Fireplace or Stove location (mirror, drape, photos, doors)

[riaelise]

Hi there. Need some input on this. We have a parlor/sitting room. I'd love to add an electric fireplace at the location where the console table is currently. I'm trying to achieve a cozy, intimate effect. There is a 75 gal aquarium to the right, and a sofa to the left. As you can see, a pocket door takes up the north wall and the south is a bay window, so the location where the table is currently is the only location I could put the fireplace. My concern is that the sofa is jutting out in front of the fireplace, partially obscuring it, and is only maybe a foot and a half away. I could put a stove instead of a fireplace at the same location, but again, aesthetically speaking the sofa would largely obscure it. I cant move the sofa because it's centered under the mirror. I can't put the stove anywhere else either due to doors, the fish tank, window, etc.

Thanks.

[kab0906]

If you want to add a fireplace then you would have to lose the fish. It would not fit anywhere else. Don't over clutter the room.

[geebabe]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Hi there. Need some input on this. We have a parlor/sitting room. I'd love to add an electric fireplace at the location where the console table is currently. I'm trying to achieve a cozy, intimate effect. There is a 75 gal aquarium to the right, and a sofa to the left. As you can see, a pocket door takes up the north wall and the south is a bay window, so the location where the table is currently is the only location I could put the fireplace. My concern is that the sofa is jutting out in front of the fireplace, partially obscuring it, and is only maybe a foot and a half away. I could put a stove instead of a fireplace at the same location, but again, aesthetically speaking the sofa would largely obscure it. I cant move the sofa because it's centered under the mirror. I can't put the stove anywhere else either due to doors, the fish tank, window, etc.

Thanks.

Hi! Without seeing the rest of the room or knowing its dimensions, my first thought was to put the sofa in front of the bay window. Depending on the window (is it with a ledge or with a seat?) and the size of the room this could look nice. Then your fireplace spot might work better. Again, hard to know without seeing the rest of the room.

For me, if I were putting a fireplace or stove in the room, I would actually want a full view of it. Plus, you'd have a better view of the aquarium and the lovely pocket door by moving the sofa to the south wall. If that works you can use the console table under the mirror. But if you leave the sofa where it is I wouldn't bother with a fireplace or stove in that room because it would be too cramped in that corner/area.

Good luck and thanks for asking us.

[riaelise]

Thank you both for your input. I've attached another photo so that the fish tank is included. I thought about moving the sofa but unfortunately it's a fullsize sofa that requires the longest wall in the room (that one). There's a loveseat in front of the window. The room itself I think is 11 x 15 or something like that. We're going to install another crown level in there too and we're getting a new coffee table. I really want a fire place but I think kab may be right - either the fish tank or the fireplace and the tank and stand cost $$ so...

ETA just noticed our dog photobombing

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Thank you both for your input. I've attached another photo so that the fish tank is included. I thought about moving the sofa but unfortunately it's a fullsize sofa that requires the longest wall in the room (that one). There's a loveseat in front of the window. The room itself I think is 11 x 15 or something like that. We're going to install another crown level in there too and we're getting a new coffee table. I really want a fire place but I think kab may be right - either the fish tank or the fireplace and the tank and stand cost $$ so...

ETA just noticed our dog photobombing

Hopefully you've already thought of this, but placing a stove or fireplace would involve more than aesthetics....you also need to consider the safe zone around it. It will produce heat that can damage furniture or even ignite upholstery. The installation references will tell you the minimum distance it has to be from other furnishings and what sort of insulation you need to install. That will probably make or break what you can do in that room. The fish aquarium may get too warm for the fish depending on what you have in it. You might even need to add a water chiller...not cheap.

[geebabe]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Thank you both for your input. I've attached another photo so that the fish tank is included. I thought about moving the sofa but unfortunately it's a fullsize sofa that requires the longest wall in the room (that one). There's a loveseat in front of the window. The room itself I think is 11 x 15 or something like that. We're going to install another crown level in there too and we're getting a new coffee table. I really want a fire place but I think kab may be right - either the fish tank or the fireplace and the tank and stand cost $$ so...

ETA just noticed our dog photobombing

Ohhhh... now I get it. Thanks for the extra picture. Unfortunately, you might have to nix the fireplace idea since 11 x 15 doesn't seem like a large enough space for everything you want in there. But you know what you like and the space you live in, so there's that.

Also, AllisonHB brought up some good points you have to work into the plan.

[silibran]

No. I think a fireplace should look as if it was meant to be the centerpiece of the room. The room looks narrow, and the wall space you have simply won't look right.

In terms of safety, I've slept in a bedroom with an electric fireplace, and I did not feel that I was in any danger. Isn't an electric fireplace different from a space heater? If no, then I agree with the safety issues. If yes, then I think the main objection is that there is no good place in the room for an electric fireplace.

It is possible that there is room if you move the aquarium out of the room.

But to me, the room looks too small for a fireplace. I mean, it might get really hot in such a small room.

[cp102]

You have a very pretty parlor, I would leave it alone. You don't want to make it feel too small by adding more things like a fireplace.

[ptt]

If you want a fireplace put it where the fish tank is. That is the only place.

[movinon]

Originally Posted by AllisonHB

Hopefully you've already thought of this, but placing a stove or fireplace would involve more than aesthetics....you also need to consider the safe zone around it. It will produce heat that can damage furniture or even ignite upholstery. The installation references will tell you the minimum distance it has to be from other furnishings and what sort of insulation you need to install. That will probably make or break what you can do in that room. The fish aquarium may get too warm for the fish depending on what you have in it. You might even need to add a water chiller...not cheap.

I totally agree with all of this. My electric fireplace requires a three-foot safety zone around it for soft furnishings such as upholstery, draperies, etc. It puts out a lot of heat so temperature control for the aquarium could be problematic. I only turn the heating function on for short periods when I want to warm up the family room without heating up the whole house. Mine (can't remember the name - got it at Lowe's ten years ago) does allow just the flame function without heat so the ambience is there. But there is still the location factor without crowding the room. From the photos I can't see where it could go and not be too much.