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thethistle As for the fireplace, paint it. You can't remove walls without knowing if it's a supporting wall or not. You should probably hire a contractor if you're going to remove a wall.

Mary Poulos Interior and Exterior Design It is difficult to suggest how to open concept your existing floorplan without a sketch a layout of the liiving room and family room. Can you provide?

handymam You could reface (not replace) the fireplace with stacked stone. Amazing new product at Lowe's I am going to try on my own fireplace that looks just like yours. It's about $50 a box. It is DIY too.

marybraue What color would you do to the fireplace

Mary Poulos Interior and Exterior Design Hi Mary Braue,

I am not the one who suggested paint the fireplace, but from the picture I can tell you they meant white. And, for the most part I would agree. Actually my fireplace is white and Iike it. It enhances the nice texture. However there are people that have good luck sponging/painting the brick. It is a lot hit and/or miss so you would need to somehow practice on how you would do that.

Keitha I agree with thethistle about the painted fireplace. Try to corral the TV and electronics in one cohesive unit that hides the unsightly components and you will be off to a good start!

eagledzines Here is the sketch showing the layout that marybraue provided in another post.

eagledzines If you were to open up the two rooms, it looks like you have plenty of space to put the piano kitty-corner in a corner. The white cabinet would compliment a painted white fireplace nicely. Perhaps you could put your husband's electronics in there near the TV? If the wall between the two rooms is a bearing wall, you still might be able to open it up by making a large opening between the two rooms. You wold still need a contractor because you would be looking at moving wiring as well and would have to make sure there wasn't any plumbing or ducting in that wall that needed to be moved. I would get an estimate on having the floors done (and finished) before going to far so you would know how much left you have in the budget to change the wall. If you want to stick with the warm colors, the flooring would help you do that. If you could open up the wall between the rooms, I would paint them both the same color.

marybraue Thank you for your ideas And the time you spend helping me. I do have a contractor He made the all white cabinets And I did think about putting them next to the fireplace. You confirm my idea. My husband and I have agreed on the flat screen TV. He has agreed on downsizing the style of his stereo , But insist on the around sound whatever that is. I don't know why he wants to keep the piano no one can play it or is interested in playing it. He just likes it. So I do have to incorporate that in my design plan. Thank you so much for all your help. Now I can get to work. Would you suggest a place like lumber liquidators to come in and laid the flooring ? This is another dumb question do you know how to put your photograph on the site for people know what I look like. Thanks again

Lumber Liquidators Hi marybraue, if there is a Lumber Liquidators store near your, someone who works there can recommend an installer for you. Hope this helps!

blindsdirectcanada I would replace the vertical blinds with Ripplefold sheers it will look alot more updated and modern.

Matt Patterson Custom Homes skin the fp in travertine. Much prettier than paint