions that could make sense rather than dead center.

Interesting, thanks all!

Some responses:

An arguably more traditional alternative would be to put the fireplace at the end of the living room, flanked by windows. But doesn't that also break up the view? Note that we plan to put windows basically all the way around the great room, from the entry around the end and back along the other side to the end of the kitchen (which extends past the edge of my sketch).

We could also put the fireplace on the side, I guess. It would be the side with the deck because I don't want to block the light and sunset views on the other side.

Ulisone, good call on the mental discomfort of having lower seating next to the dining table. I hadn't though of that but it absolutely makes sense. It seems like that space would be to big for just dining, though. Hmm.

Palimpsest, yes, it would be see-through with glass on both sides. Also, gas instead of wood. No open fires in the house for me!

Mark, good summary. I wish I could be sure about the difference.

Kandrewspa, that's not our view in the inspiration fireplace photo, but it's actually kind of similar. Here's part of our real view:

We've had a similar dilemma in that we have planned a 2-sided FP in our great room. Ours will be woodburning. We have views all around and big windows/sliding doors, especially west and south, so the great room terrace and kitchen have west and south views. Right now we have the FP separating the "library" from the dining area (see pic of plan-in-progress below).

The kitchen is just north of the great room and has its own views west as well as through the great room south. The FP being just east of the dinner table doesn't impede views from the kitchen. The library has direct views south, but also the windows go up high on the west end, and there are mountain views. The upper part of the FP will not be wide--it will probably look like a pipe. That way at least the upper windows on the west won't be blocked from the library. The other thing I've thought of is that generally we don't make a fire in daytime (although you certainly can, we don't), so when we would have a fire there are no views--so we don't want to block the views with a FP that won't be used at the times we want to see the views...if that makes sense...

However, we are having second thoughts about the 2-sided aspect because of the dinner table (who wants to sit with back to a fire while eating?) and because it may be trickier to deal with in general. A builder we like told us he doesn't like them, but I can't remember what his specific objection was other than they sound nice in theory but often are not nice in practice.

Fwiw, I also don't want a TV in the great room or over the FP. We'll probably hide it in a piece of furniture or put it on the bookshelf wall.

I wouldn't do it if it blocked views unless the upper part of the fireplace (the flue) could be made from glass or in such a way that light could pass through.

These come in different colors. Not much like your inspiration pic, i realize:

LOL Yeah, not quite my style (unless I'm in from skiing and drinking something hot and alcoholic). I won't show my partner, though -- he'll want one! ;)

TheSweaty, I wonder, do you really want a fireplace? I say that because it seems like you're trying to fit one in where it will be inconspicuous, and what's important to you is the view. It seems automatic that we have a FP in every house, but I personally expect we'll get more use out of a firepit outdoors where we are building. I know a fire is pretty, but to me the FP sucks heat out of the house, even if it's enclosed (which ours would be), unless we got one of those high efficiency systems that can be used to heat rooms...

2rickies, you make some very interesting points -- particularly about the daytime look. We would also typically use the fireplace in the evenings and with company over, which of course isn't the majority of the time. That alone sways me against the 2-way idea!

I do love a fireplace, though! I want one for the warm look at night...and yet, you're right that I don't want it to block the daytime view. I think it's the competing focal points that I'm trying to find my way between -- and perhaps the 2-way isn't a good answer. Hmm.

Put the fireplace on a non view wall….when you want the cozy feel, the view will not be available.

fissfiss, You're right about the timing of the view vs the timing of fireplace use. Alas, we don't have a non-view wall in the great room. We could consider the primary bedroom or something, but we'd never end up using it.

I wonder if your sunset views are (obviously) to the west, if you want to move your dining area over to that side? Also, think long and hard on if you'll ever use the sitting area behind the fireplace. Maybe put in on the wall with the morning views, and make it much smaller.

Also, what if you rotated the fireplace so it was more of a divider between the dining and sitting area, and the narrower side doesn't block the views from the kitchen? That way, the sitting area and the main living room are a little more connected, if needed for parties, etc.

Hi LH CO/FL, thanks for your reply! I did ponder putting the dining table on the sunset side, but we usually find ourselves enjoying the sunset from the sofa rather than the table in our current space (which also has west-facing views). Maybe we have a weird schedule. LOL

I have thought about turning the fireplace the other direction, yes! But, I can't get past thinking it would look rather strange running parallel to the roof vault, especially since we'll have exposed beams up there.

I think the main problem with a fireplace like that is that it limits all the flexibility of a great room. You like the layout you've sketched, but what I see is that (1) it makes all the walkways tight, (2) your seating areas seem crowded, and yet (3) if you entertain in groups of 6-8, they can't all sit together to converse anywhere but the dining table, and there's not even the elbow room to drag seating from one section to the other because of the fireplace. Seems like too many drawbacks to me.

Could you get a linear non-venting fireplace that could be at bench height along a wall (not blocking view) but still provide a visual coziness?

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Some things do not fit, no matter how much you want to force them to fit. If you want this giant statement fireplace, the entire home has to be bigger to accommodate it.

Ime with a large space the fireplace won't be used very much. The view is the real show stopper as it changes with the seasons and time of day. I'd forego a fireplace completely. Concentrate on maximizing the view.

I would not add the fp. It confines the space. It limits the views. If you need a fireplace, I would put it against a wall. I just removed a fireplace separating a large great room/kitchen from living area. I toyed with making it a dual sided glass fireplace. I ultimately removed it and I couldnt be happier. Now I have completely unobstructed views from the kitchen. Everyone who visits remarks on how nice it is now.

Last thought -- I know some people here hate corner fireplaces, but I wonder if small one in a corner gets it out of the way but still has it available for the cozy factor?

Ok, y'all have talked me off the ledge. ;) I'm moving on from the see-through fireplace idea. I would still like to have have one in the room, but I'm thinking hard about whether and where. I can't seem to find any inspiration photos of corner fireplaces that really resonate with me, especially flanked by windows (I did find a pic of that and it looked weird to me).

I think what I'm wrestling with is that as soon as you add a fireplace along a wall, it wants to have the furniture focused around it...which is beside the point of the views, no? Pondering putting it in the dining area. Or nixing it entirely. Hmm.

Since you have already decided on not having the see-thru fireplace I won't comment on that. I've had two houses now with the tv mounted above the fireplace and it has worked quite well. If you want to cover it up you could consider a piece of artwork on a hinged frame.

Put the fireplace in the cozier ”away” room, where lower ceings and less windows are better suited to more initmate conversation. Like a library room.

Ok, so we did some re-thinking and made adjustments to the size of the room itself. This version is smaller but more practical (I think) and also adds functionality to the space on the other side of the kitchen. The fireplace would probably be a linear-style gas one, maybe something like the inspo photo below.

Here are revised floor plan sketches (they're the same -- one is just zoomed in on the great room for easier viewing). Suggestions welcome; we're still in the free-thinking phase!

I don't know what the particular solution is for this fireplace without thinking about it but I do have some thoughts about view.

When there are great views and there are plenty of spots to look at it from there is nothing wrong with blocking it from some angles and having it reveal itself as you progress through a house or room. You don't need to see all view all the time.

The other aspect is that to some extent you are going to get used to it, no matter how good it is. I have a friend who has been a realtor for 40 years and although she sells in an urban environment, she sells a lot of upper tier properties with some pretty spectacular urban views including skylines and water and sunset views.

She has said that she has shown people apartments where they run to the window and are thrilled with the view and hardly pay attention to the actual apartment and she's had to talk them down from buying it because it was otherwise unsuitable, and at the other end of things if it is a great apartment and it does have great views that the views tend to impress guests and such but the occupants more or less stop really looking at it so much, because for most people life is not sitting looking at views, there is a bunch of other things going on every day.

So my feeling is that fully unobstructed may not be necessary from every point in that open space.

You make some fair points, palimpsest (love the name, by the way!)

I must be a bit of a weirdo, but I live in a view home now and I actually do stand and stare out at the view. Every. Day. Many times a day. And I'm coming up on 17 years here.

Still, you're right that there's no law saying every bit of view has to be acessable from everywhere!

Putting my 2 cents in here. If I had an amazing view (or even a mediocre view) and a wall or two (or three) of windows, I would NEVER block any of it with a hulking fireplace. I have lived in homes with fireplaces on exterior walls (flanked by windows) and it always frustrated me….. wanted to just rip the FP out of the way. To me, there is just something so spectacular and refreshing about walls of windows with an open view. I would put the fireplace on an inside wall or as least someplace where it wouldn’t obstruct that large expanse of windows or inhibit that open feeling.

I have a see through gas fireplace in this house. It's a lodge-look design. I had a corner fireplace in the last house. It was ultra modern Both had 22' high great room ceilings.

I think you need to find an inspiration pic and fall in love with it. ♥

I LOVE 2-way fireplaces. My aunt and uncle had one when I was younger and it was so cool. Thanks for bringing back a great memory! This was 35 years ago and it was a basic ranch with a red brick fireplace so I can't offer much in the way of how it would look. Can you visit houses with 2-way fireplaces? The fireplace company can probably steer you to several.

As for the TV-there's one out there that is framed and can display artwork when not being used for TV viewing.

Forgive me if the above was already mentioned, I just did a fast skim.

Here's a few cool ones... Open look 2-way fireplaces...