In addition to my post above...having lived with a fire set in a wall for many years with a vent to let the hot air into the room...I'd do neither of the above....except maybe old cabinets of well seasoned timber and not new built ins up against the wall enclosing the chimney. The heat from that fire and from the vent would affect the cabinets, dry them out, make them crack...especially since timbers today are not well seasoned as when the fire place was built....That enclosed chimney/flue would radiate heat as well...There's a reason why the walls each side as well as the timber shelves are a dark colour and there's nothing built into the spaces on either side. Installing the cabinets and painting them a pretty light colour might look good for a while but not if you intend on making good use of that lovely fire place. I've lived in my current 1900s house for 32 years and have come to know the why's and wherefore's about timbers and heat in old homes. One longs for a lighter environment sometimes but this needs to come from other sources rather than anything against the fire place. Its a bit of a blocker to renovations at times but again, with Wuff, "Embrace what you have"...read up about homes of the same period, surf the net...you'll find some beautiful solutions. Here's one....you could clad the walls either side of the fireplace with a fireproof stone cladding...enlarge on that...may not be your 'cup of tea' but for what its worth in making your place "yours".

Quartz by any major manufacturer is basically made in the same way using the basically the same raw materials and process. Caesarstone just happens to be the "COKE" of the stone world and the advertising budget to match. Is it the "BEST" in our opinion there are better options, finishes and prices. Some of the better brands in Australia would be Technistone, Silestone and Samsung for finish, durability, price and after sales service. Though Smartstone have some very nice marble look ranges now as well that look and feel just as good as the top brands. Ikea, Bunnings where, if not still are using caesarstone brands of quartz. Though it does change around. like their fabricating companies

It is in the arts and craft period style (around 1860-1910) Btw Morris is William Morris and he was definitely British (born Walthamstow, mainly lived in London and Kelmscott). Frank Lloyd Wright (an American) did a version (not like yours). There were many companies that produced lots of similar chairs to Morris, some had joints you could see and some hidden like yours. The shaped top of the back rest is unusual as most of the time are straight across. Maybe yours is an earlier version with Victorian influence and the darker wood gives a hint it could be? Are there any markings on the frame (number or name)? All the best, Louise, Decoro Custom Interiors - Window Treatment Specialist, Sydney

what a pity but, before you consider another gas fireplace arrange a quote for reverse cycle electric air conditioning that is cheaper to run and install although more expensive to buy the units, add a door in the hallway near the wiw to block the heat going upstairs but, if you prefer the gas heaters, ask a gas plumber if it would be possible to have a new gas heater located on the pantry wall with a power flue and gas supply pipe built inside the pantry and laundry and the external flue located outside the laundry away from the kitchen window but also check insulation in the ceiling and try insulated curtain liners but how do you heat the living area?