When we bought our 1990s home, the living room had so much going for it: tall vaulted ceilings, lots of natural light, and big windows. But the fireplace was small, low, and tucked into the far corner of a recessed wall. Our TV sat on a black media console on the left side of the room, over pale carpet, and the fireplace was off on its own in the corner. For a feature that should anchor a room, it felt like an afterthought.
This 1990s fireplace renovation became one of my favorite projects in our home. Here’s the whole story: how we decided what to do, what we changed, and why I still love it years later.
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Living with it before deciding what to do
We didn’t rush into this one. We lived in the house for years, looking at that corner fireplace, before we ever budgeted for a change. When we finally did, we seriously considered removing the fireplace altogether, since it wasn’t adding much to the room the way it was.
The more we talked it through, the clearer it became that the problem wasn’t having a fireplace. The problem was where it sat and how small it felt. Centered on the wall and given some real presence, it could become the focal point the room was missing. So we decided to center it, and to give the wall around it built-ins, lighting, and a surround that would make it look intentional.
Drawing my own design
We hired a contractor, but I drew the design myself. I sketched what I pictured for the wall: a centered fireplace, a substantial mantel, and built-ins on both sides. Our contractor was on board with the plan, and we moved forward from my drawing. I also sketched the idea over a photo of the wall to see how the centered fireplace and built-ins would sit within the recess.
Reusing the fireplace, rerouting the venting, and raising it up
To save money, we explored reusing our existing fireplace instead of replacing it. Whether that was possible came down to the venting. Moving a fireplace means rerouting its exhaust, so we brought in a fireplace specialist to make it feasible and reroute the venting.
With that settled, the recessed wall was gutted down to the framing. The fireplace was moved to the center of the wall and raised, giving it the presence the old corner spot never had. The architectural recess in that wall was both a frame and a constraint: everything in the design had to fit within it, so every inch of the plan mattered.
A quick but important note: this was our project, not a how-to. Moving a fireplace, rerouting its venting, building a wood surround around it, and mounting anything above it, including a TV, all depend on your specific unit. Every unit has its own manufacturer requirements, including clearances to combustible materials, and local requirements vary. If you’re planning something similar, please have the manufacturer’s information and a qualified local professional assess your fireplace.
A mantel sized for a mirror or a TV
I proportioned the mantel so the space above it could hold either a mirror or a TV without feeling cramped. The finished fireplace face is 49 inches tall by 60 inches wide, and sizing it that way gave the fireplace real presence inside the recess. We thought through the mantel height and the space above it together, so the wall would look balanced either way. In these photos, an arched, wood-framed mirror rests on the mantel.
That mattered because the one thing my husband, Alejandro, asked for was The Frame TV. Planning the wall for either a mirror or a TV meant his request had a place without crowding the design. You can find the linked Samsung Frame TV here. It’s a current listing, so pick the size and version that fit your own wall. Here’s the TV magnetic frame I’m linking too. Frames are made for specific TV models and sizes, so check the fit listed for any frame against your exact TV before you buy.
A custom wood surround instead of tile
Instead of tile, we had a carpenter build a custom wood surround. Layers of molding, angles, and shapes stack up to create height and dimension, which matters on a wall with a small footprint. The layered, classical mantel with its deep ledge is where so much of the room’s character comes from now. Before paint, in bare wood with the base cabinetry on both sides, you could already see the sketch taking shape.
Built-ins, lighting, and outlets
On each side of the fireplace we added closed lower cabinetry with two open shelves above. The open shelves hold books and decor, and the closed cabinets keep electronics and other decor out of sight. We finished the cabinetry to match our kitchen so the first floor feels cohesive.
Above the shelving we added recessed can lights. They bring more light into the room and highlight everything displayed on the shelves.
We also added outlets, including a recessed outlet box behind where a TV could go. Here’s the in-wall TV box I’m linking for that. Planning power before the walls are closed up is a detail worth thinking about early.
Pure White, Alabaster, and PPG Gunmetal Gray
The rest of our house is painted Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, a creamy white, and the fireplace wall is Sherwin-Williams Pure White. With so much soft, light color around it, I wanted the fireplace to make a bold statement, so the fireplace face is painted PPG Gunmetal Gray (PPG1033-6).
I wondered whether I’d get tired of a bold color. Years later, I still love it. Gunmetal Gray grounds the room and makes it feel calm.
New floors, and what I’m proudest of
You may notice the floors look completely different in the after photos. We also changed the flooring across the whole first floor, swapping the pale carpet for warm wood-look planks. In the progress photos you can see the planks going in while the carpentry was still unfinished. That project had its own ups and downs, so I’m saving it for a future post.
What I’m proudest of is that we made these changes within our budget while working within the constraints of 1990s architecture. We reused the fireplace we had, designed around the recess, and leaned on proportion and detail to make a small footprint feel substantial. The fireplace went from an afterthought in the corner to the heart of the room.
Planning your own fireplace update
I made a free printable Fireplace Planning Checklist to go with this post. It covers priorities, a measured sketch, the questions for your pros, and a budget planner with blank lines for your own numbers. Here are the questions I’d think through first.
What should I measure before I talk to anyone?
Measure the whole wall, any recess, the existing fireplace opening, and the finished face and mantel you’re picturing, and label each one. Those are all different numbers, and it’s easy to mix them up. Chris Loves Julia’s built-in electric fireplace post is a good reminder that every layer of a build adds depth, so sketch the depth as well as the width.
Can we reuse our existing fireplace?
Maybe. It’s how we kept costs down, but it took a fireplace specialist to confirm it and reroute our venting. Ask a professional about your specific unit before you fall in love with a design.
Can a TV go above the fireplace?
That depends on your unit. Manufacturers publish their own guidance. Montigo’s TV-above-a-fireplace notice, for example, says actual TV temperatures should be checked at installation against the TV maker’s limits. Ask your fireplace pro what applies to yours, and check your TV manufacturer’s guidance too.
Mirror or TV above the mantel?
We planned the wall for either. If you choose a mirror, Pottery Barn’s guide to hanging a mirror makes a great point: make sure it faces something you want to see reflected.
How do I choose a bold paint color?
Sample it in the room, in morning and evening light, next to your floors and cabinets. In her living room paint post, Julia suggests holding a swatch up in the air rather than against white, which can make a color read darker.
And once it’s all done, keep up with care. The NFPA recommends having chimneys and heating equipment inspected and cleaned each year by a qualified professional.
Fireplace Renovation Details
- Fireplace face: 49 inches tall × 60 inches wide
- The existing fireplace unit was reused, then centered on the wall and raised
- A fireplace professional rerouted the venting
- Custom wood surround and layered mantel built by a carpenter, instead of tile
- Closed lower cabinets and two open shelves on each side of the fireplace
- Cabinet finish matched to our kitchen
- Can lights in the shelving
- Added outlets, including a recessed box behind the TV: in-wall TV box
- Fireplace wall: Sherwin-Williams Pure White
- Rest of the house: Sherwin-Williams Alabaster
- Fireplace face: PPG Gunmetal Gray (PPG1033-6)
- The one thing Alejandro asked for, The Frame TV: Samsung Frame TV (current listing)
- Magnetic TV frame: TV magnetic frame
Before you buy, check that the TV size, frame, and in-wall box are compatible with each other and with your wall, and that your fireplace professional is comfortable with what goes above your unit.
Are you renovating a 1990s home, too? I’d love to hear what you’ve changed, or what you’re dreaming of changing, in the comments.
