Fireplace help!!

9 years ago

I need help with my fireplace. I am hoping to do built in's or open shelving, but after looking at it with a contractor my dreams are quickly fading. The depth of the upper part of the fireplace stone is only 7.5 inches and the hearh is 22 inches. He was saying that if we did builtins or shelves that they would stick out further than the fireplace and look funny. He also thought it would look funny to wrap the upper part of the fireplace and around the bottom. I will attach pictures of what it looks like currently and some pics of what I hoped it would look like. Any ideas welcome!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

fuzinav
9 years ago
How deep is your mantel, or your hearth? Using one of those depths, or a little less could work. Try dragging a premade bookcase into the space to se what you think.
Heather
Original Author
9 years ago
Hearth is 22 in deep, stone (not incl hearth) is 7.5 and mantle is 15. Using the mantle or hearth depth would have whatever goes there sticking out much further than the other stone .
Related Professionals
Emporia Interior Designers & Decorators · Lexington Interior Designers & Decorators · Amherst Interior Designers & Decorators · Traverse City Interior Designers & Decorators · South Sioux City Interior Designers & Decorators · Kingman Interior Designers & Decorators · Birmingham Architects & Building Designers · Saint Joseph Architects & Building Designers · Moline Architects & Building Designers · California Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Canton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Westerly Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Yuma Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Rapid City Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Pullman Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
altadavey
9 years ago
How about DIY floating shelving that imitate the mantel and are just 7.5" depth? You could decorate them as your pics show, but not with anything that extends beyond the depth. Good luck!
NancyD
9 years ago
Here are some examples of fireplaces that are inset into a wall of cabinets and shelves. Obviously, you can modify the look to your own style, but the fact that the fireplace is recessed isn't a problem.

Even if your shelves weren't very deep to match the depth of the top of the fireplace, you could have cabinets or open shelving that was deeper at the bottom to match the depth of the hearth. Do you like the rustic look and want to trade out the mantel for something that compliments the stone? Your original idea certainly is doable.
Maureen
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think the picture/idea below is more reflective of what can be done to your fireplace and perhaps this will help you and your carpenter envision - would you be happy with this? Make the upper shelves wider than 7.5, or they will look off balanced and too skimpy and I also think customizing the mantle will help as well. You could also go with option #2 below, but again go wider than 7.5 on the floating shelves and custom mantle to duplicate cabinets, so it feels connected.