personally, I would take it out, and use your precious wall space/floor space.

If you're reasonably handy, you may be able to convince your landlord to share the costs of removal and refinishing that corner and wall. It wouldn't take much to demo the fireplace surround, remove the paneling, and put up new drywall. The only challenge might be flooring...unless he happens to have some extra materials leftover from the previous half-remodel attempt.

I'm a landlord myself - this would be the exact type of project we'd be onboard for. Benefits you in the short-term and the landlord in the long-term.

That's weird I don't see a ceiling vent for it. I agree, take the bricks out!

in the event that you cant remove it with your landlords permission -- my first thought was a very large/tall houseplant

A massive floor cushion & lots of cushions to make a reading corner?

@PILOTLG YES!!

If the owner wants it to stay, then since it's near a window how about something evocative of nature like an aquarium, a terrarium, a water feature, and/or potted plants?

I may be the odd man out but I kind of love that little bricked nook over there. I think what you can do with it will depend on what you plan to do wit the room as a whole.

The pic makes it seem quite dark...are you planning on maybe painting over or removing the wood paneling? If the walls were a nice warm colour, you could keep the natural brick. Or if you plan on keeping the walls as is, you could maybe paint the brick a soft white.

If it were me, I'd paint it, put some corner shelves above it, throw in a big ol' bean bag or some large plush pillows and make it a little reading nook...

Consider an electric/plug-in fireplace...there are ones that give off (minimal) heat...which have the look of wood-burning stoves. Could also be repurposed into an indoor candle/fire feature using rocks/sand and various candle holders. Or would make a practical plant grotto...would be great for orchids, cactus...succulents, etc.

I agree with username26 on the TV area idea.

Although the karaoke stage idea is sounding more and more appealing...

Lots of candles or a cluster of indoor plants would be a quick cheap way to embrace it if the landlord isn't going to take it out. The TV center and reading nook with cushions ideas are pretty good too! I love AT for these crafty ideas I would not have thought of myself but make perfect sense.

I have a similar problem- but worse! I've been meaning to send it in. There was once a wood stove in my back room (supposed to be the dining room) and the hearth takes up literally 1/4 of the room, making it very difficult to decorate.

If I were you I'd hunt down one of those cool round metal orange 70s stoves and put it there. Even if its not hooked up. It will be a great focal point. :)

My family got me one of those electric fake wood stoves for Christmas one year, though. :)

I would try to get rid of it... it is pretty useless considering I doubt the landlord would ever put in another fireplace.

Paint a cartoon sniper peering over the wall with his gun trained at the door that leads into the room

Like the suggested comments of book nook, plant grotto, place for TV/stereo area. Also, depending on your taste, could put an appropriate piece of furniture in front of it (perhaps an chevron/Lshaped bench) and turn it into a step-up bar area. Love karaoke idea (get hanging that disco glitter ball ;))

Perfect place for a beautiful big sculpture.

If you want to keep it, restore its original purpose by setting up a display of giant pillar candles. I think that would look lovely!

Put your throne there.

I'm on the karaoke train.

I like the reading nook idea. It would probably be reasonable to find an ottoman that would fit in the nook. Just put it in there, a few pillows for leaning back on, a small reading lamp, some pictures and candles on the ledge. It could be really cozy.

This may sound crazy but I think you are lucky to have an interesting feature in your room. All the apartments I have had have been boring, open boxes for living rooms.

I think it would be a sort of cool place to make a bar/ serving bar. You could make a wood top, like a quarter of a circle, place a small bookshelf or wine shelf underneath. You could use it to hold your favorite beverages or carafes above and your accessories below.

It needs some thought, but I think that could be an interesting use if you are an entertainer!

I'd guess that a feng shui devotee might determine which quadrant that corner occupies before adding a water, metal, and/or fire feature to counterbalance that room's wood. I think the existing bricks would represent earth. I'm not a feng shui fan but sometimes it's fun to think about home design in a different way.

PS Or, some people might make it into a meditation corner, perhaps adding a small shrine.

I vote for plant nook or TV/media area.

A big cage of colorful finches.

This room has SERIOUS jungle room potential. Elvis would certainly have put plants and a fountain there!

Three or four Moroccan lanterns, hung low at different lengths.

If at all possible, I'd take the bricks outside and build a "Rocket Stove"! I remember seeing plans for one that uses 36 bricks and a stove pipe vent. It cooks using small twigs, not big logs.

I like the candle idea ... maybe paint the brick white and put a bunch of different sized candles in that area.

Playing on th reading nook laden with pillows idea...what about a mosquito net hanging in that corner of the ceiling around a small loveseat or big chair with lots of colorful pillows. I think that room is calling out for anything that's not dark and brown.

a plant area, an art display, a reading nook, or combine any of these amazing ideas and be creative. If It was up to me I would create a shrine. Or maybe a quirky old tv set up playing a firelog video.

Possibly brightening it by painting it white (if possible) and putting various indoor plants on it. Like a large potted tree and a few smaller ones around the base. I love the idea of working with it rather than just tearing it out.

You could custom-build a corner seat there that completely covers it. Structurally, it would be like building a corner booth. Design-wise, though, you could use any fabric.

The following examples suggest the kind of thing you could do:

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/outdoor-cushy-corner-chair

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/buchanan-sectional-components/

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/seabury-sectional-components/

http://www.dealsofamerica.com/archives/09/0909/090923.php (The example is pretty far down the page. Hit CTRL-F and type in "corner" to find it quickly.

Big pillows on the floor, white ledge shelves above the brick on both sides, and a low-hanging chandelier = instant chic reading nook.

If it fits, I'm thinking old-fashioned elegant armchair - then you can be all Masterpiece Theatre :-)

Love the idea of turning it into a bar.

I had a thought that might be a quirkier way to approach it...

I love blanket baskets to house my throws blankets for those cold/cozy nights. How about a basket with colorful blankets or a pile of blankets? It would brighten/soften up the area and be a visual pun on how a fireplace keeps you warm. Of course accessorize around it as well.

If not, I would go for a place for the tv. Art above it with a few pretty accessories and you'd be set.

One possible use might be the installation of an alcohol-based vent-less fireplace. They're portable and they come in a variety of styles that range from "traditional with a mantle" or "freestanding postmodern". Apartment Therapy has featured a few examples.

Use it when you shout, "Go stand in the corner!"
Oops. I guess that most readers are too young to have heard a teacher use that line.

I'd stick a large corner bookshelf unit on/in it.

I'm in the candles or plants camp.

I think it used to be a wood burning stove there, not a brick fireplace. Two. different. things.

there are so many ways of embracing it. lots of good tips from ppl here

put a bird on it, yup :)

hell, they could even find a retro electric freestanding stove and stick it in there

I had a non-functional fireplace in an old apartment that I turned into a "house" for all my candles, with the focal point being a cool candelabra. I also like the ideas to fill it with potted plants. It could actually be pretty cool.

Now, what I'm having more of an issue with is that wood paneled wall...eeek!

If you don't need the floor/wall space why not use it like it was intended? There are lots of nice looking alcohol fireplaces which do not need a chimney.

If I were your landlord (I am a landlord), and you were in agreement, I would send over my handyman to remove the bricks and turn them into a little patio. I would then give you permission to paint the panelling if you so desired.

A Christmas tree (if you celebrate Christmas) during the holidays, a big comfy chair the rest of the year.

Or, a vintage cart with a nice tray, glasses, and bottles alcohol. It'll be your own little mini-bar!

I would remove it - asap!

PUT A BIRD ON IT.

make a low sitting area wid rugs, cushions lots of it, a reading lamp, a house plant..wld look terrific..