For obvious reasons, built-ins are a popular choice. They can make the most of the space that you have on either side of a fireplace bump-out without imposing on the rest of the room &mdash think perfect window seat (picture 2). However, for many of us, whether it's because we're renting or broke, that's not always an option. Lucky for us, some DIY ideas exist.
Just because hiring a carpenter is out of the budget, doesn't mean custom shelves have to be. Using simple hardware store brackets and planks of hardware lumber (or reclaimed planks if you can find them, check ebay and craiglist religiously!) you can make a custom shelving system fairly painlessly. Anne-Claire Rohe's home, featured on Design*Sponge, showcases beautiful and simple shelves made up of both run-of-mill lumber and some with aged patina.
You can use pre-made floating shelves and bookcases to achieve a similar function, without the hassle of a saw. Using a variety (picture 4) of shelf types and colors can create an interesting look while also providing a variety of storage.
If you're living room is a multi-tasker, fireplace nooks can be the perfect place for a simple work desk (like the talented Jenny of Little Green Notebook did for her client, Joanna Goddard, picture 7) or shallow console table that can double as a buffet or bar during parties.
You can play up the architectural bump-out by wallpapering or painting the nooks on either side or just the bumpout itself. While I'm not a huge fan of accent walls in general, this look always wins me over.
How do you use the area around your fireplace?
Images: 1: Living etc., 2: Design*Sponge, 3, 6: Domino, 4: via Homes Designing, 5: Dwell, 7: Karen Mordechai for Little Green Notebook, 8-10: Ideal Home
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The Living Etc. link is broken, goes to Little Green Notebook..... I love that golden wallpaper in the first photo!
I think a fireplace bump-out is the perfect spot for fun graphic wallpaper, like in pics 4 & 8. I love that look!
Photo 6 illustrates a real problem I have with a lot of flats we've viewed in Glasgow - asymmetric alcoves flanking the fireplace. I know it's silly but I have an almost visceral reaction to off-centre fireplaces/windows etc. I've been trying to figure out if there's some way to deal with them sort of having the alcoves plasterboarded up and hidden completely.
*short not sort
So that's why I don't like the wall in my living room- the fireplace is off center & not even bumped out so I don't know what to do on either side! Hmmmm.... maybe it's time for me to send in a photo of the sad space & get help from AT?
@LolaDanger:
here's the link to that photo on Living, etc.
http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=5405
@Perfidia -- thank you! Customizing damask wallpaper by adding sparkly stuff is something that hadn't occurred to me. I think this may be just the ticket for my headboard wall.
suggestion:
A similar post, but for a fireplace that is used daily for heating. I just started this and am flummoxed by all the stuff required. I know, I know, Hard hard can it be? But: wood, big kindling, small kindling, paper, ashes, tools, lighter, matches, kettle-all in a small area...
I too am plagued by the infamous off-center fireplace and love this post.
On the fourth pic, does anyone know if the TV is white or silver (and who makes it)?
@smallspacepro: i,too, had been looking for a white tv. i finally found one, it's an led by vizio, here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M260VA-W-26-Inch-Razor-Backlighting/dp/B003PJJW16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288849780&sr=8-1
I love this.
My fireplace is also off-center, but so is the bank of windows across from it. There is no choice but to embrace the asymmetry in this house, and it has turned out to be a lot more fun that way.
As far as outfitting the area around a fireplace goes, I'd love to see a post featuring interesting ways to store firewood indoors.
I love photo #5 and would like to see more of the home pictured, but the link just takes me to Dwell's home page, not to any particular feature. Does anyone know which home or article it came from so that I can find it more easily?
My fireplace is gas and flush to the wall, no bumpout. I have symmetrical "small" windows on either side. So my solution is no window treatments, white trim, cafe au lait wall color, large oil painting (mainly light neutral colors), 2 inch slate tiles for the surround, a dark LACK shelf as a mantle, and a few mainly wood accessories on the mantle. (I do jazz things up with greens and ornaments for the holiday season, but ordinarily I like it kind of spartan.)
I have always thought someone with a small space who actually burns wood might come up with a cool coffee table where split wood could be stacked underneath. Maybe just a big rectangular cube on casters for movement, a bit deeper than standard split wood in size. You could stack the wood in the box so the ends formed an interesting texture, and it would mainly be out of the way.
i like this simple style because it can give more different feelings when you live in it for a long time.
www.gametradeeasy.com
I love this "bump-out" term, over here we just call it a chimney breast, but from now on it's bump-out.
pic one is my favourite, I'm not keen on wallpaper just on the bump-out but in an alcove looks very stylish to my eyes.
I love the coffee table in pic 5. Can anybody source it or point me to the issue of Dwell this photo came from?
I, too, long for a (working) fireplace...
I love the branch art over the fireplace in the next to last picture. Any idea where it's from?
Hmmm... picture No.7 - that is NOT how to prepare a log fire! ;)
Love the ideas you are giving people to help them make the most of a fireplace area. Like you said fireplaces are often the rooms focal area. Start there and build the room out from the fireplace. You can really dress it up with a simple mantle and your favorite keepsakes on top.