Since you are determined to do something with it, consider installing bright grow lights above it, adding a half dozen trailing philodendrons and a half dozen orchids on the base rock for a tropical oasis look. Add similar plants on the rock shelves. A small recirculating fountain with wood bucket and bamboo pipe could be added. Change the orchids out when they finish blooming.

See this website for some wonderful photos: https://www.lushome.com/30-beautiful-ideas-exotic-garden-design-backyard-landscaping-orchids/144242

Some whimsical alternatives: a miniature train set, a collection of colorful action figures, an arrangement of fossils, geodes, or pretty rocks.

Please, just remove it if you can.

^^^ How? The house was literally built around the rock.

I have had a few rocks sticking up in my basements over the years but they were not finished basements here in Ontario Canada. We rather live with them than blast them out. You can cut it back and keep trying to chip away at it but it is probably solid granite as you are finding it is very hard. If you can cut it back far enough and put it into your wall design with a fireplace I would do that. A hammer drill with a blade chisel bit would work a lot faster. A lot of work but thankfully you will only do it once.

I was about to say remove it until I read your post. the fact that the rock was there before the house was built makes for a very interesting story! I think it's very cool. now that you removed the hideous fountain, it already looks so much better.

I agree with apple_pie_order -- install some grow lights and turn this into an interesting indoor landscaping feature. the wall rocks could be obscured with air plants and/or ferns. attached to the walls, or hanging in front, or a combination of both for a layered effect. it could create the illusino of an indoor patio or atrium.

if you're at a loss for actual design, an interior landscape designer can help.

if you did some king of landscaping, I'd look into trying to get more natural light in there, so it feels more like an atrium. here's an article on a few ways to do that. one idea that I find particularly interesting is installing solatubes on the walls -- they can "capture" and pull in more sunlight than what well windows can, and supplement other windows that you already have in there:

Suedonim75 how? Blast it away.

Did you read the part about where the foundation is built around the rocks?

The wall rock was placed with mortar. Hitting it with a sledge is just for HGTV "demo day." You need a demo hammer (a larger version of a hammer drill with a chisel) and attack the mortar joints to get behind the rock face.

Once you have the demo hammer, try it on the Basalt rock. If you can't eliminate enough to work with whatever scheme you have in mind (the tropical oasis, a bar built over it, etc) then change your scheme of what the finished basement will have to work with the size.

I thought I’d post an update on my rock dilemma. I loved the orchid idea, but ended up not going in that direction. The fireplace and tile above the rock create an interesting focal point for the basement. I’m pretty happy with the end result.

Well done! You came up with a perfect design to incorporate the rock into the fireplace. Thanks for the update.

Good solution. The basement looks great.

Great conversation starter!

(Picky...but it would look a bit more finished with 45º cuts on the ends of the baseboards.)

Your finished fireplace and kitchen is a pleasant surprise!

Worthy: Good point about the cuts on the baseboards; I thought it looked a little off, but the angled cut would solve that. Thanks!

There was an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show where they were looking at a house with a giant rock in the basement. Their friends ended up buying it and there was a little feud. It was funny.

Felizlady, it looks like an electric fireplace to me.

Felizlady and Alicia: The fireplace is a Kozy Heat Calloway 50 gas fireplace with external vent through the wall, light and fan kit, and rock accents. It was installed to code and has been inspected and approved by the city. Felizlady, is there something specific you see that makes you question whether it is to code? As for your "butt ugly" assessment.... well, to each his/her own I guess. The rock has been an important part of the character of the house for over 50 years and I'm happy I found a way to keep just a little bit of that history.

Photo of the fireplace:

I think it looks great! And I love that you didn’t try to get rid of or hide the rock altogether. It makes for good conversation and a great story. Not many people can say their house has a boulder in the basement!

Nicely done, bravnan. If you ever do want to hide it, it would be easy enough to frame over, wouldn't it.

I would have built a raised hearth over the rock - the basement is very nice, and the rock is the thing that doesn’t belong.

Given flooring is laid and you are happy with the rock, that’s good news, as there is no going back. If it we me, I’d add wide bench seating, which would be practical and safer for young children and just add doors so history won’t be lost. It would be a much more attractive space for yourself and for resell. Height of fireplace may also not feel as awkward once pillows are added.

I think your solution is brilliant! Certainly proof of embracing the unusual and making it a feature. I love it!

Fantastic! Can you buy a bench for under the fireplace to keep from stubbing toe on the basalt?

That looks great! I like how you embraced the house. Since I'm into miniatures, I feel like you need some tiny mountian goats and a herder on the rock, hehehe :)

Beesneeds: I love it! I have a couple of little rock climber bendable figures I could use.

Marylut: I thought about how to keep people away from the rock, but it turns out not to be a problem; it's wider than it is deep so it doesn't protrude into the room very far.

We need an updated pic with the little rock climbers (and if possible, the goats).

Get real goats.

You could have a lot of fun with this. Tiny little ATVs. Or little miniature goats. You could do seasonal tableaux! The sky is the limit! OHHHHHH! Moon landing!!!! BINGO!

I would decorate it with little red mushrooms, gnomes and trees during the holiday season.