That makes no sense where it is get rid of it.

It's not on the kitchen floor, it's on the hardwood floor. How will you patch the floor if you remove it, or will you add something else like a pony wall etc?

I would remove the fireplace but to avoid patching the floors, I would leave the granite top and possibly add some cabinets underneath, where you can have some books or family pictures..

Yes, let it go and put in cabinets. Good luck!

Do you not need it for heat? We live in a cold climate and a gas fireplace has been a godsend when the power goes out or furnace breaks down.

Have you ever needed this gas heater/fireplace to use it to keep you warm ... such as when the power goes off? If so, it's certainly not "gawdawful"; in fact, it's practical ... if only because the easiest portable alternative -- kerosene heater -- is a smelly chore.

(Info source: personal experience -- live in rural area near end of a sparsely populated private dead end road and the power goes out at least once a year, usually during coldest weather, usually stays out anywhere from one to five days at a time since power company must focus their efforts on getting the most people their power back first.)

If you've never needed it and never expect to, then DO make sure a pro disconnects the gas line and removes the line and/or caps/"ends" it appropriately before you start ripping it out.

are you sure the floor is different? i would remove it, or change to some type of cabinet face w/storage.

If your issue is the look of the unit most of the year when you don't need to use it, one alternative to removing it might be to create a three sided cover for it that fits beneath the overhang of the countertop.

Thanks all. Great feedback. We hardly ever use it. Perhaps a half wall in it's place is what we'll do. Agree, will need to cap the gas line correctly.

I think the problem with most of the fireplaces I've seen installed this way is that they are "underplayed", that is, they are minimally finished and look like an obstacle instead of a feature.

I like three-sided (aka "pier" or "peninsula") fireplaces used as room-dividers, but I like them to grab your attention:

It would take some work to polish up the installation so it looked cool, but It might be worth it.

If not, I'm sure you will find something else cool to fit in that space and cover the nasty hole in your flooring when you take it out. ;-)