Fireplace help!

14 years ago

What would you do with this wall that the fireplace is on? We will not be hanging our tv up there, as my husband thinks he wouldnt like to look that high to watch, plus I have no idea what we would do with our cable box, surround sound, and what not. There is a cut out in the wall though. I doubt we will ever really use the fireplace, because my oldest has asthma and smoke bothers him. Any suggestions are appreciated. This is not our decor in the home, the pictures without the floor is when it was being built and the pictures with furniture are from the current owner. We close on the house in a few weeks. Thanks!

Featured Answer

charleee

14 years ago

If you don't like the fireplace at all, you could paint it to match the wall color and then it should blend in not stand out. A mirror or a piece of art on top should hide the cutout. If you choose a mirror, photos in silver frames or frames that match the mirror's frame will blend with the mirror. A simple screen to hide the open box and a few colorful throw pillows on the bottom could make it look better and give kids a place to "hang out". Beautiful home, by the way, I love your arched doorways!

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Comments (7)

feeny
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
I agree with Bobbi that using a rectangular piece of art (or mirror, but I prefer art) could hide the cut out,. Alternately, if you used art that was smaller but roughly the same shape as the cut out, it could be an effective inset frame for the art. Just make sure the art covers the outlets. Then position just a few attractive vases or other objects nicely on the mantel and no one will know the space was designed for a television.

If you aren't going to use the fireplace then, as Bobbi suggests, an attractive screen would look nice. Or you could make an arrangement of simple white candles.
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charleee
14 years ago
I agree with Feeny, I've always like the look of white candles in the fireplace. Different heights, different thicknesses. You could even change the colors for the holidays!
szkatulski
14 years ago
Make sure that your art piece/framed poster is proportionally large enough for the big FP?..I made that mistake!
decoenthusiaste
14 years ago
The cutout goes all the way to the mantel, so hanging art over is not going to cover the bottom. Why not spend the money now to have professional drywall installed and get rid of the recess? If those are rv receptacles, the next owner and take the drywall down and access them if they want to mount tv.
I wouldn't paint out the FP to match the walls, but go with white to match the trim in your home. Make the FP a statement, not a mistake. Like the candle idea. You could try and alcohol burning insert for a clean burning flame with no wax drips to mess with. Pretty and unlikely to stir up any asthma/allergies.
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Linda
14 years ago
I wouldn't cover the outlet boxes except with blank plates painted the same color as the wall. Remove the outlet, cap and tape the wires and cover the box with a blank plate. Building codes do not permit drywalling or any other permanent covering over electrical boxes whether outlets or junction boxes for other wires. Besides, an imperfectly patched hole looks worse than the blank plates, in my opinion.
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COConsultants
14 years ago
If your son has asthma I would take the brick down tomorow, it is put up with a cement to hold it and it can become dusty and drop dirt and debris on the floor. Please, I know there are a lot of designers out there who will disagree, but I have a son and had asthma and brick, dogs, wool all sorts of things caused problems. So, just take I'd down close off the chimney which sucks heat out when on and if youreally want a for go for one of the more modern ones with electric and other solutions.
In the meantime when you cover it over you have a great TV media wall. Why cause pain when. it is so easy to fix.