put up a mantle and add some shelves or storage by the front door. maybe one of those benches to sit on to put on your shoes. If you had a mantle you might like this fireplace a lot. then it reminds you of christmas stockings all year.

and get a painting for above it.

Congrats on the new place.

I think you should add bookcases to the sides and have it wrap around making it look one unit. It will give you lots of storage and display options. That is definitely a tough layout.

If I were you, I'd make that fireplace the focal point of my living area, not the tv stand. Perhaps some clever rearranging could help? I agree, get a mantle (not just a shelf).

How about giving it a modern touch by making the two sides glass and shutting the current opening? Then you will have a seetrough fireplace that you can enjoy from both sides of your room - a narrow version of this: http://designformenmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/faberfireplace.jpg It would be pricy, but more cos efficient than to change a fireplace that you will never use because of its location.

Adding a mantel just the width of the wall jutting out would be a great first step.

I would place the love seat just opposite of how it sits now so it faces towards the fireplace.

What a terrible layout! I wish builders would learn to consider interior design when designing their floorplans. It's almost impossible to arrange furniture to make that the focal point. I think Kjersti's idea is great; but, you're looking at a lot of work to tear into that fire box and then you'll be messing with codes and such.

Wrapping built-ins around the sides is another great idea; but, by adding millwork you are adding more work. I notice you have no crown molding now which you would surely need to add if you wrap that facade in millwork.

Here's what I think. Lose the tile surround and hearth. Put in a fireplace insert that is gas or alternative fuel (you can even get ventless). This lets you lose the hearth since there are no "sparks" that could come out of the firebox and catch any surrounding areas on fire.

Now you can fill the hearth area with hardwood to match what is existing (be sure to blend it with the existing, don't just fill the patch). Cover the three sides of the fireplace with a nice stacked stone material and add drama by installing can lighting on all three sides that will wash down the stone walls and create shadows to show off the textural aspect of the stacked stone.

Your space is tight enough already. Adding a mantle will just impede into your space further and will probably just get knicked or run into as you move through the space.

The builder has already made it clear that the fireplace is not a focal point, so I say go with it!

Here are some ideas of what the stacked stone could look like when lit, very dramatic and a great first look when entering your condo:

http://bit.ly/hL8IGZ
http://bit.ly/hc9Bvy

Is the floor plan to scale? I'll assume it is.

If you will never use the fireplace, removing it will gain you about 25 square feet in space and open up the room. This is a gas fireplace. It uses about a six-inch pipe for a vent. You'd have to seal the gas line and remove the vent. the rest of the assembly is 2x4s and dry wall.

The biggest problem I see with this arrangement is that the loveseat blocks the path to the opening on the right hand side. Removing the fireplace will leave more wall space, and allowing more flexibility in the arrangement. You can move the TV to the wall where the fireplace was and open up the area.

If you want to use the fireplace, there are TV and electric outlets above it. The top of the fireplace appears to be about 40 inches (half the height of the door). A mantle is a must in this situation, and the height is low enough to not strain the neck too much. this will open up the kitchen wall.

Good luck!

I like the idea of a mantle above the fireplace,wrap around shelving on the dining area side (display nifty kitchen stuff that adds to the decor) and the mudroom type station on the entry side.

I would sell the place and move.

Given that you can easily put in a mantel and a bench/some shelves at your entryway, can the TV be wall-mounted above the fireplace?

Then the easiest thing would just be to remove that console and put a couple nice chairs and an ottoman facing the fireplace against the far wall.

Or, move the love seat over to that wall, facing the fireplace, and put a smaller chair near the main sofa. This will help with traffic flow.

You could also get a sectional for that corner that goes along the side wall the console is on now, and extends a short way along the other wall without blocking the doorway.

That would free up space for a couple chairs or a desk at the front of the condo, plus the console or another piece of storage furniture.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far, guys! A few comments..

-The layout is to scale and is as accurate as I could make it
-the loveseat is the first on my list to go, although none of the furniture needs to stay. I'll eventually mount the TV somewhere and get rid of most, if not all, of the furniture surrounding it hopefully ending up with an apartment sized couch, 2 chairs, a coffee table and a side table or two.
-I don't want to put the TV about the fireplace because it's hard to put any seating directly in front of it due to the opening to the hallway, but I'm not completely opposed to it

-Blair

Assuming that the gap in the living room wall of your floorplan is a doorway to another room, and considering the configuration of your living room walls, and the apparent short distance between your front door and the fireplace, it appears you only have two options for furniture placement. A)The current arrangement shown on your floorplan and B) a mirror image arrangement where the sofa is located against your kitchen wall, the loveseat opposite the fireplace, and the entertainment center on the entrance door wall.

Assuming your wall dimensions will accommodate this arrangement, it should allow enjoyment of the fireplace and the entertainment center on adjacent walls without persons sitting on the loveseat having their backs to the fireplace. An appropriately sized foyer table or small chest located between the front door and the side of the fireplace will provide space for an entranceway "landing strip".

As for the fireplace itself, if the money and utilities are available I suggest having it converted to gas, glass doors installed, and raised off the floor about 1-2 feet. This will enable you to remove or cover over the tile hearth at the floor. Removing the hearth's visual interruption of your wood floors will make your living room appear more spacious.

For the same reasons I would not install a mantle shelf over the raised fireplace as it will act as a visual protrusion into the space and therefore make the space appear smaller. Instead consider installing a decorative tile, paneling, or paint/plaster surround or treatment of the chimney walls that emphasizes the new location of the fireplace without eating valuable floorspace.

Good Luck!

Weird, but not terrible. You can get the benefits of the "aura" of the fireplace from both the dining area and living room this way, and if you actually use it to heat (rather than just aesthetics) then it's practical in that it would heat more of your place.

Mantle is a MUST. I'm partial to hanging or placing mirrors above the mantle, especially in small spaces.

Then I would consider flipping the sofa to to the TV wall so that you're near the intimacy that a fire place adds. Good luck and congrats on the new condo.

Congratulations on your new place. It is lovely despite the oddly placed Fireplace.

My 2 cents

1. Get a Mantle . You can either Put a painting on the mantle or a Mirror .
2. The wall facing the door should have a Landing strip. Plan it in such a way that the space is utilized completely. A nice chair or stool would be great there.
3. On the wall in the dining space Have open shelved to store Plates or even books
4. Consider placing the love seat along the wall.

Hope this helps
Rashmi

I don't know how anyone, myself included, can offer any advice without the slightest idea of your tastes.

If you don't like it and want it to disappear, there are ways to that.

Not putting the TV over it is a great first step! That should be illegal.

Is it a functioning fireplace? I could never understand how someone could remove one. Though that placement is so weird. I would put a nicer front on it, perhaps a nice stone and run it to the ceiling with a stone mantle. http://www.ryanmasonry.com/wp-content/uploads//tonys_fireplace12.jpeg. Or put quarter round shelves down the sides from floor to ceiling. But I would definitely cover that tile.

Depending on how you intend to use the space day-to-day, you should consider more drastic steps than a mantle or rearranging. Start big with your ideas, then weed out what isn't possible. There are gas fireplaces on the market that fit directly INTO the wall and do not just out. Perhaps all you need is some re-framing and new drywall. Or you could have a two-way or three-way opening. What about taking it out all together and having a very modern fireplace that comes down from the ceiling and never reaches the floor? The possiblities are endless.

I would make it a three-sided fireplace. Like this one:
http://www.archiexpo.com/prod/fmi/contemporary-3-sided-fireplaces-br-gas-closed-hearths-11651-173008.html

Then I would take out the TV and put the couches in that corner. Hang the TV over the front of the fireplace and hang a mirror over the fireplace on the entrance side.

Sheri

I just did a new mantel/surround. Post showing finished product to come later this week.

http://holidayhouserules.typepad.com

I would also do as suggested and change your furniture so that you are not squeezing between the couch and fireplace to get through to the kitchen. Flip the sofas to where the tv is and face the fireplace. Put the tv where the large sofa is now...and consider, perhaps, that the room is not large enough for 2 sofas...

Have you considered floating your sofa? If you rotated the sofa set up 90 degrees counter clockwise, and floated it, so you aren't blocking the doorway, i think it could be way cozier. THat would also give you the opportunity to gaze out what looks like pretty big windows. Simple!! And if when you enter the room you feel the sofa is formidable, put a small greeting table with flowers or something so when you come in the door you are greeted by something cheery.

P.S. in the above description, it was assuming you keep the loveseat.

I disagree with all of the comments that adding a mantle is a must. You don't have a lot of space already when walking from the entry to the kitchen, so why would you want to intrude on that with a mantle?

I would convert it to gas, install modern glass doors on it, remove the tile around it and remove the hearth (integrate into the surrounding floor to give the appearance of more space) and then you can hang a painting or mirror or some art collection above it. Or, as suggested previously, relocated the fireplace a couple feet higher on the wall and then it will be like a piece of art in it's own right.

This could be a really fun project! I'm sure you've already cased the Apt Therapy database, but this could look nice:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/builtins-that-make-the-most-of-architectural-elements-113832

I love the bookshelf idea. The other way to think about this room is in terms of color. You could paint the walls a nice neutral (something brighter than what's there right now) and the stand-out fireplace area a fun color like blue or terracotta. You can also paint tile, you know. If you love the color combo in the room, you'll probably want to rearrange so that the furniture is in more of a V, facing the fireplace. (Is there no other place for the tv?) Also: the room might not feel so segmented if you replace the loveseat with a really fun, interesting chair. Yes, I think it's all about the color. Congrats!

Something like this! http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/style-collage/-a-perfectly-balanced-roomstyle-collage-135798

I second what TheLC has said: a mantel will make it even more prominently intrusive. and erinbrown makes good suggestions too.

whatever you decide, please post an update! I am very curious to see how you work it out.

Congrats on your new place!! I don't know where your outlets are and cable hookups but here's what I'd do.

Ditch loveseat and side table. Swap the couch and entertainment center. Replace loveseat with two swiveling chairs - not a lazy-boy but something that takes up minimal space and is comfy to sit in. Set up the chairs facing the couch so that they can swivel to face the couch or the TV, and separate them a little so they're not blocking the TV view. Place a low round coffee table in between the couch and the chairs. If that side table had a lamp on it ditch that too and go for a floor lamp. Place a mantle on the fireplace and coordinate any artwork you place on the mantle with the living room area, not the dining room.

Now you have proximity to the fireplace for warmth, and you've pulled the fireplace further into the living space by stretching the usable living are toward the fireplace. You have a conversational space when the chairs swivel toward the couch, and you have a comfortable TV seating area. You're also not looking into your dining room whenever you sit on the couch, but are completely focused within the living room space and benefiting from whatever view is outside those windows.

It might be expensive, but I completely agree with Sheri's idea of the 3 sided glass fireplace.

I would love to see built-ins that wrap on either side of the fireplace, and continue with a mantle and moulding framed area for a mirror above the fireplace.

The fireplace itself isn't bad, it's just floating there with no anchoring elements.

Graphic wallpaper above and around would also be a great addition. A nice mantle with wallpaper and a mirror...I like it.

Why don't you...

Tile the fireplace structure completely in stacked stone. Maybe you can push the facade back a bit (even if it's only the top portion)? Add a substantial but shallow mantle shelf on the front of the fireplace that wraps around the sides. The left side should turn the corner to act as a landing strip. Abbreviate the hearth as well - try slate?

Also, shift the L of the couch and loveseat so that it's open to both the TV and fireplace.

Since the fireplace is in the walkway - I would recommend HIGHLY against adding anything that juts out more than a couple of inches. I would also take the focus off that wall - so you can face things towards the tv on another wall.

So no mantle - but you can add archectural interest/framing - something like this:
http://www.fireplacesareus.co.uk/electric_suites/cube_electric_suite.html

In addition - if you are planning on having the floor re-finished you might want to use this chance to take out the hearth (floor tiles in front of fireplace) and replace and blend in new wood planks. This will reduce the visual interruption of the pathway and open up the space. There even might be a way to do this without refinishing the whole floor and if you are interested you should check with a professional floorer.

Get a shelving unit like the BESTÅ BOÅS from IKEA and place it beside the fireplace with the tv in it. That way the tv isn't the first thing you run into when you enter. Pull the sofa into the center of the room with two small chairs flanking. That way you can still pass between the seating and the fireplace/tv and access the hallway to the bedrooms. Make sure the tv unit blends with the walls as best as possible and even put decorative doors on it if you can. Then put a chunky mantle on that fireplace and paint it to stand out.

I had some time on my hands today thanks to the flu so...>.>

One and Two.

That's crazy placement! I'd put tall shelves on both sides to make it look less...not sure of the word I want here. Lonely? And afterthought? Useless "decoration"?

If you want to build a fire and actually look at it and/or get warm, I'd put a swivel chair at the end of those shelves(counter?), leaving walking space, of course. And a matching chair, or nice easy chair opposite. Then, of course, you'd have to get rid of the loveseat.

The way you drew it, I thought you could move the loveseat back between the door and the fireplace (instead of shelves there), but in the picture, that space looks too small

The outlets over the fireplace were meant for your TV. That would make the fireplace and TV a combined focal wall. I wouldn't mind it, but some others do. I'd consider putting the TV there, place the sofa facing it with two comfortable chairs perpendicular to the sofa free floating in the space, (OR have a sectional wrap the corner where the tv is now, with a section facing the TV, and only 1 comfortable chair) leaving room to move around and get to the other door. You could have a coffee table and floor lamps, too. I'd put shelving in the entry corner, along the side of the fireplace with maybe a chair to make it a reading nook and place to put on shoes, etc. (If it fits.) You could leave a shelf free for your keys etc. All furniture needs to be proper scale for the space, no matter what.

How about replacing the loveseat with a chaise? Then maybe you could enjoy the fireplace? Get rid of the light fixture above the fieplace too. I don't get that.

CORNER SHELVES to smooth out the floor plan. Less angles = less awkward

Is the wall between your living room and kitchen load bearing/ structural?

If you think you'll live here for a while, I would consider options to remove or open up that wall. Or at least remove the shorter one that wraps the side of the counter. The whole idea is to open up the space, so that the fireplace is no longer awkwardly placed between two spaces, but the center of two areas in one open living space.

While this may sound expensive, there are options to keep it cheap. If it was just turned into a half wall, you wouldn't have to worry about infilling the flooring, you could just cap the wall & keep whatever cabinets are on the lower portion and nix the uppers. This could also gain you the option of adding island bar seating- which would be perfectly in line for the fireplace and let you put the love seat opposite the couch, but pulled towards it more so people aren't sitting 10' away from each other.

If the ref. is on that wall, it looks as though your cabinet/counter lengths are identical, so you could def just switch them around (plumbing would have to be moved though so that might be more involved, but it looks like your ceilings are somewhat high, so a trick I learned is a step/platform can be built so you step up into the kitchen area, and underneath run the plumbing, without having to cut into the existing floor) If you remove it all together you could pick up an affordable island, or bigger table instead of an expensive built in cabinet/island.

If it is structural, you could still probably have a post put in on the corner and a beam above, depending on neighboring units.

It might sound overwhelming or more than you want to dive into, but depending on how long you want to be there it could be worth it. I mean, you can dress that fireplace up, but it's still in an awkward place :-\

good luck though! Congrats and have fun!!

I think get a proper mantel/surround and then imagine you live in a sitcom (on TV people's furniture aways faces away from the fireplace. I'm thinking in particular of "Frasier").