What country and state are you in? That will affect whether you need a fireplace. I like freestanding bookcase/storage units, they must be attached to the wall if tall and not deep. If getting custom built get at least 3quotes. Finally, there are DIY shelves available at hardware outlets and stores like Ikea.

Since this room totally clashes with anything resembling the Hamptone, I would be updating the whole room. Yet to answer your question and if I were on a budget I would be gathering lots of hardwood timber off cuts ranging from 50mm to 100mm to create a timber cladded wall by liquid nailing onto plywood or mdf panels. Or you could clad using old hardwood fence palings in landscape. Mortar less stacker stone (sandstone) tiles always are a classic choice. If you have the internal space it would be lovely to heighten the fireplace and add a stone platform to sit on. Loose the print, curtains and matching bench fabrics and replace with indigo blues, whites and stone colours I'd personally replace the curtains with white shutters as they are easier to maintain, insulate the windows and never date. Happy decorating, hope this helps. Suzy

We have bought a gas fireplace and plan on closing this alcove in and placing it there, flueing out the side (meets all regs). Hoping for opinions on whether we set the fireplace back in a little or bring the wall out so it sits out from its walls either side. I am also thinking of a lower shelf beneath the fireplace as a feature. Also, any design tips as to what to style the wall - gyprock and paint a diff colour? Add stone feature wall? Thanks

Hello Sophie, I think your choice of white walls & skirting boards makes the fireplace stand out more. I would also suggest the same could be said if you painted the fireplace black. There are so many colour variations of“White” & maybe a shade a little softer may help. The dilemma could be “Do you stay with the Federation fireplace or move into today’s styling”? At some stage the fireplace is going to need to be stripped back, to remove the gloss finish. It is at that point that a decision is made If the choice was mine, l would paint the fireplace a charcoal grey & possibly the wall above it. ( that might be too much,but hey worth a try) like the photo with the black chairs & dark grey fireplace someone submitted. Also instead of the two chairs being a pale colour change them for another colour dark grey, plum etc. If you wanted to be even more daring, look at a colour palette of Porters paints for another choice for the fireplace. Perhaps a professional opinion might help. These are only some suggestions. Not a criticism of any of your ideas. Paint the fireplace or just restrain it & someone will always say “Oh why didn’t you do” you know the rest!! Happy decorating!! Lor.