I think I'd hang it inside the firebox, however, instead of flush with the wall.

N-O !
I prefer candles or branches options...

Ditto on Marie-Eve's comment. Lots of candles of different heights/sizes are so elegant...

I. . . kind of hate everything in that picture.

corny

Nah. Maybe if it were a different style--this one's a bit "Starving Artist" for my taste.

for $1500 you could buy one of those amish engineering marvel thingers! and probably still cover your new electric bill

I think its a cool idea, if it were set back in a real fireplace it would probably be hard to see without a small spotlight or something on it.

it kind of reminds me of those tapes you can buy to put in your TV that shows a fire burning

Cheesey

Somebody at AT should cover Partners and Spade, which I think is opening this week. Last week, a friend and I walked by there one evening, and were struck by a window full of live finches, and lots of interesting objects on display inside. A guy saw us peering through the window, came to the door and asked if he could help us. We asked if it was a store or a gallery, and said "A little of both" and invited us inside. It turned out to be Andy Spade himself, who gave us a private tour of the whole place. It's an interesting assortment of objects collected and curated by his friends and acquaintances which speaks to the nature of collecting, and how we look at "things" out side of their everyday existence. He was a really lovely guy, and it was a rare NYC treat.

I think this is sort of hysterical. I would do it, but I wouldn't use this particular execution. I think the arrangement above does not work b/c it looks like the whole mantle, fireplace, and painting end 6 inches above the floor. It's like a whole fake shebang rather than a fake fire in a real fireplace.

Um, faux anything is just a bad idea...

Totally cheesy.

Why not put an LCD monitor with a video of a fire?
What?
a bad idea?
please leave?

Either my eyes are playing tricks on me, or the whole faux sha-bang is floating? I think it would work a bit better if it were (literally) grounded.

If you go to the link about the store offering the fireplace painting. It states that Ann's work is custom made. She wants the clients input on color and details. That makes each work unique in size, setting and color. It's worth it!

I think the joke would wear thin. But if there were hidden depths to the painting -- devils and demons hiding among the flames perhaps -- it might work.

Best solution I've seen for a non-working fireplace was one where the entire brick thing (with a classic, painted mantel) was painted creamy white (including the inside) and the firebox was wired for downlights. So the fireplace became a lighted niche for featuring sculpture, flowers, branches, or anything seasonal. It looked great.

that is ugly.

Actually, now that I think about it, it would be cooler if it didn't attempt to be realistic. A funky fire would be better. With, as Forestdweller says, hidden depths.

that looks very corny but i kinda like the idea. I would paint the fire popart-ish and make it look more graphic/simplified rather than realistic. funky bright colors and more simple, geometric,symmetrically shaped fire will definitely be fun!

I agree that this faux fireplace is a little much. However, I actually have my own faux fireplace in my apartment: http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2105/102/66/25102394/n25102394_33776026_7385.jpg

Creative, but not my thing. Especially once summer hits. A black hole would be better.

I'm kind of meh on it. Might as well slap in a TV set with one of those fireplace DVDs 24/7. At least that moves.

I'd be more of a fan of candles or some interesting sculptures in a non-working fireplace.

I agree that if the painting wasn't realistic it could work and be pretty cool. I just hate non-working fireplaces - such a waste! Granted, we can only use ours a few days out of the year, but it's worth it.

I think it's sort of amusing -- maybe not $1500 worth of fun, but definitely amusing.

Plus, it has always bugged me when (budget conscious) TV design shows decide to import a mantle as a faux fireplace, but leave the room wall color behind it. Mantles are not sufficiently interesting as sculpture to just prop one up and think of it as a focal point. If you can't create the illusion of a working fireplace, even if tongue in cheek like this, then just use a console table.

NO... SIMPLY NO

Maybe if the fire was done in some sort of cubist style but even then I think I'd have to turn it down

I really don't like any of it

I think the idea's as good as the painting is good (the one shown is pleasant, but not the greatest, IMHO). I think any adhering "faux" stigma could be eliminated by putting a framed painting of a fire there instead---that might even be a little witty. . . .

Making one of those fake fires with a fan underneath red and yellow tissue paper to make it "crackle and dance" would be better than this

I don't like the fire painting, but I do like the idea of a canvas painting in the firebox. Need this for my bedroom renovation!