Centring off-centre Fireplaces

bpk101

As part of a renovation of a 2 bed Victorian Mid Terrace we're looking to open up the 4 (blocked) fireplaces in the house and create fairly minimalistic brick-backed 'builders-opening' like this:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2014/feb/28/inside-home-of-design-blogger-jill-macnair#img-7

Both bedroom fireplaces are off-centre within the chimney breast though:

http://www.bpkersey.com/images/IMG_7375.JPG

Would you centre them for balance if you had the opportunity? Or let tradition prevail and keep them off-centre as one of the houses (many) quirks?!

Builders are getting going on them tomorrow and i can't make up my mind

Gloomendoom

Ours are like that. There is a reason. The flue from the room downstairs runs up inside the chimney breast to one side of the fireplace upstairs. You may be able to centre them if you don't want to uses them as real fireplaces.

bpk101

We only want to install a log burning stove in the ground floor lounge opening... so centring in the bedrooms would be for aesthetic reasons only.

casper_g

If you want to use the flue from the downstairs fireplace you will have to live with the builder's opening upstairs being off-centre. If you knock out bricks to try and centre it you'll damage the other flue.

bpk101

I see... well that's decided it then. Thanks!

rustyboy21

The normal route with situations like this , is to box out the chimney breast on the right hand side ( in your case) , to make it appear that the fireplace is centrally sited on the breast.


You wont be able to physically centre the opening as, you have the downstairs flue running by the side of it, up to the chimney stack on the roof.


Quite straightforward to a good builder.

bpk101

Well the builders opened up our first fireplace yesterday, kept it off-centre... i really quite like the original quirkiness of it and like others have mentioned, we still need to use the flu for a log burner downstairs.

I can't tell you how much it's changed the character of the room now... we love it. Next job is to lay the new hearth, repoint the interior brickwork and clean the bricks up (not too much though!) and finally re-plaster the breast along with rest of room.

bridgedino

I remember when workmen use to use dust sheets to protect floors etc.

Nobody care these days?

Gloomendoom

bridgedino wrote: »

I remember when workmen use to use dust sheets to protect floors etc.

I was thinking the same thing. I put down ply sheeting when I do work like that.

bpk101

bridgedino wrote: »

I remember when workmen use to use dust sheets to protect floors etc.

Nobody care these days?

The floorboards have been up and down all week due to new electrics and heating pipework being laid.

All the floors are getting sanded and primed at the end of the refurb ready for staining.

You think i should still insist they are covered?