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I didn't want a house with a corner fireplace, but I got one. I've reconciled myself to it. I think when it is in the corner, and the TV is along another wall, as in my room, the fireplace loses its 'star' power in a room. But I have balanced the room with tall bookcases diagonally across from the fireplace, and I've placed a nice picture above it, and I keep the generous mantel decorated as well.
In traditional homes, the fireplace is the thing that determines seating and is the focus in the room. With a corner, you have to think a bit differently, especially if there is a TV also in the room. But traditional rooms with their centered fireplaces create problems too, for TV watching.
I don't think corner fireplaces are the "latest rage" so much as a cheaper way to get a fireplace into a floorplan where it is hard to do so. I don't think expensive homes have corner fireplaces. The centered, and grand fireplace, takes pride of place in an affluent setting.
Then don't buy new construction in your area. What's the big deal?
No, they won't be. In the two homes with fireplaces that I have occupied both fireplaces were totally utilitarian and not an architectural focal point. I suppose it depends on where you live.
The window is almost floor to ceiling. The average window sill is what, 30" from the floor? That is tall enough to place a table, desk, low dresser, etc. against the wall underneath the window without obstructing the window.
When it comes to fireplaces and TVs the two things I do not understand is why most people place the TV above the fireplace, and; why people assume a TV must go against a wall.
Who says you can't put a table/desk in front of a window?
I didn't want a house with a corner fireplace, but I got one. I've reconciled myself to it. I think when it is in the corner, and the TV is along another wall, as in my room, the fireplace loses its 'star' power in a room. But I have balanced the room with tall bookcases diagonally across from the fireplace, and I've placed a nice picture above it, and I keep the generous mantel decorated as well.
In traditional homes, the fireplace is the thing that determines seating and is the focus in the room. With a corner, you have to think a bit differently, especially if there is a TV also in the room. But traditional rooms with their centered fireplaces create problems too, for TV watching.
I don't think corner fireplaces are the "latest rage" so much as a cheaper way to get a fireplace into a floorplan where it is hard to do so. I don't think expensive homes have corner fireplaces. The centered, and grand fireplace, takes pride of place in an affluent setting.
...it is about "cost control". Moreso than a true custom builder all mass builders look for ways to trim every nickle they can from a home, when you do thousands of builds a year those nickle add up. Ultimately this is not the worst compromise ever -- it is probably more energy efficent than other designs and is not the worst thing as far as flexibility of room use, but I agree that your higher end homes do like to "showcase" a more dramatically centered fireplace. The worst aspect from my perspective is that if you do try to "balance" the corner fireplace with any kind of book case / shelving / storage you have a much difficult take dealing with the "triangular format" than if you had a traditonal rectangle to match.
It is pretty clear that the folks drawing up these plans are not coming out of the strongest design backgrounds. Pretty much all great architects work with forms that are pleasant to the dimensions of everyday humans and last time I checked there aren't many of us with acute triangles for any part of our anatomy...
...it is about "cost control". Moreso than a true custom builder all mass builders look for ways to trim every nickle they can from a home, when you do thousands of builds a year those nickle add up. Ultimately this is not the worst compromise ever -- it is probably more energy efficent than other designs and is not the worst thing as far as flexibility of room use, but I agree that your higher end homes do like to "showcase" a more dramatically centered fireplace. The worst aspect from my perspective is that if you do try to "balance" the corner fireplace with any kind of book case / shelving / storage you have a much difficult take dealing with the "triangular format" than if you had a traditonal rectangle to match.
It is pretty clear that the folks drawing up these plans are not coming out of the strongest design backgrounds. Pretty much all great architects work with forms that are pleasant to the dimensions of everyday humans and last time I checked there aren't many of us with acute triangles for any part of our anatomy...
I agree with you...I think it's a cost control aspect.
But in my area, even high-end homes are being built with corner FP's. These are $500k & $600k spec homes. In this area (Huntsville, AL), $500k+ is definitely high-end. Granted, a lot of these houses have 2 fireplaces and only 1 is usually in the corner. Even so, it bugs me!
When it comes to fireplaces and TVs the two things I do not understand is why most people place the TV above the fireplace, and; why people assume a TV must go against a wall.
I can think of several reasons - cords. the back of a TV is ugly and not meant to be seen. Putting it in the middle of the room would take up a lot of space. I'm trying to picture placing a TV anywhere besides against a wall and I can't.
I live in a 1989 house with one, and I hate it too.
The hearth takes up 18" of needed floor space, the mantle is so high it prevents me from putting anything large over it, and it makes the arrangement of furniture very difficult.
Corner fireplaces can work but it depends on the other elements in the room. We currently have an open floor plan (not a huge fan which is one of many reasons we decided to sell this house and have bought and are renovating another). Though I'm not a huge fan of open concept living for our family's style, I think we did a good job of incorporating the fireplace and TV in our current home:
The fireplace will always be the architectural focal point of the room, no matter what else you do in the same room....unless you either conceal your TV or conceal the FP.
What do you mean that the tall/low windows decrease much needed wall space? What usable wall space would you have with a "regular" size window, as opposed to a larger window? Maybe I'm not following you....
I prefer having the television being the focal point of the room. I want to be able to comfortably watch tv from either my sofa or love seat. In a room without a tv, yes, I'd want the fireplace to be the focal point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by K-Luv
...The window is almost floor to ceiling. The average window sill is what, 30" from the floor? That is tall enough to place a table, desk, low dresser, etc. against the wall underneath the window without obstructing the window...
Quote:
Originally Posted by TN2HSV
Who says you can't put a table/desk in front of a window?
You could place a table or desk in front of one of those tall windows. But depending on what you put there, it might make it difficult to open the window or blinds or for ease of cleaning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kibbiekat
I like them. They usually free up a wall for the TV.
I agree. I have both my family room & living room sofa & loveseat in an L configuration. The living room doesn't have a fireplace so the entertainment center is the focal point upstairs. Downstairs in my family room, there is a gas fireplace insert directly below the entertainment center upstairs. So in my family room, my entertainment center is angled off the wall of the fireplace so that people can view the tv from the sofa or loveseat. I have no hearth, didn't need one since it's a gas fireplace insert. The hearth just eats up space in the room & makes a small room even smaller. The fireplace insert is about 16" above the floor. So you can easily gaze at the flames while comfortably seated on the love seat.
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Like pretty much everything mass builders do...
