Hi Malibu_tan Well I must also agree with the other four comments "the fireplace is a focal point" , all I would add to that is - man/woman has been looking at fire for many years, and it's reference to our being most likely goes back to primordial times. Fire (the moving flame) is deeply rooted in our psychic, and our relationship with safety and comfort, I would remove the heater and celebrate the fireplace. You can always put in an ethanol fire and close of the flue if required, but I would not get rid of such asset to your residence and your life. Depending a bit with the style of the house I would go as far as providing side book shelving storage, or DVD's, or your best collection of miniature spoons should miniature spoons bee your interest. Whatever you wish to display for your or your friends enjoyment. Then I would complete the lounge design around your final choice of tiles and mantle, if you are putting in a slightly better mantle than you have at present, or if you are going for a modernist look. (it all depends a bit on tastes and budget) If you are in a "period style" you could look at something like Regardless of your tastes I think you can get an ethanol insert in just about any fireplace, corny as it sounds the fireplace is "the hearth of the home" . Possibly not the response that you were perhaps seeking, and you might have a lot of reason why you want to remove it - well I would like to hear your comments. Hope this is of some help Regards Michael Manias

Finished product! Glad I switched the rug the other direction, and the round table kind of plays off the circle window. Truly thankful for all your help! This was fun and I am so happy with the end result. :)

consider simple white subway tiles or check with the local tile suppliers and you may be able to score something gorgeous in their scrap bins.....make a careful plan of the wall space to make sure you know exactly how many tiles you'll need and add an extra 10% to cover matching joins and patterns

Maybe I'm weird , maybe I'm lazy -- I liked that 'busy' look . Even more so after reading what you had to do to change it . And just me , but I find some irony in most people saying the tin didn't suit the period , but then you've turned the fireplace into a book case ! I assume the old air-con was biffed ( i.e. no value ) , and while I do like the new unit , just for my own interest I would have taken the old cover off and painted it a bright gloss red , and done the tin the same . If you don't like red , then go your favourite colour -- yellow or a nice green or blue . If your favourite colour is grey or off-white then I can't help you haha ! If that still looked naff , and you did all the work that you have , personally I would have added some character back in -- I would have 'recreated' the tin area in tiles . IMO even gloss white 150 x 150 would have looked pleasant and added interest without looking too busy , BUT again just me , I would have gone more for a period reddy burgundy , or an emerald green or mottled-toned blue -- I liked the tones in the tiles back in that era ! Obviously , you are happy with what you've done , and you're definitely not going to change it , but just outlining the lines I would have considered .