Maybe not the most creative... but is it deep enough to hold logs? Perhaps painted a darker tone and full of logs would be visually interesting and functional.

I think the only thing that would look good is a tv. You don't have to "mount" it. Flat screens also have stands.

Hi Blake,

Since it is a 3D space (it has depth), I feel that it needs to be filled with 3D media. The space reminds me of a shadow box. I am imagining cutting stylized cloud shapes out of wood or mdf, painting them coordinating colors and hanging them from the top at different depths. Or hanging something like birds or paper airplanes from the top, then making a shallow box and planting grass or moss at the bottom (could even be faux).

Hope that helps with your inspiration. Have fun!!

My boring suggestions: You could paint the back an interesting color, hang a couple of shelves and use it for showing off framed pictures, art and knick-knacks. Or forget the shelves and use it to display tall, striking pieces of pottery or glass with interesting shapes.

Although, what are you going to do with the outlets? Just leave them there?

Are you leaving the brick bare? You could create quite a platform for any special showpieces you own by painting the brick white, giving the 'cove' a fresh coat of white paint . . . and then showing off any of your favorite pieces in there. It could house a collection of brilliant colored vases (if not somewhat cliche) or just about anything you could think of.

You could also do a neat natural branch installation in there as well . . find your favorite type of tree branch (find castoffs after a trimming? etc etc) and create a mini 'forest' picture-window type of structure. It's hard for me to articulate exactly what I'm picturing in my head . . . hopefully you get the idea! :)

Place simple shelving (ala Lack shelves, though flush to each side) and place decorative items -- vases, figures, flowers, wood, as everyone seems to be mentioning.

Laura
http://www.grafxnerd.net

Not for year round, but it would be beautiful to have a lit wreath there around the holidays!

I like all the suggestions above, except for the TV. Just make sure to hide the outlets, whatever you do.

Actually from what I can see of the rest of the room the brick doesn't really go with the boxy area on the right, which has a more modern look and just begs for long, low, cozy seating with lots of pillows. If I were you I would eventually cover the fireplace with some sort of simple panels or drywall or tile to make it look more streamlined. The proportion of the TV box to the firebox is not that pleasing and covering the entire fireplace would allow you to change the dimensions of the recessed area (or delete it altogether).

Just curious--when was your house built? What is the rest of it like?

Book shelves! With the outlet you can add back lighting.

My home was built in 2004 and has the same set up. The space above my gas fireplace was wired to house the television. We painted the niche a dark grey and placed our large flat screen tv on its stand on the granite shelf. My husband added a shelf above the tv for our receiver, speakers, dvd player, etc. By placing the tv above the fireplace, you can arrange your room with one focal point.

I'd brick it up with matching brick. If it were me, I'd second the drywall suggestion above. At the very least get rid of the faux colonial plastic trim above and below which doesn't even follow the proper scale of the style.

I think it would great to hang a large canvas deep enough to completely cover the molding around the inset shelf. The contrast of the art against the brick would look cool and would be a nice, substantial focal point to the room.

Flat screen TV inside. Then, hide the entire shelf and TV (when not in use) with a great painting, which you can mount discreetly with hinges or a sliding mechanism. Slide would seem easier as you could attach it the wood on the shelves.

You can paint it with some bright color like orange or red .... put a pendant lamp in it ... trust me .. u will me amazed at the results :)

I really like the idea to do a piece of glass art in there, esp. if you could focus some dramatic lighting on it. I also think that using it as a log box would look really nice -- it seems to be about the right depth.

Hang some artwork from the top (painting, stained glass) and have it back-lit.

First of all, congrats on your new home in East Nashville from a former Nashvegas resident! What a great neighborhood!!

Second, I'm a little skeptical about the opportunity to use the space about the fireplace creatively. It seems like a good idea that didn't work out -- at least for someone who's not planning to put a TV there. I actually might be tempted to brick it back up or hang a large piece of artwork or a mirror over it (perhaps necessitating removing that top trim?).

I guess you could remove or tone down the trim and put in some sculpture highlighted by small, installed lights? You could even paint the space to go with your decor and the sculpture. But this would really depend on having a very specific and well-suited piece of sculpture for the space.

Hmmm... good luck. It's a tough one!

I would remove the decorative molding around the opening. Beyond that, I would decorate the rest of the room then figure out what makes sense. You might want to paint the enclosure or add shelves but it's hard to envision anything without context. I generally don't like TVs in living rooms if you have another spot for them, but I think that it could be a lovely spot to display a collection or cool object. I also don't love the look of the brick. I just got the brick anew kit, I'll report back w/the results of my project if it seems like a good solution.

I love angelique's suggestion - fill it with wood! But take down the molding first.

If the TV doesn't go inside the opening...
...I'd remove the moulding, close off the opening but move the electrical and cable to the new surface - then tile over the entire fireplace and hearth with Heath ceramic tiles - install a new chunky wrap-around mantle created from reclaimed timbers, and mount the TV on the new face.

I'd go with the flow and use it for the TV.

Other choices are painting it dark and using it as a shadow box for some bold colored vases, hanging a piece of artwork over it, inserting shelves and creating a small bookcase, etc.

save yourself the floor space and use it for a TV definitely.
i'm going through the trouble of having a fireplace and a TV across the room and i haven't figured out where to center the room around! this way you can kill two birds with one stone :-)

Definitely get rid of the faux keystone and header, as well as sill. Then hang a mirror or picture in front of it to hide it, keeping the alcove a secret hiding place only you know of.

Whoa! I think you should consider painting the brick white/off-white and adding a mantle regardless of what you do with the open space there. I am not in favor of installing the TV there as I don't like TVs just sitting out, much less put on display. I do like the suggestions of covering the entire opening with a painting or mirror. I also like the suggestion of using the space to display a treasured item, but I vote for One Statement Item rather than cluttering the area with shelves and lots of items. If you decide to do shelves then I think neatly arranged books are the only way to avoid a cluttered look in that space. Best wishes and congrats on the new home!!!

You could have a wonderful lighting effect from there, how about getting a piece of handmade glass made to fit the hole, and use the outlet to plug in some strip lights. You could even have the glass hung on some decorative hinges to allow access to switches and bulbs.

Or, if you fancied some new pets in your new home, there's always a tropical fish tank option!!!

I agree that you should paint the brick. You still have the beautiful contrasting texture of the bricks to the wall, but painting it will soften and instantly UPDATE your space. If it is your main family room or entertaining space you should mount a TV in the nook. Your fireplace area is certainly the focal point of your room. Putting the TV in the nook will maintain that focal point. Paint the inside back wall of the nook a very slightly darker color. Perhaps put a shelf under the television right in the nook to balance out the space (most TVs are rectangle). Or, skip the TV and put a favorite piece of art in there. It's a frame after all.

You don't have to stick with white either. Paint the walls or brick or both a color. Just minimize the contrast in color, since you already have contrast in texture.

I'd remove the molding and gold leaf or silver leaf the interior of the space. (Or maybe use metallic paint.) I think I'd paint the brick white or cream -- I don't ordinarily see the need to paint brick, but in this case, it seems kind of harsh in contrast to the style of the room (at least what I can see of it.) Once the niche is metallic, I'd hang a square contemporary painting (which covers the electrical outlet and nearly fills the space) on the back and place up to 3 carefully selected objects in a grouping in front. And change out the ceiling fan to something more contemporary...

yes, agree with at least getting rid of that trim - I think after that it will be easier to see creative ways of using that space for anything as suggested by others here. I just can't get over that ugly trim!

What about a terrarium in a tall victorian style dome?

...or for a more traditional appearance, you could remove the crazy trim, plaster over the entire thing except for a margin around the fireplace insert and the top of the hearth - install a traditional carved-wooden mantle, marble tile over the top of the hearth and the margin around the firebox opening - and install appropriate Federal-style mouldings (Broken pediment?) around the opening for the TV.

While you're at it, you could traditional install crown mouldings all the way around the room too.

It only needs to be painted to blend more into the brick instead of standing out. After that, there are a number of cool things you can do with it.

thanks everyone for your suggestions, you have all been a huge help!

Hi Blake!

We have a similar setup in our new condo (built 2005), but the fireplace is a corner unit and the space above it is large and triangular. What I think I'm going to do is hang three Moroccan or other lanterns there--it would instantly add color, warmth, and light to the space. Heck of a lot more interesting than a TV, if you ask me!

I liked the idea of a terrarium in your space, but does it get hot up there when the fire is lit?

Whatever you do, don't fill it with lots of small junk. You'll just make the space look cluttered - and it already looks pretty cluttered with the various surfaces, the brick and so forth. I'd consider getting rid of that moulding, as others have suggested, and maybe use the space to display a single large, lighted piece of three-dimensional art. It could even be something seasonal - a large wreath for the holidays, for example - that you swap out every 3 months or so.

Given that it's already wired for tee vee, you could also just cover it with a large, heavy, hinged door and mount a widescreen set in front of it (the niche itself doesn't look big enough for a decent-sized widescreen set). There are hinged widescreen mounts that would allow you to swing the set away from the wall. The space behind it could then be used for hidden media storage.

Yeah, I know, mounting the TeeVee above the fireplace is hideously tacky. But it's also very practical. And it's not any more hideous than that moulding. Ack!

fishtank?

Can we please see the final result?

To me this is screaming for a diorama. Or maybe a shrine.
Let me honest it’s visually it’s awkward to have a framed whole over your fireplace. And if you get right down it’s odd to have a pretend chimney for a gas fire place. You could go for the good taste option and ripe out every thing that’s pretending to be something its not and pick new style appropriate finishes. But where’s the fun in that.
Fill that silly whole with a diorama. Embrace kitsch and spectacular spectacular. I envision a few plastic fauns with big eyes nestled in a vine filled forest. You could paint the frame hot pink, cover the in sides with pieces of mirror, and add mini velvet curtain pulled to one side. You can put that outlet to good use with a rotating or dancing dolls and twinkling lights. Imagine the possibilities.
Have fun.