The fire is missing....

OK, so in the new house, they have taken out the old heater and just sealed the fireplace off with a big marble slab. DH tells me that most people buy one of those "fake" electric fireplaces to put there, but they are quite expensive. I'm not bothered, and our house is quite warm, but it does look strange to me that there is a hearth, mantle, and then a big marble slab where the fireplace should be. Any suggestions for how to make this seem less strange to me? I have decorated the mantle and everything, but I am thinking maybe I should get some huge candles or something to put there so it doesn't look so strange. What would you do?

A painting of a fire? 

A painting of a fire? 

LMAO! I suppose that is one solution. I know, DH thinks I'm weird for obsessing, but dude, it's in the center of the room. And there is nothing where the fire should be. It drives me nuts! 

We have a fake gas fire.


Vicky

Or a flat screen tv with one of those Fireplace DVDs!  

Or maybe just hang some kind of flowy cloth covering from the mantle

I've seen people put candles in, and it looks pretty nice. I Googled "fireplace candles" and looked at the images, and there were a ton, including this one, which I think is pretty cool:

DH tells me that most people buy one of those "fake" electric fireplaces to put there, but they are quite expensive.

Some of the new designs are pretty horrendous prices, but rummage around your local charity shops and other second-hand places and you'll quite likely be able to find an old electric heater (with or without the fake coal/flame effect) which will fit the bill nicely, and probably only cost £10 or so.

How about a big ole fireplace screen; or a fireplace candelabra?

We have a fake gas fire.
Vicky

I'm not opposed to getting one of those, it's just that most of them cost a few hundred quid, that I have seen.

Some of the new designs are pretty horrendous prices, but rummage around your local charity shops and other second-hand places and you'll quite likely be able to find an old electric heater (with or without the fake coal/flame effect) which will fit the bill nicely, and probably only cost £10 or so.

Our charity shop is the size of a closet, and I have never seen anything like that in there, but maybe I could look around in a few other villages and see if I could find one.

Might go with sheateawholepie's suggestion and just put some candles there, or do what phatbeetle said and hang some fabric or something.
Thanks for all of your suggestions!

I second the recommendation for a decorative fireplace screen.  Our friends have a heater where the fireplace should be in their living room, but they have a lovely screen that covers it up nicely and adds to the room.

Here some fireplace candle holder type thingys..

http://www.saladotex.com/Candles_Metal_Mantel_Candleholder.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/unusual-9-way-large-candle-holder-metal-rustic_W0QQitemZ200301989766QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Candle_Holders?hash=item200301989766&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1686%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318


Or how about a basket of flowers? silk or real ones...or possibly a vase.

Perhaps some fireplace accessories such as some bellows and a poker set??  just a thought 

Something Art Deco would be nice, I like the idea of a screen and an Aspidistra but then I'v been watching the reruns of House Of Eliot on .. UK History I think it is. 

I have a friend who has a black cast iorn holder full of fire wood logs..its just for decorative purposes..but it actually looks really effective.

OOoo...just found this...there is some cool stuff on here 

http://www.fireside-accessories.com/log-holders--baskets-11-c.asp

 

Or engrave it Here lies Santa Claws.. fell on his head