Burning Down the House
As you may remember from previous posts, we’ve considered replacing the fireplace with a wood burning stove. This plan has hit a snag.
Since we were wild and crazy, we’d install the stove in accordance to building code. This has the great advantage of keeping the house from bursting into flames the first time we fire the stove up. However, this would require us to gap so much room behind the stove that it would jut out into the middle of the living room. Besides the fact that this wouldn’t be functional, it would also have the stove exiting the roof through a ridge. To solve this problem, we’d have to either A) tear a hole in the roof, brace the ridge, and build a “box” to run the chimney through, or B) put a bend or series of bends in the stove pipe. My wife and I don’t like either option.
We’re thinking that we’re not going to have a stove or fireplace in the living room at this point. This is a real bummer for me. I am a lifelong, unrepentant firebug. I like fireplaces and woodstoves for the aesthetics and ambiance as much as the warmth. Oh well, poor me. On the upside, not having either is a lot cheaper, I hope.
So, now the question is what do we do with the old fireplace spot? While leaving it just as it is would be a great conversational piece, we’re looking for a more finished look. So far our top three ideas are:
1) Our own secret Bat Cave. Sure, it would be small, but secret rooms are cool.
2) A secret prison cell. Really, this is just a variation of number one. It would be a great disciplinary tool for children or unwanted family members visiting for the holidays (Be nice or you’ll have to spend Christmas in THE ROOM).
3) A built-in entertainment center.
So, what do you think? Suggestions? I know that a photo might help, but I don’t have any at the moment. The space is about 4’x 2’ and you can go all the way up to the ceiling (12’).
Since we were wild and crazy, we’d install the stove in accordance to building code. This has the great advantage of keeping the house from bursting into flames the first time we fire the stove up. However, this would require us to gap so much room behind the stove that it would jut out into the middle of the living room. Besides the fact that this wouldn’t be functional, it would also have the stove exiting the roof through a ridge. To solve this problem, we’d have to either A) tear a hole in the roof, brace the ridge, and build a “box” to run the chimney through, or B) put a bend or series of bends in the stove pipe. My wife and I don’t like either option.
We’re thinking that we’re not going to have a stove or fireplace in the living room at this point. This is a real bummer for me. I am a lifelong, unrepentant firebug. I like fireplaces and woodstoves for the aesthetics and ambiance as much as the warmth. Oh well, poor me. On the upside, not having either is a lot cheaper, I hope.
So, now the question is what do we do with the old fireplace spot? While leaving it just as it is would be a great conversational piece, we’re looking for a more finished look. So far our top three ideas are:
1) Our own secret Bat Cave. Sure, it would be small, but secret rooms are cool.
2) A secret prison cell. Really, this is just a variation of number one. It would be a great disciplinary tool for children or unwanted family members visiting for the holidays (Be nice or you’ll have to spend Christmas in THE ROOM).
3) A built-in entertainment center.
So, what do you think? Suggestions? I know that a photo might help, but I don’t have any at the moment. The space is about 4’x 2’ and you can go all the way up to the ceiling (12’).
posted by John | 3:59 AM
2 Comments:
There are such things as zero clearance stoves or with the correct wall protection you can set your stove as close as 12 inches from a combustable wall. All our stoves are against brick walls so we don't have to worry about clearance distances but I do have to make sure there is no molding within 3 feet! You could build a masonary enclosure to put a stove on. I just returned 3 books to the library on this subject.
I agree with Gary - find a stove that will work. Or if push comes to shove do the entertainment center thing. Now, "The Room" is a good idea too but people might stop visiting - of course that could be a good thing too. Denny
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