is it an electric fire place? i would have it removed.

is this considered one room or two?

Looks like you have 2 doors to the outside. If you could remove the door by the fireplace your room would improve

HI -- No , the room could improve with that fireplace elsewhere. As it stands now , it makes for a difficult room and it's too big . So it's there so looks like you have to live and work with it. I will assume the left side is the living room and the other the dining room -- right ?? Place your sofa on the left wall pulled back enough from the door to allow for your side table and lamp . Then place a lounge/accent chair at the right front of the fireplace so it backs the dining room . Leave the door , it's fine . Maybe put a better window covering on it , perhaps a blind . Hunter Douglas has several solutions for that. Find a nice neutral area rug -- one that will stand the test of time . As for the fireplace mantel , just keep it very simple and not have a lot on it . Perhaps a nice round mirror off set from center and then a modern mantel clock beside and a couple of glass candle sticks , or just one big round mirror or decorative object and that's all . Designtoscana.com -- I like the angel that is long and low , and Restorationhardware.com has some great décor items . Great floors .... I don't think you need a rug in the dining room ... let the floors show !!

With a back door there by the fireplace the builder has created traffic flow right through the living room which is awkward especially with another back door about 10' away. Because the area around the fireplace is so tight consider removing the hearth and laying slate or some kind or tile where the hearth was which you need when you have carpet by a fireplace. Perhaps the fur down above that door is not needed. If it was not built there to conceal something remove it. Consider replacing the door with a bay window - about 6 inches wider than the door - with window seat. I can picture curling up on the window seat with a nice fire going...

the fire is gas, so it has to stay.. the wall with the fireplace separates the dining room from the living.. I'm thinking about taking out the wall or.makin it a half wall to.open things up.. tell me what you guys think?! Possibly making the dining room hardwood floors as well.. I like the slate idea in front of the fire place and I like the bay window but there is a bay window in the front of the living room.

Not sure of room sizes, but could you swap the dining and living rooms? A table might look better in front of the fire place.

Is it possible to reposition the fireplace on the wall between the two doors? This way, both room would benefit from it, it would not hinder traffic flow, and the rooms would be brighter and larger. Best.

Is that a closet on the backside of the fireplace? If you are up for a big mess tearing it down would be nice... As flair lighting suggested replace it with a 3 sided fireplace and if you need the storage build in a storage closet against the back wall then install the 3 sided fireplace. Exposed pipes can be very neat looking. Build in some framing like at the entry for a cohesive look.

The simplest solution is usually the best ;-)

So actually the fire place is wood burning, would that change tearing it down?!.. I really like the idea of a 3 sided fireplace

How about downplaying the fireplace. Instead of making it a focal point cover the brick and make the fireplace merely a small accent. No man, just a neutral tile around the fireplace itself and perhaps on the floor in front of it so that it just blends in the background of the room.

Will you actually be using the fireplace? Will you order wood every year and carry it in the house? Do you live in a region where it's cold enough to light fires on a regular basis? If the answer to these questions is no, then perhaps you don't need one at all. For sure it's a great feature to have, but only if you'll use it. If practical and comfortable room layouts are more important to your lifestyle, then perhaps reconsider the fireplace altogether.

HI -- Removing a fireplace totally will devalue the house market value by about 20 % . Too much of a loss in the market .

Please refer to an article on fireplaces featured in Houzz: http://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2014/01/03/why-you-should-nix-your-fireplace/

While a messy job, removing the interior portion of a wood burning fireplace would work if you kept the chimney in the same place. So if you install a 3 sided fireplace you would locate it based on where the existing chimney pipe is. From the picture it looks the existing pipe is far enough over to make it worth it.

im not sure that removing THAT fireplace would actually decrease the value, space is value too. Im excited to see the progress, on a three sided idea!!

I would tear it down too, and/or replace it with another fireplace without the angled placement, either against the wall or perpendicular to the wall. I recommend getting a fireplace or chimney builder to come to the house to discuss your options and possibilities.

HI -- Removing and relocating this fireplace will cost about 20 grand , give or take . After following along on this .... I think you should just leave well enough alone . Being a young couple and with a new house , the expense I think is too great . So I say just leave the fireplace the way it is . It is a nice one and once your furniture is in ,it will look just fine . Leave the door , don't paint it black or change it to a window , just keep it the same color as the walls . Just try different room arrangements and I think in time you will fit into the house nicely . Good Luck with your new home !

I just thought of another idea, if you decide to keep the fireplace where it is.

You could make it so the fireplace and brick surround didn't take up that whole wall. I think that it wouldn't be so visually dominant in the room that way. You could replace the brick with drywall and a simpler, smaller surround made out of wood and marble or tile, with a smaller, better proportioned mantel.

Or, you could paint the brick in a neutral color like off white or pale gray and again, replace the mantel.

hey you guys are all so thoughtful.. I appreciate your guys concerns! I wish you were all hear to help with the rest of the house lol