What to do with an unused fireplace stove?

Question

I'm renting a house that has a huge, unusable, fireplace stove and surrounding brickwork in the living room. It makes it pretty hard to rearrange my furniture and isn't really pretty. Does anyone have ideas for turning the stove into something a little more eye catching? I have tried putting plants on it, but there's not enough sun to keep them happy. The plants next to it now are only there until it warms up again outside. Right now the stove is hiding (sort of ) behind the loveseat. 
 Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

Connie Lester · Answer

Since you are renting you can't change anything but you could embrace it and use it as a decorative center piece of the room. I would remove all of the plants and use the ledge, top of stove and surrounding brick to display decorative items. Maybe add some art above it. Move the love seat to the side so you can show it off.

Sabrena Thomas Nussey · Answer

What about a folding screen? I know that you used to be able to buy them with picture openings. I understand with you having little ones that might not be the best suggestion!

Juanita · Answer

If okay with the owner, painting it white would lessen it's visual impact as the pipes would then be the same color as the walls. Open the door and put a big drooping plant inside. You can run a hanging light inside to provide light if there isn't enough sun. A big colorful teapot on top would add interest.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Put some heat on the landlord to either fix it or remove it. (Am a previous landlord.) Failing that, I would embrace it rather than hide it. You could probably take the door off, clean it up a bit and find one of those electric log deals at a thrift shop. Then put your loveseat on the straight and reposition your rocker (love it).. Another inexpensive trick is to draw attention away. I'd get a large pic with a black frame to use with your other pics for over the sofa. You can probably get something suitable at the thrift shop, along the curb, etc. Paint frame if not black. It is amazing what people give away or set out.

Betsy Woolford · Answer

Since you rent, embrace the stove as decorative only. Open the doors (clean interior if landlord didn't before you rented), Find a flea market or dollar store mirror to fit inside fire box, place battery powered candles of various heights in front of mirror and you have a pretend fireplace. Then hang more pics or even pretty empty frames on walls behind stove and above the couch for balance and visual interest. Baskets will corral toys and be decorative.

Connie · Answer

Speaking as a landlord=he should fix or remove. Someone I know used their unworkable fireplace as display, candles, photos, etc.

Myra weber · Answer

I would use some cleaner to make it shiny.  Then add green artificial plants and maybe
a photograph or pretty candle stick set.

Brenda · Answer

I would ask the landlord if you could take the pipes and stove out. If that is not possible, even if the pipes were down, you could possibly make a top for the stove out of wood and paint it black. Then spray the rest of the stove with a flat black paint. This then could be used for a TV stand and rearrange your furniture. The brick at the back I would paint with a stipple brush and cement paint, tinted light grey to blend better into the wall. That would brighten up the corner.

Country Design Home · Answer

It's really tough when you're renting and can't make permanent changes but here are a couple of ideas. Since it doesn't look like the stove pipe is even connected, can you take that part down? If not, I'm assuming that you can't paint it, but how about painting a piece of canvas or craft paper and covering it up. In the picture I see a large TV on a console in the opposite corner. If you could slide that over in front of the stove and surround, that would cover the brick and stove somewhat. Or if you had a cupboard or hutch something with some height, put that in front of it, then angle the sofa and love seat or the rocking chair on either side. If it didn't quite cover the sides of the brick, then change out that valance and add long panels that hug the edge of the brick. (You could add a fake window on the other wall to balance that out.) Good luck!

Kaleana · Answer

Stack your plants along the back side of it, and maybe move the love seat to underneath the window by front door...unless your blocking it from the kids.

Terrimb · Answer

With Painting, even with permission, you need to use special heat proof paint. That said, Is there anyway of placing a 'box' surround over top using the brick surround as support and putting your television on top? get or build simple crate storage to surround on either side like bookshelves or toy storage cupboards. I tend to shy away from knick knacks as further clutter.... your space, your call.

Nor710090 · Answer

I would ask the landlord to repair it, and paint it, it would be fab as a working wood fireplace.

Brenda Webster · Answer

I would put the TV entertainment center on the wall next to the stove and rearrange your furniture. Then put a fireplace screen around the brick to the keep the little ones away (you could attach the screen to the wall to make it sturdier). Place some family pictures on the stove and on the wall above it, along with a few figurines of your favorite flowers and animals. If there is no electrical outlet on that wall, perhaps your landlord would agree to have one put in. Hope this helps!

Pat · Answer

I would first talk to your landlord to see if you could take the stove out...chimney and all. You could tell him you will put it back when you leave if that helps. If you can't take it out you could 'pretend' it woks and decorate is like a working fireplace....plants, tools, wood boxes, etc. around it. Secondly, if you would want to, build a big box (hole in the top to fit the chimney) and put it over the stove. Box would be from brick to brick...flat in front. Paint it like your walls (bricks will show at the top but ignore them) Then you could put furniture, a big comfy chair or even your TV /console in front of the box/stove. Should look like a bump out if painted the same as the walls.

Debra Pendola · Answer

I would incorporate the corner with a faux flre place front and shelf that could be made to cover the whole corner with a shelf for your tv, etc , making it a focal point and easier to arrange furniture accordingly

Paula · Answer

That stove looks pretty old. If it's pre-1980 when the EPA regulations started, it will have to be replaced. If it's removed make sure the pipes are also removed, not just covered up or that causes other problems. We bought an old house where they took out 2 old free standing wood stoves, but left the pipes in the roof/ceiling. They let cold air in the house and birds and bees were nesting in them on the outside.

Nina · Answer

When you are not using it build a book shelf and surround it and covering it up !

Paula Edmonds · Answer

My mom and dad turned their's into a gas fireplace -ask ur landlord. My girlfriend, used hers for decor. She put the XMAS tree by it and took a piece of clothes line and hung up old antique clothes. Painting it all black sounds good. XMAS stocking hanging from hooks over the bricks would be cute. Put an old tea pot on it with some cups -look in a thrift store. I know how hard it is to rent and not be able to paint the rooms different color or just some trim color. I brought material on sale at fabric stores or thrift store and yard sales if you want to draw attention away from the stove are and a pop of color in the room. Pick ur favorite color (mine is wine) I painted furniture, crate boxes and put material hanging over the top for side tables and books in. If you don't sew-take material and fold it like wraping a present over your pillows and use double stick tape to hold together. Find old pictures that are large and take off the frame and spray paint with 2-tone paint. I know you only wanted advice for the stove, but I have rented for over 40 years and just to give you some tips. Have some fun. Your living room is cute.

Salvage Sister and Mister · Answer

Agree, it should be fixed. In the meantime, I agree with @Tori Black Home it should be the focal point. I think cast iron pans, canning jars, vintage pieces.

Alison McElwee · Answer

Progress report

PattyV · Answer

I like the updated look...better layout then before. My suggestion would be to find an inexpensive screen or two to hide the stove and then move your armoire (or tall chest) with tv in front of it. Move the loveseat back to the original wall. When guest come you can toss the children's toys behind the screen. If you get tired of that look, you can take the screen and create a mock hall way at the front door.

M-E · Answer

If you decide to paint it, make sure you use 'stove black' appropriate paint.

Susan · Answer

I need that here in my house, its 35 below 0

Susan · Answer

Make a temporary box with gyproc around it and use it as a shelf then you could put your tv on it or plants,

Lou Camp · Answer

In winter make it a focal point by gathering furniture around as if it were your source of comfort and warmth. If it's too expensive for an electric log, put a string of small lights inside and leave the doors ajar or wide open. Summertime put a teakettle on amid flowers that don't need Sun or even real looking faux ones.

Mary Ker · Answer

Plants could live with a sunlight mimicking lamp on them.

Elaine753 · Answer

I would put the love seat next to the stove under the window. Maybe get electric logs since there is an outlet right next to the stove...or put candles in it either real or battery operated. Maybe get permission (since this is a rental) to paint it with heat resistant paint. Are you sure it is unusable or maybe landlord doesn't want you using it?

Lady Anne · Answer

I agree with the idea of making it a focal point, rather than trying to hide it, which certainly isn't working.  Either electric or gas logs would be very nice, or a string of twinkling red, yellow and orange lights to give the appearance of a fire. As Elaine asked (more or less),  what's the deal with it being unusable? Obviously it was in use at one time, with that brick wall behind it.  It would be lovely to be able to use it again.

What to do with an unused fireplace stove?

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What to do with an unused fireplace stove?

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