you can always add in a hearth with bricks, tiles, or even upraised wood to draw it out. i would say a larger vase would look very nice there on top :)

The fact that you are simply asking how to "decorate" the space suggests that it lacks function. I would convert the unused space into a cabinet and use it as storage. Simple shaker style solid doors painted the same white as the mantel would bring the look together.

Not sure if this is an option, but since you like mod is it possible to go for color on the inside of your fireplace? Like a pop of red or teal high gloss in the interior. As for a top find some interestingly shaped candle sticks or vases, or even sculpture, have it painted the same high gloss color and create a scene on top of it. Just make sure to layer the items and use things of varying heights. With the one color that would be very modern, and perfect for contrasting the white.

We had a similar conundrum in our last apartment. Because the fireplace was a focal point and we're not fans of table-top frames, we went with a wooden framed mirror and always had fresh wildflowers in front of it, in our most stunning vase. Enjoy your new home!

Agree with the idea of painting those two walls a really striking colour and using the top as a display for some kind of collection. You do need varying heights though, as noted. If you are afraid of colour, then just closing it off with doors and using it for storage is your best bet. But, you are then losing the potential for a nice focal point to the room.

Your current plans sound good. You may want to focus the seating arrangement on the fireplace and balcony. Since your new home's already fresh and clean, you can take your time in deciding more permanent details.
1. What about attaching two horizontal boards to the walls diagonally? The first could be about 3" above the fireplace incorner shelf edge, the second about 1-1/2' above it, to hold the stored firewood upright.
2. Consider that an added hearth probably would be walked on when choosing its material textures. It would be on the shortest path both to the balcony and between the balcony and the second bedroom door.
Although the fireplace looks nice, if you don't find a way to make it work for you, then you could consider removing it. Either way, please share after photos. Your 3/2 condo looks huge. What's its square footage?

Just rip the thing out.

You could hang a lantern in the niche there. We have a similar niche above our fireplace and we've hung a grouping of brightly-colored paper lanterns up there. Moroccan lanterns or a modern-style one would also work.

Oops...does an electric fireplace even use firewood? If not, then please ignore my previous suggestion on firewood storage. Other commenters' suggestions on mantel use are more appropriate.

I agree with lifeisgrand, a large mirror propped up would "square off" the mantel area and make it more useable, as well as giving it the height to make it a proper focal point. And some beautiful thing or things in front of it would look great, and would also be reflected in the mirror.

I am on board with the mirror idea....If you can figure out how to float it in the space, that would be a pretty amazing feature!

oooooh, and a custom one that filled the entire space vertically would be nice, too!

If you really don't like corner things I'm with JungleRed on this one, just rip the durned thing out.

Echoing the suggestions of a tall piece of art or mirror propped on top. That will make it feel more like a proper wall than a dysfunctional corner.

I agree with Miami's Elaine that you need to focus the seating arrangement on fireplace and balcony. About the fireplace...Don't get rid of it! Fireplaces are assets. Plus yours is so modern.

Quick fix: Large peice of art or mirror against corner. (great idea Lisa)

Long Term fix: I agree - stacked wood is an easy natural design element. You could get the look you like (from the pic you posted) by drywalling up. (keeping the mantle but just framing and drywalling the corner so its flat across the corner..(like the firelplace is) all the way to the ceiling. Then have your drywaller frame/drywall large box opening (like the one in the pic) It can be wide or narrow, but the wider it is the more shallow the box. (it looks like the one in the pic is shallow so it looks good) Stack up your wood in the box. When you go to sell. (keep it if you want...I would buy it like that) OR drywall over the box insert.
I guess you could get rid of the mantle and have the fireplace be seamless (which could look good, but I like the mantle for a little detail.) Its not about me though! Post pics on whatever you decide!

Seems to me the only valid question posed is how to handle the triangular corner above the electric fireplace. Something tall and narrow-- framed art, a mirror, Native American totem pole... whatever floats your boat.

As for the other stuff ("hearth", stacked firewood)-- bah. Stop genuflecting to the past. An electric corner fireplace is what it is, no reason to consider it a room's focal point, even less reason to outfit it with ersatz supplies, like a cord of wood. That's just silly pretend living.

Ripping it out wouldn't gain you much-- it'd still be an awkward corner to decorate. What would you put there-- a triangular table? You've already got one. Just think of it as a high table, and don't get bogged down in retro fireplace sentimentality.

I think it would look awesome if you suspended some whirly hanging candle holders above it from cb2. You could stagger them at different heights and it would create a beautiful ambiance.

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=585&f=6246

I agree with STH on the lantern idea. Perhaps a bunch of different paper lanterns of varying sizes and colors. You can get them at Ikea or World Market, and it would be a great (and affordable) way to fill up the space!

I vote to get rid of it. How functional is an electric fireplace anyway?

There's nothing wrong with an empty corner, either.

You could make the balcony the focal point, with the couch facing the windows. Maybe a side chair to the left of fireplace to close that space off and make it one room.

We have a corner fireplace too, and I eventually just had to let go of it being the focal point.

Good luck-looks like you've got great light!

How about a framed vintage bus destination roll?

http://sitandreadfurniture.blogspot.com/2010/06/wegner-style-rope-chair-and-hand.html

Or a groovy piece of African art?

http://www.mfa.org/collections/search_art.asp?recview=true&id=4775&coll_keywords=&coll_accession=&coll_name=&coll_artist=&coll_place=&coll_medium=&coll_culture=&coll_classification=&coll_credit=&coll_provenance=&coll_location=&coll_has_images=&coll_on_view=&coll_sort=0&coll_sort_order=0&coll_view=0&coll_package=26233&coll_start=31

If your sensibilities veer toward the modern and you plan to go with white paint, why not try a modern, gallery-like take on that stacked wood motif you like? Find a public domain image of stacked wood (here's one: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stacked_wood.JPG ) and bring/send the file to a copy shop (FedEx Office or similar). They can blow it up and mount it on tall, vertical panels, like a diptych, one for each wall. They can even print on canvas if you prefer that look. They do custom sizing, so the scale would be up to you.

It would be a quirky nod to the idea of "wood" for your fireplace, and also fill the vertical space with something visually interesting. You might place a sculptural vase in the space above, or go even quirkier, perhaps something like woodworking tools (an axe?) spray-painted a bright, glossy color and used as art.

Check out this lady's blog. I love it! She has several entries on her corner fireplace and they all look great.

http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-decorate-your-mantel.html

If we go under the assumption that you enjoy the fireplace (ie. keep it), how would you use it? Since it's off to the side, it's probably less likely to be the focal point of the room or where your couch faces, but it does frame your balcony area and also acts as a divider/container for your central living space.

that said, it's a 'frame' for your balcony view from the living room and the kitchen. the piece itself is a little awkward - small, too close to the ground.. - but you can accentuate the intensity of the fire by using the space above it as an extension of the 'heat' feeling. lots of the suggestions above, like hanging lanterns of different heights, or hanging glass bubbles.. would be nice and break up the stark angle of the corner.
I'd avoid the mirror, but mostly because i wouldn't want to see myself cooking from the corner of my eye. But maybe that's just me.

I would either do the mirror trick -- easy and cheap, and removable -- or build a closed door simple cabnet above for storage... or if you wanted to do something modern and cool: drywall the thing to the top, remove the molding around the front of the firepalce and clad the whole thing in copper or zinc panels -- easily purchased from rotometals.com, and rivet it all together, they way Restoration Hardware does this chair, only with fewer larger panels. The metal cuts easily -- finsihes the opening around the fireplace with a new metal frame, also riveted, that rolls under the cut edges, if that makes sense.
http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod50031&categoryId=cat1701068

I'm also a big fan of blackboard paint. You could cover the whole thing in drywall, remove the frame, draw a new frame in chalk around the opening and write or draw fire-related things above it...Pablo Neruda can't be beat:
"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul."

Since you are buying, I would frame and drywall above the fireplace at a 45 degree angle, but in a few inches from the edge of the shelf. Then you would have a nice wall for hanging a mirror or painting, and would still have a shelf area for small items or pictures.

aaakid, That sounds pretty.

Congrats on the new place! It is unfortunate that builders add extras like this without ever considering the fact that people have to actually live with them.
Since the location is flanked by passageways on both sides, there is little you can do to arrange the furniture to make this a cozy sitting area.

Corners are difficult to handle... I would fill in the triangle space by adding a wall across (and above) the front of the fireplace. It could be designed to hide storage, or it could also have one or more built in niche's to display decorative items. The niche's could be lit from inside. (Storage could even be accessed from the other side of the wall behind the bedroom door.)

I agree w/ aaakid -

I'd call in a handyman to come in and install drywall on the angle to give you a nice flat surface on which to mount a mirror, TV, etc.

When I had a corner fireplace I put a very oversized piece of framed art on the mantle and leaned it against the walls in the corner. It seemed to disguise the "cornerness" of it a bit.

I think you should drywall the upper portion and creat a square niche about the same size as the framed oven below, maybe slightly smaller. I had a fireplace exactly like this in a previous home and it was a massive dust collector- a pain in the neck with furniture placement too.

I like the mirror/art idea as a very simple no muss no fuss solution. I also think phil121's suggestion to drywall up to the ceiling and create a box for firewood if that is the look you desire is a great idea. I like the look of a more angled covered chimney kind of like a hood running up to the ceiling, tapering to a narrower point at the ceiling. You could do a similar built in box on that style. A pair of sconces on either side would look nice.

Design Crisis has some nice fireplace decorating ideas.

http://design-crisis.com/?cat=3

Hang a mobile, a la Alexander Calder, and put up two side mirrors to reflect it -- or just spotlight it to cast shadows on the walls.

cremedela, That sounds pretty, too. It might be very nice in the sunlight from the balcony.

Anything has to beat the nude family photos that had to be blured out.....creepy.

JungleRed makes an excellent point. If it's just there for decoration, and you don't like it, rip it out.

Given the layout, I'd steer clear of adding a hearth, it's a recipe for stubbed toes! Get a cat and put a bed on it.
I'd live with it a little - you might decide corner shelves are ok in your house, you've just never liked them the way other people have done them, you might find a great bit of sculpture, you might hate it and want to drywall it (consider adding secret storage instead).

How much warmth can u really be saving with it next to a patio door and down low to the ground? Rip.It.Out. Its like making a toilet paper holder the focus in a bathroom, it was never meant to be seen. Clearly the builder wanted to fill up the space and thought hey lets put a fireplace here! Put a new fireplace real or gas or whatever on a real wall and rip the other out. Its just crazy making these weird modern flourishes builders use.