I have a room in which I am considering having a new gas fireplace installed. There is approximately 3m of wall space available (between corner and window in the picture). This will provide some heating but the primary purpose is for ambiance.
The existing cornices extend a long way (at least a 1m) into the room and I don't want to change them.
The wall is brick-veneer.
The pictures I've seen for installing new fireplaces involve boxing in an area from floor to ceiling which in this case would interfer with the cornices.
What are my options for install? I won't physically do the install myself, but want to understand what is usually done and what will look normal.
One option might be to box-in only partway up the wall, but would this lead to very large mantle that looks strange.
Alternatively, would it be possible to box-in to the ceiling and work around the cornice?
Best Answer
Your choices will be limited by what your local regulations say about the options for the type and location of flue and ventilation air supply. A reputable local supplier should be able to advise on the technical and visual aspects.
You might be allowed to put a flue behind the fire on the outside of the wall. In the UK we can get shallow depth gas fires and surrounds for flush mounting onto a wall. This avoids having to build a chimney breast to accommodate the fire depth and route the flue through the ceiling internally.
I think a ceiling height chimney breast would look okay and you could blend in some similar cornice to follow the new outline. The installer might need to cut through and remove some of the existing cornice hidden inside the chimney breast where the flue goes through the ceiling.
I think having the chimney breast stop part way up the wall would look odd.
If the fireplace is mainly for aesthetic reasons, a decorative electric fire and surround might give you the same benefits but without the problem of having to construct a flue. Again check for local regulations and also the available power output of the outlets.