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Fireplaces Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Modern Farmhouse- how to finish fireplace surround

last year

Bought a new house last fall. The builder did not finish the fireplace surround. The space is 23.75 inches wide. There is also a metal piece for the fireplace on the floor. I’m struggling with how to add a cabinet due to the metal piece. Considered a floating cabinet and floating shelves above. What are your thoughts? How would you finish it?

The house is a white, modern farmhouse. The interior walls are all Silver Tipped Sage by SW. There are ugly wood floors that I hate. Wanted to replace the wood floors before moving in but decided we should focus elsewhere and deal with them. If this were your house would you repaint the walls white instead?

Featured Answer

M Riz

last year

last modified: last year

Im not saying this to be a jerk but that tv is ruining your FP. Im not against the tv over the fp like many here are but that Tv is sooo large that if almost protrudes from the sides. Ideally (they say) the tv /art/ whatever , should not be wider than the fire box but To me, that can be mitigated to a point with decor around the firebox and the right sized mantel. It you build in shelving on either side, its going to be deep and dark, you really should have lighting. The shelves could be glass w a wooden frame to facilitate light passing thru and keeping that area from looking too dark.

eta, really, the builder should have eliminated those areas for more space on the other side, I think they are more trouble to figure out what can fit or what to use that space for. A wider FP would have accomodated the TV better. Id like to hear what others think, Im not saying this to be mean tho, congrats on your new home, and I hope this is your biggest ”problem” Also, I think the floors are beautiful, save your money for something else.

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Comments (40)

Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Other areas of space.
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Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Thank you for your comment and suggestions. I agree on the tv. I also wish it was smaller. I am considering adding a long mantel to try to make it look better but at some point will end up buying a new tv.

I wish the builder had just covered up the space. Now I’m left with a space that is too narrow (23.75 inches wide) and also deep (24 inches from the back to the trim on the fireplace).
M Riz
last year
last modified: last year
I still think the best you can do is glass shelving and lighting. Nice touch leaving that metal thing for you to deal with. You can make it look cute and intentional but not super functional, the shelf dimentions limit you.
bichonbabe
last year
I would drywall the sides in.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Would love to drywall it in but the metal thing on the floor is too far back in the cove to drywall it flush. Maybe drywall it so it isn’t so deep but not completely flush? I would still need to add shelves in that scenario though. And then no cabinet, just shelves?
Moore4
last year
that "metal piece" on the floor to the right appears to be a natural gas key. I suggest you have at minimum (!!!) a home inspector come in to check on the status of your system there before you do anything.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
The natural gas key would make sense. We have a place on the outside to add a buried propane tank for the fireplace but we haven’t added it yet. At this point we are not using the fireplace.
PRO
Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
last year
Please check the specifications of the fireplace model to confirm that you can have combustible material against it as you have.
Sofia
last year
I might try tall narrow storage cabinets on each side of the fireplace. Perhaps with tall narrow artwork above. Something like these would provide practical storage with the extra dusting that comes with open shelves. I’m think that the legs would be high enough that the natural gas key would fit underneath, or perhaps behind, the cabinet.
Anna Devane
last year
I agree with everything M Riz said. It was solid advice including keeping the floors.
gigi4321
last year
It looks like your baseboard is taller than the gas key, so if you really want to drywall the sides, why not leave that portion of the baseboard loose so you can access the key by just pulling off the small portion of baseboard? I'm sure something could be designed to hold it in place but be easily removed if needed. Although design wise, it looks like there are no other walls in the room and depending on your style, shallow shelves might be needed to complete a "look." I would be fine with dry walling them in. Even if the key is taller than the baseboard, something could be devised to provide access but not be conspicuous.
Ally De
last year
I am another one who has no problem with a TV over the fireplace. I've done it in both of my homes, because in both cases there is just nowhere else good to place the TV.

However if you're trying to make this space "look nice", you're battling an oversized TV which throws it all off. I agree with M Riz that if you're going to keep it there, ideally you need a smaller TV.

I think natural wood shelves would look awesome in your niches. A chunky, natural edge look could be fabulous. If you're not handy that's probably not a DIY project. I would make the space between the shelves fairly tall and look for some slender objects for some shelves, interspaced with books or whatnot on some other shelves.

I personally think well-done natural wood shelves would look better there than just drywalling it in...but I understand that just drywalling it over may be easier than trying to get the wood look shelf thing done well too.
tfitz1006
last year
I agree, glass shelves, carefully curated, might be the way to go. For what it's worth, I love your floors and think that the warmth they add to the home really help. If in your budget, I'd relocate that big tv and purchase the kind that looks like art. Or come up with another plan that does not involve the TV over the FP.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Do you think the max width on the tv is the width of the fireplace? I have an extra tv in the basement that is 48 inches wide. The fireplace is 41 inches. Current tv is 60 inches wide. I could switch the tvs. It’s just an older set.
Mrs. Beasley
last year
I’d leave the floors. The problem with a gray and white color scheme, is that it can look too cold and sterile. The wood floors balance that. The TV above the fireplace is way to high regardless of the size. It needs to be moved. I’d put display shelving on both sides of the fireplace.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Unfortunately there are no other walls to use for the tv. The fireplace is the only option.
ffpalms
last year
I think glass shelves could become a clutter and dusting problem. Perhaps a good carpenter can build out secret doors that lead to storage. It would be a convenient place to store seasonal items, luggage, and a tall ladder.

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If you used the same shiplap applied to your fireplace instead of bookcases, it would visually expand the width of the fireplace so that the large TV had better balance with the whole.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Yes the top of the gas shutoff is below the baseboard. The shutoff begins at about 16.5” from the wall. A cabinet would need to either be shallower than 16”, have furniture legs taller than the gas shutoff, or have no bottom on the inside. I’ve considered building a cabinet myself and not putting a bottom in it. Basically you would see the hardwood from the inside of the cabinet.
M Riz
last year
Fortunately, your eyeballs and neck move correct? Its fine that the TV is over the FP if thats where YOU want it in YOUR home. Dont invite Mrs.Beasley over to watch DaysOf Our Lives, and everything will be ok. A smaller Tv will definitely be an improvement
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Here you go.
latifolia
last year
I'm going to be the contratrian and suggest you build cabinets with doors, using the same horizontal treatment as the fireplace for the doors. The gas key can stay where it is. It will give a flush look, and provide lots of storage.

I have lived in too many small places to just wall off good space.

Your TV could go on a console if you don't have wall space.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
I would build a cabinet frame that sits on top of the baseboard. Build the frame front and then attach a cabinet door. I want it to look good though and not sure if I have the skills or not.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
The tv is 46 inches from the ground. It honestly needs to be higher if I’m going to add a mantel. I was worried about height though so I put it as low as possible. Plus if we actually use the fireplace I need to make sure the tv won’t receive heat. I was worried that it is too low.
elcieg
last year
When you bought the house, the fireplace was inspected? I just don't get this odd design. First there was the large niche and then, for some reason, this fireplace was constructed in front of it. Is there space behind it? How does the gas vent?
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
I appreciate all of your suggestions. I think a good carpenter is in my future. If possible, I would like a cabinet and shelves on each side. I really could use the storage (dog toys/ treats etc).
elcieg
last year
The side spaces really aren't big enough for the kind of storage you are looking for...I would leave it as is and just back light it.

Add a storage piece behind the sofa...
ci_lantro
last year
I would eliminate the niches by creating wider & centered & lowered doorways. The doorway openings are too tall and too narrow. And the niches & doorways are competing with the fireplace. The FP should be the focal point.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
I think the builder just thought to leave it open so you can add a cabinet/ shelves etc. He added an outlet at about the height of a cabinet on both sides. The narrow width and increased depth of it just makes it difficult. The fireplace in unvented. I would prefer vented but my last 3 houses have been unvented so it seems to be installed often in my area.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
On the backside of the fireplace is a bathroom. It’s similar to a jack and Jill bath but it is open to a hallway on both sides. There is a bedroom off each hallway.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
you could drywall the FP side and add doors to the hall side and increase your storage.
shari13
last year
last modified: last year
I'd paint the walls a warmer color to go better with the floors. I would absolutely get rid of that niche in whatever fire safety way possible. It is far too narrow and deep to be of much use and just looks strange IMO. I'd move the TV too and keep the floors as they are very nice
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
RL Relocating, I love this idea. If I made them closets in the hallway the one closest to the front door could be a coat closet and the other one would be good for vacuum etc. This would give me the storage I need without the decorating issue. Thank you!
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Unfortunately moving the door to the hallway will not work. There would only be an 18” space for the door. A pocket door would not work because I have a bathroom and electrical on that wall. So bummed but I love the idea.
Kristy C.
Original Author
last year
Actually a barndoor would work..
Anna Devane
last year
Could you use half of a bifold door? aren’t they about 18”
ci_lantro
last year
There would only be an 18” space for the door. A pocket door would not work

Just use cabinet doors hung on a face frame. No need for jambs & a swing walk-thru door. The jambs would just waste space inside of the closet/ cabinet.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
last modified: last year
And you will still have access to the FP knob. I also thought you could put a single hinge on the baseboard on the FP aside with a magnetic push closer, kinda like a secret access to the knob
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
Also i think you need a mantel to balance the ginormous tv lol

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