WWYD? (new house fireplace related)

[TBM]

This is the living room and the fireplace that prompted this question...



Keep the fireplace or remove it?  Pretend it is your house and tell me what you would do, and why you would do it.  TIA     (The room is much more rectangular than it looks in the photo, with the windows being on the longer wall.)




                            ************************************

I think it eats up valuable floor space, and we likely won't need it in FL, but it is kind of fun. 

I haven't brought it up to DH yet, but we are talking about replacing the floors in the bedrooms, one hall and the living room, so that they are cohesive, and it started me thinking about how this would be the time to remove it, if we were to remove it.

[pamela]

Is that a window behind it on the left? If so, I'd probably remove it, if not, I'd try to make it an enclosed fireplace.

[TBM]

Feb 22, 2013 16:56:09 GMT -5 pamela said:

Is that a window behind it on the left? If so, I'd probably remove it, if not, I'd try to make it an enclosed fireplace.

It is a window.

[munkii]

That's tricky. The fireplace would be awesome in a brighter color (turquoise, orange, red, whatever), but...it is kind of awkward with the low window right next to it and a full window right behind it. 

My one comment about probably never using it: I wish my family in FL and Mexico had freaking fireplaces. Every time I visit any of them, I have to bring sweaters because it gets cold in those places! No, it usually isn't cold, but December through March are not the warmest. If you have a heating system, then it's a non-issue. If you don't, I would keep it (unless you're hot all the time .

ETA: I know my color suggestion isn't cheap since a professional would have to do it. But I thought I'd throw it out there.

[emjacobs]

I like it! I think that it brings a cool feature to the room.

Would this room have a TV in it or just be a sitting room? Where would you put the TV if there will be one?

[housegeek]

I'd keep it, but I think it's an awesome looking fireplace and that in general they add warmth to a room
And what an odd window!

[mrs.jacinthe]

I think a fireplace would be nice in even a warmer climate like FL, mostly due to the humidity. It's so different in FL than CA - when it's cold or even cool, the cold is BONE CHILLING because it's just so humid. As in, I grew up in Ohio so I'm accustomed to cold weather. When we lived in TX (similar tropical environment), it wasn't always "coat weather" but sometimes when it was 45-50 or so, the wind would pick up and it would just be FREEZING, even inside. Times like that, I wished we had a fireplace to warm up by.

If you don't like it visually, get rid of it and get a more efficient (and less space-hogging) gas or electric fireplace - I think you'll appreciate it for the "winter" months.

[TBM]

Feb 22, 2013 17:00:03 GMT -5 munkii said:

That's tricky. The fireplace would be awesome in a brighter color (turquoise, orange, red, whatever), but...it is kind of awkward with the low window right next to it and a full window right behind it. 

My one comment about probably never using it: I wish my family in FL and Mexico had freaking fireplaces. Every time I visit any of them, I have to bring sweaters because it gets cold in those places! No, it usually isn't cold, but December through March are not the warmest. If you have a heating system, then it's a non-issue. If you don't, I would keep it (unless you're hot all the time .

ETA: I know my color suggestion isn't cheap since a professional would have to do it. But I thought I'd throw it out there.

I kind of love the color suggestion, and I know that it does get cold(ish) there, (it was cold and wet while DH was house hunting there), but we have the wall  of windows in the kitchen and hall that should help a bit, and there is a heater,  and DH is not afraid to use it.  He hates to be cold. lol   

It is actually pretty cold/damp here a good portion of the year (my heater sometimes kicks on in July), and we almost never use our fireplace.  Hmm.  ETA:  We have had visitors and worked with people from much colder climates who complain about it being "chill to the bones cold" here.

[niknik]

I would keep it. If you didn't want to change the color of the fireplace, you could just change the tile on the pedestal to something you loved. I think that alone would make a huge difference. Everytime I've ever been to Florida I've frozen to death. I'm lucky that way I guess and it would be fun to warm up your house that way then with a furnace on cold evenings. I love fireplaces though.

[TBM]

Feb 22, 2013 17:33:31 GMT -5 niknik said:

I would keep it. If you didn't want to change the color of the fireplace, you could just change the tile on the pedestal to something you loved. I think that alone would make a huge difference. Everytime I've ever been to Florida I've frozen to death. I'm lucky that way I guess and it would be fun to warm up your house that way then with a furnace on cold evenings. I love fireplaces though.

Yeah, I know that it is the different color tile that really bothers me, although the extra floor space would make furniture arrangement easier.  Not that we actually have furniture for that room. 

I have a thing about flooring being cohesive in color, so if we keep it, we will definitely change the tile under it to go with the new floor. 

[julygal]

I live in FL and every cold snap, when someone has a fire going and I smell it, I miss our fireplace! When we had a fireplace we used it regularly but not frequently. I probably miss having the option more than the actual use of it. I think fireplaces are something nice and cozy but not necessary. I'm not sure I would put one in if it was missing, but I wouldn't take a functioning one out.

[pitterwoo]

If it were my house I would probably keep it. I like the idea of a color or colored tiles. If you really wouldn't use it though, I don't think it's worth keeping as a focal point and you would be better off making use of the increased space.

[demelza]

I really like the fireplace it looks nice in that room.