Hmmmmm. I don't know if I've ever seen anything like this before. I guess my question is how deep are the steps? How much space is there between the bottom step and the front of the fireplace?

If there is enough space and the stairs are deep enough, i.e. at least 18", I would have upholstered cushions and coordinating pillows made and make it like a conversation pit and comfortable enough to sit around on the steps and have a glass of wine or whatever.

But if it's as close as it looks this may be the biggest design challenge I've ever seen.

that is...weird. I would suggest maybe some floor pillows and make it more of a lounge area? A couch would seem weird there

Judging from the amount of wall showing at the ends of the floor, it looks to me like it was intended to be a place to sit. (If not, somebody has very strange architectural aesthetics!) I'd cushion the steps except for some part to walk down, and hang large bold art above the fireplace. Then have a sitting or dining area at the top of the steps but only if far enough from them so nobody is likely to fall from miscalculation. Good luck!!

I would also suggest some nice big pillows. But if that doesn't work out, perhaps fill it in with plants! Is there a window in that space? Strengthen the mantel, make it bolder and get a framed mirror or a big piece of art (you could even do it yourself) for above the fireplace.

My guess is this is an old building and the floor for the apartment was raised and the old fireplace was left as is.

Cushions on the steps seem to be the best solution, but be sure to keep the fire small as you would be sitting really close to it.

I am confused about the space on the "top step". Is that your living room or an extension of the living room? How wide is it? Would a love seat or chair and a half fit in there over to the side?

Is this an old building that has been remodeled around the old fireplace? Otherwise, why would someone do this?

At the very least, please make very sure that it's safe before having a fire in it. It wouldn't meet code here in Massachusetts. We had a fireplace that was only 1/2 inch below the wood floor surround, and it didn't meet code. Ours was an easy fix, yours would be more difficult.

A full house layout map would be helpful, with dimensions. Is it a functional fireplace? Do you want to keep it? My first thought was Dave's: raise the floor level so it's a fully-functional room. Otherwise, it depends on how you use your living room. Is it a place to relax, to socialize, or to watch TV? If the fireplace doesn't work and the steps can be converted into lounge space, could you hang a TV in front of the fireplace? If you can't raise the floor, can you use another space for a living room, and use this space as an office, play space for kids, etc? Is there enough floor area in the raised area for a dining room table?

I'm sure the posters here could be more helpful if they had additional pictures.

I've actually seen a new build where somebody did this on purpose. Weirdest design, ever. Anyway they did it with the intention of creating a super casual lounge area, as others have mentioned, complete with cushions and random musical instruments for impromptu jam sessions.

I still thought it was weird, though. If budget allowed, I'd say level it all out and make it look "normal." But it's certainly workable if you have no other choice!

Ditch the fireplace, raise the floor.

@CUATRODEMAYO, yeah, I can't even tell where the floor goes down from these pictures.

Dear AT,

Why do we NEVER get the ANSWER? ie--what the homeowner, renter, furniture owner etc. chose to do, with pics?????

Thank you,
A Good Question Fan

I'm on board for more pictures
Whats are the dimensions of the room?

I think it would be easier to fill in the steps and raise the bottom of the fireplace to match the floor. Although a fireproof hearth would need to be added. Does the condo next to you have the same layout? Ask to see what they did.

I'm with DAVE BARNES. There's no way to integrate this into the room. Remove it, raise the floor, and put in a new fireplace.

@BAGELSMOM, I've asked a couple of questions in the past, and in my experience, it takes a pretty long time between asking and posting, so by the time I had some answers, I had already moved on or solved the issue myself.

For example, last November I asked about a kitchen product I wanted to buy as a Christmas gift. Well, in November, The Kitchn's content is still focused on Thanksgiving, so my question didn't go up until two weeks later in early December. By then, I had just given up on the product and ordered something else.

Now I'm not trying to complain -- I get that these posts don't write themselves -- but that might be one reason why we don't usually hear back with updates: because it's just too late to make a difference. My attitude has become that these posts are more good reference for other readers than they are good answers for the original asker.

If the sunken space is too small for a sitting area, maybe you could pull out some of the floor to make it bigger.... that could be a cheaper renovation than raising the floor and fireplace.

I love quirky spaces, so as long as it is safe, I say keep the fireplace! (Plus, if you are paying a mortgage around here, you can't afford to take it out!)

My main suggestion would be to get two, long, elegant or quirky mirrors, and run them down either side of the fireplace. Then, follow other peoples suggestions of lining the steps with beautiful cushions and textiles or plants, which can be seen from above, via the mirrors.

This will be a great space to cuddle and read books to kids, entertain guests, jam on a guitar, or just contemplate the meaning of life! Why have a cookie cutter house?!

Just going on the pics, there doesn't look like there's much room in there on the steps to sit...the only person I can see using it is a toddler or small child...they would love it. You don't say whether the fireplace is woodburning or not. Even if it is, what you do with this space depends on whether you want to build fires there or not. I don't like the idea of a wood burning fire in that sunken space. I would put plants all over in pots...I'm guessing there is another window in that room, just past the one we can see. Trees in pots on either side, smaller plants on the stairs. Protect the floors from water, please. Of course, I wouldn't do this if I wanted to light fires, except maybe trees to the side. Or if you have, or intend to have, small children living with you, leave it for a playspace. You can fill up the firebox with a bookshelf or shelves for toys. In which case, you won't want to be lighting fires, either, as the ashes and brick stay hot for a long time after the fire is out, and aren't safe where small kids are around. You can add an electric glow with plants...a piece of neon art would look great in the firebox. Some people fill them with candleholders...something you can use through more seasons than a real fire. If you want to build fires, or if it is not a working fireplace, but you want a traditional fireplace look, then plop in one of those electric logs thing that mimic a fire, or the candles, and plop two armchairs in front of it with a small table in between, and sit and stare at it...wouldn't be my plan here, though, as much as I love woodburning fireplaces...I'd make this area more of a pass-through room...a rug in the middle a desk or bookcases on the side somewhere...Also, have your chimney inspected and cleaned before you go lighting any fires. Even when good for fires, they need to be cleaned annually, as stuff inside from fires sticks to the inside and can later catch fire and burn your place down. And if it is new, or fairly recently renovated, don't assume the renovator made sure the chimney is in good enough shape for woodburning fires...something tells me that whoever came up with this steps solution to a design problem may well have cut corners in checking out the chimney structure.

Do not attempt to utilize the fireplace as it is - you will burn the whole building down. Go to a store that sells "fireplace inserts" and arrange for personnel to visit your home. I would suggest you raise the floor, open up the wall where the chimney would be, have the chimney inspected and if safe install the insert. Inserts are lovely, come with glass doors and are safe. After insertion you can have a proper hearth installed. You can have slate or ceramic. Hearths also are ready made in a variety of different designs. Going with the ready made hearths is much less costly and these are constructed to code.

Another vote for raising the floor and redoing the area. I think anything less is going to look like a (poorly done) bandaid.

It definitely would have been helpful to see a close up shot with the stairs in perspective.

Wha?!?

The solution is probably to lower the rest of the floor back to its original level, at least in that room. Expensive proposition, though.

I'm very curious why the builder did this. My guess is they squeezed in basement unit and the ceilings weren't high enough so they raised the floor on this level but thought keeping the fireplace was a good idea. They were wrong. In any case, I agree that the space in front of the fireplace seems very small from these pictures. Adding flammable things like pillows, books, wine and children that close to a fire makes nervous. I would definitely explore the option of raising the floor and fireplace opening. In the end i think it's going to make the space much more usable and sellable when that time comes.

The the best answer would have been "NEXT" when viewing this unit.

This is like the sunken living rooms of the 60's, except smaller.

If you look carefully at the photo, there appears to be at least about four or five feet of angled wall from the end of the flooring where the white base molding bends down the stairs, and the fireplace wall section. That ought to be enough for a couple of steps and a proper hearth. (For all we know, the entire floor of that area is hearth material -- tile or something.) (I would imagine a building inspector somewhere saw this and authorized it...)

This looks like something out of the Winchester Mystery House. I would rip it out and raise the floor.

First, go back and kill the person who raised that floor. That window would have held a fantastic window seat. I see three options with 3 different levels of construction (and associated costs). Number 2 is my favorite...

1. If demo isn't your thing right now, I'd bulk out the angled sides so that they're actually usable as (what looks like very low) benches, then cushion the bottom and back of them so that you can sit and stretch your legs along the length. Then I'd build onto the mantel to make THAT into a focal point for the rest of the room, decorate to pull your eye above it, and add a low candle holder and a cutout metal screen so that you can get the cool, low flickering effect - almost make it a separate area from the rest of the room.

2. If you don't like sitting that low to the ground and aren't opposed to some minor demo, I'd rip out the flanking stairs so you only have the center one (and narrow that to about half), then put in a pair of chairs, each with its own low table for books or drinks. I'd still go with the candle fireplace in that situation (bulked out mantel, etc). If the space were a little bigger I'd say to surround the fireplace with bookshelves or something, but instead a painted or stenciled effect might be a fun way to add some visual interest and help set apart a cozy little conversational or reading nook.

It's hard to tell based on the single photo how best to tie any idea in with the rest of the room. Depending on the size of the crowd you generally have in there and the size of the rest of your condo in relation, as well as if it's a thruway or at the end of a hall, I might just make it a room that you only use for very small groups and add bookshelves and plants to create a kind of private refuge.

3. Long term or involving major demo? Look into lowering the floor back to its original position, obviously depending a little on why it was raised in the first place. You'll have a completely different room to relate to, you could get back the bay window, and the fireplace could actually be functional and not a potential fire hazard.

This is kind of an odd situation, but you can make the best of it. If you don't plan to use the fireplace, maybe you could just put some decorative items like large baskets, vases, and plants there and be done with it.

If you have children, it could be a fun nook for them. We live in Texas and have no need for a fireplace, but our house has one. We actually were inspired by this idea: http://childhood101.com/2009/10/diy-decorating-with-kids-felt-board-fireplace-screen/, and made a screen of our own to cover the fireplace and put toys up against it.

That floor was probably raised for a reason... mostly likely to squeeze another room in below, to judge from the weird level of the window. This place is the epitome of Bad Architecture. Imagine what it was like before, with deep windows, a usable fireplace and lovely high ceilings!

Still, it's too late to worry about that. The only practical solution now is to rip out the pointless faux fireplace, raise the floor level, and try to match that wood (or is it vinyl?) flooring. Then hunt down and murder the vandal who "renovated" this place - no court in the land would convict you!

That is by far the weirdest architectural detail I have ever seen.

Cover it up / rip it out / raise it / replace it with one of those wall-mounted gas fireplaces.

I now feel less spiteful about our own odd fireplace with no hearth. Yours takes the cake!

I've seen this set up before. The sunken fireplace draws air through the space under the floor so that 1. Stops draughts along the surface of the floor. 2. Creates circulation of air under the house. BUT, I've never seen it executed in such a terrible way.

Scary - imagine falling in the pit and straight into the fire. Get rid.