I live in Texas where our use of a fireplace is also very brief, but I would never remove one. Is it possible to float your furniture in the room instead of backing the sofa to a wall? Maybe if you post a photo, we can help you find a creative alternative. It sounds like the brick of the fireplace is bothering you too, though. Brick can be painted!

I think it is a great idea. Now that I see the photos, I think there may be better options for that room. The window placement would seem strange without a fireplace in the center.

I was going to say exactly what auntjen said. Can you post photos or a layout with dimensions?

Where will you put your tv if the sectional is against your only walls? Couldn't you have a sectional with the back of one side to the kitchen and have a sofa table behind it to create a nice view from the kitchen?

If you go forward with this, I would probably try to just close off the fireplace rather than eliminate it, unless this is your forever house. A lot of buyers see a fireplace as a plus.

Closing it off sounds like a good option. That way future owners could uncover it if they want. I'm not a fireplace person (even here in the cold northeast) but I know a lot of people who are and those people really, really want one.

Thank you all!mi was all set to post pictures, but It's not working!

I am posting the photos from my computer- hopefully it works !

I am thinking of either replacing the sofa and two chairs with two new sofas across from each other or removing the fp and putting a sectional on the fp wall with the return being where the two chairs are. If I do the two sofas and keep the fp, I can either lower the mantle/tv and have the bricks painted, or redo/face the fp in stone slab. The entire color scheme will change, because as I've posted before, I am sick of gold and burgundy. I cannot float a sofa facing the fp because I have tried this, and it looks terrible and makes the space look very small and cut off. The kitchen layout will be the same, but with white shaker cabinets, soapstone counters a gray and quartzite island, and ss range/hood.

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View of FR/hallway from back slider:

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Another view:

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Oh, gosh - what a CUTE house! I was envisioning a hideous wall of ugly brick, but I think your fireplace is lovely! If it were mine, I'd consider painting it white to give it a lighter, fresh feel.

Instead of spending the money on some major renovations removing the fp, first I'd hire an interior decorator to work with (hourly) to come up with a new color scheme for the walls, window treatments and furniture, as well as the furniture/rug/art/accessory placement.

You might be blown away by the possibilities.

I think the fp is lovely and homey and inviting, and I love that you see it from the kitchen.

I'd fight to keep it.

I'm with auntjen! I expected to see a small, dark, dreary room, which it definitely is not. I can see why floating the sofa didn't work due to the hallway. I also would like the mantle lower if you keep the brick. Perhaps someone can photoshop the FP with 1 or 2 fewer courses of brick and with stone face as an alternative.

I agree...don't take it down. We did because it was truly hideous (1960s, corner stack of bricks floor to chimney) and when a fire was lit the space became a smokehouse. It was messy and expensive and was tons of brick to haul. Make your other changes first to help clarify any changes needed with the fireplace.

I agree! What a wonderful room. How about switching the sofa and chairs and hang the tv on the wall between the chairs. Then if it is a tv watching evening, you could simply swing the chairs around and back a little if you have more people watching. Otherwise, the set up is perfect for conversation and cozy fires. Just a thought.

I would keep it for sure!

What a beautiful and inviting space. Definitely keep the fireplace.

Have you chosen a new colour scheme? If not, what is staying in the room. Perhaps the colour gurus can help you with some ideas.

Wow! I too was expecting a dull boring room.

I'm on my phone so the pictures are small, but could you move the sofa with its back to the doors, the chairs facing the fireplace and get a console for the TV to put on the wall where the sofa is now?

Thank you all for your kind words about the room, and for convincing me to keep the FP. I have a difficult time with decorating decisions and often make things far too complicated. I am thinking that I will have a row or two of the bricks removed, place the mantle and TV lower and paint. If I go with a grayish color, should I paint the FP the same color? I'm hoping to go for a cooler feel; all furniture and rug will change. If I put 2 sofas across from one another, should they match completely? Any other ideas? Your help is giving me much needed confidence!!

Beautiful fireplace (I'm jealous) beautiful room and home. My vote is to leave it alone. Change your color scheme and furniture if you're sick of it.

Agree, jij48- and do your best to mock up the changes you want to make to the fireplace before you remove any bricks.

I don't see the virtue in that, either.

I like the 2 separate chairs. I think a black, white, gray and red color scheme could work really well. I also think that right now the room looks and feels "stiff" as the arrangement is very square. I'd think about getting a square coffee table and placing the red chairs in a more angled/relaxed fashion facing the TV and I'd pull the sofa a few inches away from the wall to give it a little space.

Keep the FP. Without the FP I think the two windows on either side of it would look out of place. Moving windows AND FP may be necessary if you go that route. I think your FP is what gives that room personality, otherwise it might just be a room with lots of furniture. I have a friend with a very similar layout without the FP ( they chose not to put one in when they built and now regret that choice) and the room lacks definition.

Even if the room had no FP, I wouldn't do a sectional because the room seems a tad too small for one. Depending on the sectional size it might be OK, it is hard to tell by your pictures without room dimensions. You could try out a sectional by placing the red chairs between the dining area and at an L to the sofa.

Painting the brick would really help make the room more current. Where would you put the TV if you do not keep it where its at?

I would work with the room with the FP. It is very pretty the way you have it.

Once again, thank you to everyone for all the great input!

Oldbat2b: I cannot thank you enough for the photos! You have 100% convinced me to paint the fireplace! I love the last photo with the gray walls and fireplace, and I think it will give me the contemporary, updated look I'm looking for. I also think the color will go well with the new white kitchen cabinets and soapstone counters. Yay! I'm actually getting excited now about this!

okay, another question- if I use the gray color scheme in the last photo, and place 2 sofas opposite one another, what color should the sofas be? A darker gray or...? I can't ever go too dark on furniture because of our menagerie of shedding pets! (Three cats, 2 dogs).

darker gray - No

or ? - Yes, anything complementary to other furnishings

Make sure it's safe to lower the mantel. It appears you have a wood burning fireplace. They need a certain amount of clearance all around them covered in non flammable materials.

Justgotobeme: I just checked and you are right. Maybe the top row of bricks can be removed, but that's it. I will still go ahead with the painting. I just need to figure out sofa and rug colors!!

I'm glad I helped.
Knowing that, maybe a better idea would be to get one of the TV mounts that allow you to put the TV forward and down for a better viewing angle. Granted you couldn't have the ambiance of a fire while watching TV, but it would be a little easier to watch. I have neck issues so having to turn and look up does not work for me.

Very nice room.
Unfortunately a fireplace would not suit my interiors as I arranged the house
quite modern. That is the reason I chose Verano trench heaters. But if
I were you I would not remove the fireplace. It would be a pity!