I love bellesum's fireplace too, but would have reservations about a 'modern country' style living room in a Victorian conversion. I also quite like your existing fireplace, but not in your room! Its height makes the room seem uncomfortably tall and narrow. I'd advise a refit with a new wider firebox, broader surround and just mantle height. I can't believe I'm suggesting a conventional refit! Shame on me!

Hello, I have the same style bedroom in terms of layout, slightly a bit bigger with 3 windows on the same wall. I have built in wardrobes on the two sides of the fireplace just like where you have the shelves. Surely I had the same issue always as I can/t move the bed too much and it is in the same position as yours but I found some bedside table that fits well and is also functional. I even managed to place a mirror on the same wall. If you would move the bed where the shelves are, wouldn't it disturb you that you may lack space as the wardrobe is there too. I would leave the bed where it is now. Izabella StJames Design Interiors

Thanks so much everyone for the ideas. The room is a mess right now I know we only just bought the place so it is a total blank slate and we have focused on the living room and now are moving onto this room so I know it looks a state! I like the idea of velvet armchairs in each alcove and we are open to the idea of a wood burning stove as we want one in the living room as well. We were thinking perhaps to open the space to the left of the fireplace into the living room with sliding French paned doors and we are putting a wall and doors to the right of the fireplace into the kitchen/diner. The living room is in natural Hessian with pops of coral so we are thinking of using the same basic neutral colour throughout the ground floor rooms and varying the floor (having engineered wood in the kitchen, have cream carpet with a sisal rug in the lounge) so thinking about bringing the engineered wood through this room too and down the adjoining hallway and putting another sisal rug in here? I've seen a lovely white wood burner that I was thinking about for this room. Didn't think of plastering the inside of it (it is so black and horrible right now!) - what about whitewash on the brick does anyone know what that comes out like? Is it better than paint?

Dear Hiba. The images below might offer some ideas for your design; we had this made for our client by a local joiner. Cable management is to both the TV and speakers (not shown in these images - they were fitted later, but we had already sourced them so knew the relevant shelf spacing). We also knew dimensions of the TV and the bracket, hence the projection and size of the aperture. We had the option to fit all the hifi equipment, amplifier, blu ray, etc in the unit, but the base would have projected 500mm into the room, so we decided to run the cables in the wall and beneath the floor to a second cabinet out of shot where there was more space. Lighting is a great feature to consider - we recessed low profile LEDs into the shelves (only 8mm deep) so as to hide the fittings but you see the effect of the light. The other thought is to work out what needs to be stored there (hence shelf and drawer sizes), what can be displayed, and what needs to be shut behind closed doors or in drawers. Regarding drawers and doors, depending on your style, your joiner can fit knobs / handles, or you may choose push-to-open cabinetry. The purple sliding doors run smoothly on tracks top and bottom in this case. Hope this helps - thanks. Nick