What did you remove from around the fireplace?

What is this room used for? Are you going to slap a TV above this fireplace?

Don't do stacked stone, that fad is done, done, done.

I could be wrong about this, but if the fireplace on the opposite side of the wall is gas, then I'm pretty sure it's considered dangerous / against code to burn wood in the new one. you might want to ask about that.

plus, fireplaces hinder your options for placing furniture. if you're not going to get it up and running with gas, you may as well drywall over it. otherwise it'll be a very expensive useless decorative item that might get in the way of any future layout plans.

There was a Home Depot pre-fab wood mantle and surround painted white before. The picture was taken after the mantle was removed. My husband put the TV cable above the firebox but I am pretty sure I have convinced him to put the TV on the opposite wall. The room will be used for TV watching and my husband will have a desk in there also. Room size is 20x14.

When I look at the original house plans it does not look like there was a fireplace in this room (room labeled Office).

I totally agree with you B F, I think fireplaces are a PITA to decorate around. I would so love to get rid of it, esp since I have a gas one right on the other side of the wall. Is it ok to just drywall over it?? I am not even sure it is original to the house. This room only has two walls so I am limited somewhat in furniture placement to begin with.

I have a similar set up, but with LOTS of brick in both rooms. I painted all the brick around the fireplace white. The tv is in the living room, and it’s fun to build a roaring fire and watch movies in the winter when it gets dark early. I have candles in the fireplace in the other room, which is set up as a little nook next to the dining room, and we sit in there and read in the summer when it’s too hot outside. If we have a sit down dinner with guests, the candles in the fireplace really set the mood.

I honestly don't know if it's safe to drywall over it. I would assume it's fine, but you might want to ask an expert before doing so.

If you drywall over an existing FP, and the mesh pest guard on chimney comes loose, you could have critters or bats move in. Also, if something dies, you can't get it out without cutting a hole in the wall.

I don't know why it would be against code to have a wood burning FP behind a gas log FP. Many wood burning FPs have gas starters. The gas is either on or off.

I love wood burning fires. We have three FP, all have gas logs or fireballs. I never use any of them.

We have a gas log fireplace that we've never once used since moving here in 2017 - if we wanted to use it, we'd have to take the glass front off, move the log set, and open the valve connection to the gas line. Then put the glass front back, and hit the wall switch. :P The valve was closed because leaving it open would have the possibility of the wall switch being bumped on and suddenly there's a fire in the fireplace. ;) There was also something mentioned about leaving the line open being read by the utility meter as a low-level amount usage that will show up on the bill (and can really add up over the long term!)

allison0704 re: gas fireplaces next to wood burning: I heard that advice somewhere, I can't remember. the Houzz forum is constantly full of people saying "I don't know" -- which is fine for design advice, but dangerous for DIY construction. who knows what kinds of weird things we don't understand about fireplaces. all I'm saying is that the OP should call an expert and ask before making a plan either way.

We love the gas logs and use them all the time in the winter. If I could get gas to the other side it would make it worth keeping. We have a fire pit outside so I have no desire to burn wood in the house. It's too smokey, stinky and dirty.

You asked if anyone had two fireplaces-I have five. I’m probably not the person to ask about removing a fireplace. My favorite is the wood burner cooking fireplace. Second favorite is the remote control gas logs.

I have three and love them all! I would keep it but that's me! Sounds like you just need confirmation to sheet rock over it.

We have two and I wouldn't be without them...even here in Southern CA. Love the gas logs.

Oh, and if you do decide to sheet rock over it, in 25 or 30 years, the next owner will discover it and wonder "what were they thinking -- why sheetrock over a fireplace" -- LOL!

Ok, no sheet-rock. So now that it's just the box, what's the best way to give it a not trendy but lasting make-over?

I am not sure why you can’t have a gas insert there. That makes no sense As for finish I think t depends on your use of the room and your style and forget stacked stone it is done and and over. Ilike just a simple large format tile to the ceiling and no mantel if you like contempoary since the space looks a bit less traditional to me.

There are now large format tiles that can simply be your surround for the FP. 2'x2' is fairly easy to come by, but I have just seen them in 4'x4'. In the hands of a skilled tilesetter it could be simple and effective.

This travertine look tile is 2x4

A surround like this can be created using Dekton or some other quartz material.

First off pay no attention to the people that are trying to scare you about gas and wood fp. With professional qualified installers its a non issue. Sounds like you don’t dig it, but most people do. I have performed fireplace remodeling & retrofits for 20yrs.

Ditch the green slab. Perhaps minimal tile work with an interesting install pattern. No mantle

A gas insert would be nice and running the gas line should not be an actual issue. My experience is that many installers are not about doing what the customer wants as much as doing what is easier for them. It happens way more than it should and I have to call bs every time one tries to pull that on me. A roto hammer with a long bit should get you where you want to be.

Budget, practicality and design are the typical qualifying questions, that I have not heard you mention answers to.

Small format tumbled white travertine on a diagonal grid and light color grout

6”wide outlining the opening. Its a little understated. Clean nice finished look, not drawing too much attention to it.

We have two gas fireplaces and one wood burning. One of the gas fireplaces is located in the kitchen and the wood burning is behind it in the living room. There is no problem with that arrangement. First pic is living room second kitchen.