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Design DilemmaFireplacesLiving Rooms
sarahlew1

What would you do with this off-centre fireplace?

sarahlew1
8 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

We have just moved into a house with this off-centre fireplace. Apart from putting an oak beam across, stuck on what else to do with the space. Shelves? Let me know please!


Featured Answer
  • sarahlew1
    Original Author
    5 years ago
    Better photo

    Comments (63)

    • aribahigh
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      I'd put a hearth back, doesn't have to be too deep so that it takes up floor space, running the length of the chimney breast (tiled/slate/marble)....then you can put objects on the hearth to balance the offset fire opening.....eg pile of logs/coal scuttle or how about some oversized vases, a big plant or even a lamp.

    • PRO
      R Gregory Installations
      8 years ago

      Question. Is this a ground floor room or first floor? If it's first floor or above it could be a wide breast with off centre fireplace because the breast contains another flue from a lower floor fireplace. If that is the case you would not want to knock through to enlarge or move the existing fireplace.

      Consider bricking up the fireplace that is there and fitting a modern surface mounted flueless gas fire, take a look at these for example ( http://www.fireplacesareus.co.uk/shop/fires/gas-fires/flueless.html )

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    • brianminns
      8 years ago
      Leave it alone and go with a bigger log cabinet on the RHS to add symmetry to the area. I would make the log cabinet around a third higher and same width, you can photo shop this before you do anything.

      If that doesn't work get ready for some building work!
    • User
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      Use some stick-on wall art or script and place a really comfy chair on front, leaving the fire free to be appreciated. You could also add a mantle shelf and extend it almost the full width, a small table below it and beside the fire and that gives the whole width of the wall above the shelf and keeping the off centre below as a feature.

      Wall art

      Script

    • Ludo Gallagher
      8 years ago

      I love it. Embrace the quirky. Cover the entire wall with frames, mirrors and pictures. The fireplace being just one of many quirky items on the wall.

    • eveline999
      8 years ago

      Personally I think putting shelves up would be boring! love the idea of the full length hearth and various hanging objects on the wall. One large mirror or picture is I reckon predictable and done by most people. A feature of an outsize vase or large unusual plant on the hearth. Is the fire real? if so it would be so sad to board up and replace with an electric version, real fires are a feature of their own. Love A J Interiors ideas. Good luck with your eventual plan.

    • Sherbert Barnes
      8 years ago
      I love it!! It's quirky! As above, I would put shelving in both alcoves - would be nice if you could chisel out a rectangular recess to the right of it for logs neatly stacked- and then I would keep this wall very quirky - hanging a collection of things that are personal to you on hooks. Think it is a nice feature and actually love fact that it is so off centre!
    • Sherbert Barnes
      8 years ago
      Doesn't have to be photographs or artwork - for example if you collected cow bells even! It could be those strategically placed - if you know what I am saying!! Good luck.
    • PRO
      Empatika Bespoke Fitted Furniture
      8 years ago

      You can put a TV or pictures in the right section to make it balance out. Or an expensive option is if you built alcove units in and make the right alcove come over the right side of the chimney breast so that the fireplace is in the centre of



      the two units, you could put small books in that section and ornaments and in the deep section I would have cupboard to store large items away. Not sure if that makes sense... see the drawing.

      More shelving ideas here.

    • eveline999
      8 years ago

      shelves although useful would I personally feel be preditable the fireplace is unusual/quirky so it might be more apt to enhance the quirkyness rather than hide it by making it into a feature.

    • Siubhan Magee
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      I would not put shelves on the same part of the wall as the fireplace - you will make the room feel smaller. You could put a big piece of art (a long framed poster for example) next to it to balance it out, or a mirror, or a grandfather clock. Embrace the asymmetry! I would put a mantle over it so you can decorate above with candlesticks or pictures too. At the moment it looks quite stark, but that's because you've not yet put your stamp on it.

    • brackvillage
      8 years ago

      Interesting comments about the back to back and downstairs flue - been wondering why the two fireplaces in our bedrooms were, like this one, off centre!

      I don't think the heavy white frame helps. You could remove this and go for a more mid century feel with a full length bench height sill, an aperture flame effect gas fire or similar wall hung electric fire on the left of the breast using the existing fireplace and then have cushions and maybe some logs on the right. Might also help if you pulled the electric stove to the front of the fireplace and installed a false smoke pipe.. You could then balance this with log basket or similar to the right. These could be pulled together if both sitting on a full length slim hearth which could be cheap to do if you just use a wooden platform painted slate black.

    • mrshste
      8 years ago

      I would keep a stove there, definitely not replace it with a modern electric one. I love that its off-centre. A real feature! I think just a mirror above with pictures spaced around with ore to the right, and a large basket off logs. I would probably open the fire space a bit though for a better proportion to the wall size.

    • PRO
      Premier Paint Supplies
      8 years ago

      All the structural ideas sound great but a more cosmetic solution would be to use a single drop of wallpaper in the empty space to the right of the fireplace. It would need to be placed bang centre in the bare area to the right of the fireplace for the sake of symmetry but could look great. This would give you two features on the chimney breast and a bit of balance.

      A wider wide roll of 21" paper looks like it would fit great there. A standard width paper looks like it might be a little out of proportion of the overall wall but I could be wrong. The choice of design would obviously be key here.

      I've just noticed the alcoves have the "Linear Stem" wallpaper by Orla Kiely for Harlequin so one of the bolder designs from the same collection which run along a similar theme would look great. Hopefully they would be to your taste!

      https://www.harlequin.uk.com/shop/wallpaper/orla-kiely-wallpapers/

    • alyper
      8 years ago

      Think it looks great being off centre! Perhaps an interesting statement chair angled to the right, line up of stunning colourful paintings over full width : three would create a balance?

    • PRO
      theCAVE architecture + design
      8 years ago
      Find me on our pro page - contact me and I'll send you some images that may show you why your off centre fire is actually the coolest thing that happened to your room - this is an opportunity not a problem
    • Glenda Roberts
      8 years ago

      I would think to have a tall copper vase containing an even taller dried arrangement and perhaps a few stacked logs - would look pretty amazing and make the most of your lovely, unique fire place.

    • drpepe101
      8 years ago
      Book Shelves, a place to store a pouffe / footstool, a chair (if room large enough).

      Personally, I think the offset makes the space *more* usable than if you had a large central opening, so I wouldn't be doing something irreversible or structural.
    • Lucie Fontaine
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      Hi, from reading this week's article about loving the imperfections of our home, I pictured a wall sitker of a tree or even some fairy lights display as a feature wall.

    • Lucie Fontaine
      8 years ago

      Oh and same storage in each of the alcoves to balance out the look.

    • Pauline cotton
      8 years ago
      Why would anyone build a fireplace that is not in the middle!!!
      We too have inherited an off centre fireplace and I hate the fact it is not symmetrical. This photo is not the best but can't take one at the moment because it is hidden behind a load of boxes. I plan on knocking out the bricks and seeing if it can be opened up more to centralise it.
    • Kate Crossley
      8 years ago

      unfortunately I've not had time to read all of the comments above so hope I'm not repeating something already suggested.

      I would leave it as it is and add onto the wall a removable wall decal sticker, Look at these on Amazon, there are some tremendous sets on there from views of a beach or country lanes through an open window, to trees, ornate bird cages, wonderful wording, and so much more. Maybe you could just have some logs at the bottom. You would know what to do with the rest of the wall, if anything, if you looked at these art sets. I would love a blank wall like this with an open fire as this is the line I definitely would go down.

      I hope this is helpful.

    • sarahlew1
      Original Author
      8 years ago
      Thank you to everyone who has commented with suggestions. All appreciated. It doesn't really bother me too much it being off centre, just lost as to what to do. I think for now we will embrace it and go with a tree wall art like in the pic, but that sways left. Then fill with pictures and an oak beam. Thanks again x.
    • PRO
      Bio Fires
      8 years ago

      I would suggest removing the existing fireplace, as an off centred fireplace loses its fundamental essence of being a focal point of the room. You could create symmetry by using a traditional freestanding fireplace that can be placed flat against the wall without any installation. Bio ethanol fireplaces are fuelled by bio ethanol liquid which you fill into a container, hidden by logs. Looks just like a traditional gas fire, and gives you heat. For great ideas, take a look at our profile!

      Or alternatively offset it with some stylish shelves or pictures, this could create a modern look.

    • smartypantsnancy
      8 years ago

      It looks great off centre..you could do all sorts of good stuff with this


    • jessegee
      8 years ago

      If building work is too much to contemplate, Tree wall art sounds a great idea, working with it in the simplest way , quirky unusual original clean and quick!

    • PRO
      Mauro Perucchetti Ltd
      8 years ago

      What a great feature with great potential. Has the chimney breast been extended and can you insert shelving or boxes?

      Have you thought of using Venetian Plaster to give this feature a bespoke facelift, giving your room a luxurious and fresh facelift? Polished plaster is easily applied and can make a real statement in your room.


    • Nine Aud
      7 years ago

      Just found your question and noticed how long ago it was... Interested to see the end result, like so many of the comments, I love it for being off Centre too


    • phyllylittle
      6 years ago

      I have a very similar fireplace to this - the chimney is shared with my adjoining neighbour, my fireplace being on the left as this one is, and theirs on the right. I am just at the stage of replacing my fire and would like to install a wood burning stove.

      If anyone has photos of a finished project similar to this, please would you share them? And any ideas will be gratefully received.

    • PRO
      V.I.P Walls Interior Specialist
      6 years ago
      We would love to install some classy looking paneling to that wall. Contact us.
    • phyllylittle
      6 years ago
      last modified: 6 years ago

      Thank you guys - but I don't think wood paneling would really 'go' in a sixties bungalow. I would love that in a period property though.

    • PRO
      Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
      6 years ago

      phyllylittleit is an old post. You want to post your own one and you get more ideas.

    • phyllylittle
      6 years ago

      Thank you - will do

    • nicola_bassani
      6 years ago

      We had Exactly the same problem when we moved into our house. Our configuration is opposite to yours (our neighbours fireplace is on the left and ours on the right) I'll go take a pic now to show you what we did.

    • nicola_bassani
      6 years ago

    • PRO
      DAG Inter ltd
      6 years ago
      Centralise the fireplace then make a feature wall. Use backlit materials or clad the surrounds with mirrors or backpainted glass .
    • phyllylittle
      6 years ago

      Thanks for the advice - I will see if either of these options can be done in my room

    • sarahlew1
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      A while ago I posted about what to do with my living rooms off centred chimney breast. I thought I’d update you on what we did...
    • PRO
      User
      5 years ago

      Hi, Can I recommend You concrete solutions??

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    • Ludo Gallagher
      5 years ago

      Ingenious. Youve done just the right thing imo. Looks fab.

    • Juliet Docherty
      5 years ago

      It's odd that we have an issue with symmetry. Your off centre fireplace looks fabulous now you have created a composition with artwork and furniture - amazing.

    • Kiya Kelly
      5 years ago

      Oh what you did looks great, very classy!

    • sam irwin
      5 years ago
      That’s a terrific job ...love the chair and the picture gallery ... great to see the end result
    • A S
      5 years ago
      Wow! So much potential.
      I would hang pictures/ mirrors creating a Cool grid wall.
    • PRO
      amordesigns
      5 years ago
      Wow you have made it beautiful. What a lovely space and your eyes are not drawn to it being off centre. It’s gorgeous space I love it
    • Jules Mc
      5 years ago

      Love what you've done. You've turned a negative into a real feature

    • KrisB
      5 years ago
      HI Sarah
      I love what you have achieved. Many congrats for embracing what you have and creating something that totally enhances the placement of the fireplace. The space looks like it was made for the placement of that perfect chair and you've done a gorgeous job with your selection and placement of art . I am moving with considerable grief from my gorgeous arts and crafts bungalow to an early1970s small house. I have to say this style of architecture in NZ wasnt exactly a highlight. But I set myself a challange to embrace the architecture and look to enhance rather than fight it . That challenge shifted me off my despair track and now I am excited and hopeful and thinking about space and colour and the amazing light pouring in (a quality of houses of this time)..and textures . i feel so cteative in new and diffetent ways...and it's so exciting. seeing what you have achieved - it is very affirming for me I love what you have created.
    • sarahlew1
      Original Author
      3 years ago

      This thread has been revisited which is lovely. I still love what we did.

    • Moni Burns
      3 years ago

      That looks simply wonderful.

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