Hahah, I love that wall /fireplace also , looks great the way it is , don't change it ..just make it cozy with a rug ...seating and enjoy !!

This is my fireplace that I thought I wanted to cover in concrete to lose the busyness since it devides my LR from my kitchen. I decided to live with it for a wahile and now I love it

This is your house so if you like the fireplace keep it!

You have, as they say, bigger fish to fry. Once you get the room set up the way you want it, you can better evaluate the fireplace. If you like it, keep it. It’s your home.

And to answer your other question, of your two flooring samples, I prefer the one in the left. It is slightly warmer than the other, and the fireplace and (totally awesome) ceiling are warm.

I think the stone and the ceiling look nice together. Ditch the vertical blinds and perhaps change out the lights on the wall. It doesn't work well with the white flooring, so that could be the issue for some. When you change the flooring and furnish it, it will look great.

KEEP IT.

My opinion ( or other’s ) is irrelevant . If you like it keep it. Decorating by committee is never a good idea, your house often ends up looking like a generic “cookie cutter “ tract house.

Keep....but those blinds? They can go.

I like the stone. It’s the blinds (and flooring....but you’re changing that) that ruin the look of the stone.

What is wrong with the stone! It's your home so doesn't matter what everyone else says, ultimately it's your decision.

I like the stone and the ceiling.....I think the mantle should be a little lower or have none at all, but hey, there is nothing really wrong with what you have now. I would keep it.

Another vote for keeping it. And finding a big Rya type rug to set off your new floors. I'd go with the flooring choice on the right.

I also vote to keep the ceiling and stone fireplace.

I don't know about keeping it. We had something similar and kept it for 15 years until we got sick of looking at it. Maybe ours was worse, the pink got to us after awhile and the room originally had paneling all around with old aluminum windows. Our decorating around it seemed to get more hideous as the years went on. One Saturday morning I got up to find my husband removing a couple of the rocks to "see what was behind it". After that, it all had to come off.

We replaced it with this. I love the gas fireplace with the remote control. We live in an area where you can't often burn wood in the winter due to temperature inversions and pollution. There seemed to be no point in have a wood burning fireplace if you could never use it.

A shame to have tv in front of a window.

Happyleg - I agree it is not ideal to have the tv in front of the window. This room has windows (which is nice) on 3 sides and openings to the kitchen on the 4th. There is no other place to put the tv. With the fireplace at an angle in the corner the tv just can't go there. We all work with what we've got.

this is not my furniture or layout. the room is currently empty. I am seeking feedback on the fireplace specifically.

Keep it! Looks great with ceiling. Why try to be like everyone else? Your home should be all about you and your family. Future buyers may or may not like it but don’t design for “what if’s”!

Once more : your fireplace looks beautiful ! You asked if we think it's a hazard ?? Or if the future buyer would not like it......Why would it be a hazard ? And why would the future buyer not like it??? Why do you ask if it's a hazard, Is it broken ? Why do you ask that question ?
To me it is a great room and if you like it...then just enjoy it. look at most answers from all the others that have written to help you make up your mind ..
A fireplace always ads to a house ...a cozy room and a fireplace in same room is a PLUS not a negative ! So go , put some sofas or seating around it and table to eat or play chess and start enjoying this lovely room ...!

Keep it. Change the mantel to be chunkier so it doesn't look uncomfortable with the big stone. Focus on the windows - they're the real issue here.

As a masonry contractor's daughter, my question is about the quality of the stone, the functionality and safety of an older fire place, and how well it was constructed. What type of stone is this and how often do you intend to use it as a fire place?

At the end of the day it's your house and if you love it that's all that matters! Replacing the floor will make a big difference. Nothing changes a room more than flooring and paint!

Will you replace the flooring with wood? I think that wood floors (or even wood-look tile) can change the feel of the whole white-tile area and the fireplace/wood ceiling will not be so dominant. I would paint the walls a color found in the stone veneer...reduction of contrast can make a room feel cozier. I would also put area rugs in the two parts of the room. The kids may play on the floor in the fireplace/tv area, and the casual dining set will look good on a nice rug. Rugs also reduce noise. Once your furniture is in place, add art to the walls.

If you like it, keep it.

(Personally, I think it looks great, and will look even better with the new flooring and new window treatments.)

Love the fireplace, I vote to keep it. The floor sample on the left is a little warmer and works with the stone. We have a similar FP and recently changed it to gas. This way we could have a fire any time day or night.
The windows need something, perhaps plantation shutters (not white) to blend with the stone. Also window seats would finish it nicely.

Keep it! If you’re worried about future buyers, just consider that you bought the house with that fireplace and you said “I kinda like it”. That’s all that matters. It’s your house.

I like it, it just doesn’t go with those blinds or floor. It goes great with your ceiling. I would however get a mantel that runs the entire length.

The house I bought had that fireplace, stones and mantel. First thing we did was get rid of all of it. We had the stones removed and wallboard installed. Now we have a wonderful wall on which we put a great piece of furniture and the TV. We had the fireplace closed off and covered with wallboard. However, if the next owners want the fireplace, it can be easily reopened. I don't like fireplaces, especially wood fireplaces. They are drafty, dirty and generally a waste of space. I live in FL.

I live in SoCal and would not want to be without my fireplace. I would keep yours, it's beautiful! As far as the raised hearth, if you are like me and get cold easily, its a great place to sit and warm up. We sit on ours all the time if company visits, because there is just a sofa and chair in our family room. The raised hearth also makes a great "stage" for the kids to perform on!

Have you made selections for the kitchen? Are the Oak cabinets staying? I would work off of that space since you said it is getting a total rehab. Just an example but if you are planning on redoing that kitchen with white cabinets and light counters and backsplash etc then that fireplace stone will seem really out of place with that type of style. Can you share your choices for the kitchen and other spaces ? Are your Oak cabinets staying? If your kitchen design is in keeping with the look of the stone then I think the tones in the stone compliment the ceiling wood nicely. However that room is narrow and by having that entire wall stone it emphasizes that and makes it seem heavy on that end of the room. I would remove the hearth and take the flooring all the way to the fireplace wall and take the fireplace stone to the floor straight down. I would remove the stone from around the windows and drywall around those areas. This will help the room not feel so one sided and heavy.

Update - keeping fireplace. what are your thoughts on these flooring and cabinet options? 3 flooring options grey, natural oak, mid toned wood. 2 cabinet options - a little grey and an off white.

Have a similar fireplace! Plan on keeping for a while at least. I like the character for now... Your lucky to have a mantel!

I think, from these pictures alone, that I would go grey (that seems to connect to colors in the stone) and natural oak. But you see them in the actual space, so what do you prefer?

The grey blends very well with the stone and Oak whereas the white provides a lively contrast. I love them both in the space honestly.

I like the darker flooring, the one on the right in the top photo, but I like contrast. If you want to take up the hearth, you could do a fireplace with the firebox like this:

It looks like this fireplace once had a hearth and they decided to get rid of it. I like it, it's got a lighter look and the fire doesn't share the attention with a massive hearth.

We have a faux-stained stone hearth and a natural stone wall behind our wood stove in the basement. Yes, stone with some strange faux-stain apparently in an effort to change the color? I have no idea. It was there when we moved in 2006. I instantly hated it and wanted to rip it out or have it restained something that actually resembled stone. Anyway, we ended up painting the wall a neutral khaki color and wouldn't you know it, the wall became instantly less jarring. The paint, the hearth and stone wall played off each other so well, I actually liked it and I still do.

Paint is a game-changer in so many ways. I'm glad you're keeping the stone, you'll find a way to make it work. It helps that you like it. Good luck.

I like the mid tone or the oak. Personally I am leaning to the natural oak. I am not feeling the gray floor. The colors on my screen look too muddy. Sorry, but I don't like either one of the cabinets with the floor and the fireplace. White cabinets to me are like a popular song that you hear over and over and over again. So much so that your sick of it. I am not feeling the gray either and I have been a gray fan for 30 years. Maybe if it was a lighter gray or a wood stained gray instead of painted. Really I like the cabinets you have now.

I just noticed ha ha, the floor samples; I like the right one!

I agree on the white. it's really overdone and can look cheap to me. I prefer stained wood as well but worry that be too much rustic going on. Budget is a concern so we just don't have access to every color and stain available. Sadly the current cbinets are completely unsalvagable. Torn off doors, mold, water damaged and in the case of the one under the sink - the bottom is gone. haha.

I like your FP stone, it’s really the prettiest of ones shone for sure. I think it’s the heavy grouting of the small scale tile flooring that’s throwing things off. My first thought was to lessen the stone around the windows and concentrate it just to the FP but the more I looked at it, decided there’s so little of it that I’d leave it and it looks good. Wall mount the TV on the same wall to the right, use one you can pivot so it can be seen while in the kitchen. The kitchen looks pretty good too, to me. Maybe swap out the appliances for SS. But it goes well with your beautiful wood clad ceilings. You have a beautiful home, it has a md-century mod feel, which is home to me. The style of the cabinets are not mcm going forward that would be my pick, contemporary.

I like it too! I think it adds character to the space.

Diane, sounds like your current cabinets need to go. That nasty word "budget". Unfortunately not all of us was born with a silver spoon in our mouths. I agree with your thought of too much rustic. As much as I am a gray fan. I personally think the off white would be better. With the richness of the floor and stone it would bring a brightness to the room.

Don't put a red/brown floor in there with that fireplace (which I love by the way). I love the lighter color on the right, in your first set of pictures. I think that looks perfect.

I'd go with a mid-tone wood floor. As far as cabinets are concerned, I wouldn't do either the white or the gray--there's too much contrast. How about navy blue or dark green?

I like the white cabinets. I like the contrast.

Sorry I didn’t finish, I also like the middle or darker floor. The darker floor has more contrast which I like.

White cabinets and the honey toned flooring (nicely compliments the ceiling/fireplace). White is clean looking and will go great with any decor you choose. If you're thinking about the future, buyers want white cabinets in general too, clean, simple, not too fussy. Going to look great with that flooring.

I'm going to suggest you go with white and grey cabinets, grey floor, like we did in this condo.

My first thought, after seeing the picture of the fireplace alone:

That's a great fireplace! Love the stone. Stone is forever. No, no, no, don't change that great fireplace.

My second thought, after seeing the picture of the fireplace and the ceiling.

Gaaaahhh .... too much ... too oddly combined ... the walls and the floor don't match the fireplace and ceiling ... these things are competing for competition, and the room is the loser ... ICK.

Seriously, I don't think the fireplace is the problem. It's great. But the fireplace combined with that "heavy" ceiling AND nothing on the walls is off-putting. What I'd do: Bring in strong color on the walls and bring in substantial /chunky furniture in a wood tone to match the ceiling (so it won't be a stand-alone wood feature).

I think it could be a great room.