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My husband and I recently purchased a house and love everything about it except for the fireplace. It looks very awkward protruding at least a foot from the wall. It was put it by the previous owner after the house was built.

My questions is what do you think I can do to make it look better? My mom suggesting adding built in bookcases around it, but that doesn't excuse the lack of a chimney.

What would you all do???

PS this is the picture from the real estate agents webpage prior to our purchase.

To get started: Is it a functioning fireplace? Electric or gas I would guess, since it was added later?

The first thing that strikes me is the stark white color. It looks very unfinished. Even if you have white woodwork elsewhere, a darker finish or wood tone could tend to help anchor it better. I'm thinking that a large piece of favorite artwork or framed mirror over it would also be a nice start.

It's a gas fireplace

I was thinking something like this. Where we built the wall out to appear like a chimney and then add built-in bookcases. This would obviously be a HUGE project to take on...

I think you will use too much space in the living room if you do like the page shows.

I would do what Conrad suggests and then live with it for awhile. Everyone (me included) is anxious to change something in a new home but I have learned that it is not the best way to do things. Who knows? You may find that you never use the fireplace, it interferes with the way you use the room and you want to tear it out. I'm not saying that will happen but you just don't know yet.

P.S. That px is from the realtors site?? With a broken down chair and a bottle of dish soap? What was he thinking!!

I think metwo makes a very good point.
The things we did with our first two homes right away, were not always the best choices down the line. With this last home, we have opted to wait a year, and now know better about how we use the space and prioritize projects and the money spent on them. Time to think things through and not spend money twice?