A picture would be a big help. Is the loft over the dining space? Is the fireplace actually in the middle, or slightly off to one side of the 30 x 16 space? Is the fireplace open to dining and living? What is the loft now used for and how do access it?

Why on earth would you want to remove a masonry fireplace?
Seems that it would be wonderful to have such a feature in a home!

Be aware that taking it out isn't as simple as you'd think - and the loft probably does indeed bear on the mass...

In addition to removing the masonry, you'd have to:
Reframe the structure of the hole in the lower floor where the fireplace came through from the ground, and install sublflooring.
Install new living room finish flooring to match the rest of the room.
Install posts to support the loft.
Rebuild the edge of the loft and the railing - Which may involve a new structural beam that runs from one side of the room to the other.
Close the hole in the ceiling and roof - which means redoing the roof framing, patching or reroofing completely, and patching or redoing the entire inside of the ceiling to match the existing ceiling finish.

Then for all the work you've done and money you've spent - You'll have a lower property value since you've eliminated your fireplace...
...and you'll have no way to keep your house warm in winter when there's a power outage.

this is a pix of fireplace in middle of lr and dr complete with a ladder and loft! thinking of taking down fireplace (it is only vented gas logs - so it is not for heat) and the loft! ideas? contractor says it is not supporting and can be taken down with fixing roof (which we need a new one!) and also new flooring which we planned on.

the loft is not used for anything especially since the ladder is dangerous and unappealing in lr - backside of fireplace is dining room and a big glass sunroom. with fireplace and loft removed the front is windows with a lovely view up a hill. neighbors are not too close by as we have extra lot with trees. at the moment, we are taking in a guest room off the master to be a bigger bathroom and closet! within a month we will be ready to start this room! it is a house makeover.

I agree, divoelo, take it down! The room would be much nicer without it and the loft. I would also change the color of the walls to a color a bit lighter than the floor, but not beige! and paint the ceiling a much brighter white, that way the ceiling will appear even taller. Then I would buy some tall lamps that have bulbs with enough power to light up the ceiling (you could also use sconces, but this would require electrical work). Good luck!

thanks so much for your suggestions! walls will be sheetrock instead of the outdated paneling and we are adding new extensive pot lighting around ceiling! we have budgeted fir new hardwood if the floor doesn't survive. which now looking at the picture, i am not fond of the parquet floor anymore! like the idea of brighter white ceiling and un-beige walls! was thinking to put cross beams - trying to get effect of tray ceiling, of course, they could be painted white not just the stark wood. had planned to lose all the stained trim and paint white. what do you think?

sounds great to me and i love the pot lite idea! i'd knock it down too. even painting it or boxing it in and modernizing wont help take away the bulky look. GO FOR IT! and send pics afterwards!

I agree with Bepsf, I'd keep the fireplace & loft, as well! Rooms can be too light and too airy too large and not cozy at all. The large space would be more like a ballroom & hard to arrange furniture. The loft-fireplace gives all-important height to the liv. rm. (decorators are always stressing height) both could be a really nice feature. Yes, the loft-fp. area needs some re-thinking or re-design, but think again before you tear it out and put more $$ in the contractor's pocket. Fp's add value to a home, you'll be paying contractor to tear something out that adds value, doesn't add up to me.

Yes, the flooring can certainly stand to be updated - and the fireplace as well with a simpler mantle - but it's such a nice feature, as is the loft space...
...without them and plain Sheetrock walls - this would be a very bland and featureless house indeed.

How about a compromise? I agree that an unused loft, with bad ladder access, is dispensable. And you're right, it would make the dining room so much more light and airy - not to mention open up the view. HOWEVER, I love the fireplace feature. I would never remove an existing fireplace. Since you already have all the gas venting in place and are willing to remove the fireplace entirely, why not just replace it with a two-sided fireplace, visible from both rooms? With all the free-standing fireplace units on the market, you could find one that would look totally new and different - maybe a linear modern look? You don't need a hearth, just a stone or tile area in front of the window, so the height of the fireplace would lower by almost a foot. (I'm not sure which direction your remodel is going?) Or just a traditional look - but cut it off after the mantle - don't take it all the way up. Maybe add a couple of square columns on each side going up to the ceiling, framing the width of the dining room window? This will still give you a separation between the two spaces but not block the view. I'm short on time today (New Year's Eve!!) but will try to find some pics to demonstrate, if you're interested.

karina, thank you so much for your reply and yes, i would love pics! we have really thought about just removing the loft and taking another look. also i like the thought of octagonal glass fireplaces off centered (ventless) as i had liked the idea of moving my baby grand piano to center (where fireplace is) and put the stain glass ball light over it - this way it would get away from the windows where it now is! if you look closer at the fireplace, you will note that the ledges are uneven as well as where the top meets the ceiling! i can't find any good qualities about my fireplace but at the same time once it is gone - its gone! what a dilemma! it is kinda like painting stained wood was several years ago! our remodeling is inside and outside of our house as we do not plan to move again with our children gone! (will post a better photo of the ledges and off centered top after new years!) again thanks as this is very frustrating for a nonprofessional and expensive - so i want it to be as right as possible! happy new year!

I vote for updating the fireplace and leaving it in place. I would probably take out the loft and remove the existing mantel. You could replace the polished brass surround with a different color with minimal cost and hassle by contacting the manufacturer of the fireplace. Or, paint a darker shade with heat resistant paint.

I would knock down the hearth to floor level, salvaging some bricks to use for filling in the front at the bottom and sides if needed. Then, I would look for a solid stone hearth to inset in the floor in front, approximately the same size as the existing hearth (you might even be able to reuse that piece) you could use soapstone or bluestone for a darker color or a limestone for a lighter shade.

I would replace the mantel with a single beam or slab stained a dark brown, even toward ebony, to complement whatever color flooring you end up with. I would try a very dark semi-transparent stain on the flooring, topped off with a coat of semi-gloss or gloss. You won't see any of the color difference or much of the grain, but you'll see the reflective patterns of the differing directions of the wood pieces - kind of a large, dark checkerboard. The flooring would need to be sanded first to remove scratches, smooth out gouges and remove the old finish. If you really don't like it after doing the stain, then you could just replace it at that time. Depending on your location, you might be able to get it sanded, stained and coated for around $2/sq ft, instead of paying $1/sq ft to get rid of it and $10-11 to buy and install replacement wood.

thanks linda for your suggestions! going to check on the sanding and restaining of the floor! the floor is about 30 yrs old parquet oak wood in a windsor stain - some honey color and dark colors mixed! it has not been so visible with our big persian rugs but we have moved most things out! the walls are paneling and i thought that the room would look more polished with sheetrock to match my ebony piano and other furniture style. i also wanted to repaint all of the stained dark wood. what would you recommend? do i go with the popular white color? one improvement in the house leads to a thousand other issues, doesn't it? ha.

update on my eyesore 16' fireplace and loft in middle of living room! went ahead against all odds and had removed! yes, was second guessing myself through process but had my husband's support! it was out and roof patched in two days. could not be happier and doubtful men then thought it was great decision! now have approx 950 sq ft room. after lowering ceiling couple of feet for proper insulation, i decided to put a 5' wide wall in middle to ceiling separating sunroom from dining room and living room. flat tv will attach to sunroom side and a special huge piece of art on dining room side. to separate dining and living am placing my baby grand piano with an long slender light with 20 stained glass balls - that should give definition to rooms! asap will post pixs - still have sheet rock and flooring, etc. we did move out and not sure when entire project will be finished as entire house was ready for major overhaul as well as yard!