Would you enclose this?

Leave it open, in that picture it looks good like that. It will also make the room feel more spacious.

No, I wouldn’t enclose it, the chimney design is meant to be left exposed. Enclosed ones have the chimney coming out of the rear rather than the top.

We had a free-standing woodburner. I'd say it's a more modern look than one that's enclosed in a brick surround.
What will look best depends on the style of the rest of the room, but in any case I'd suggest living with it as it is for a while before you make a decision.

The exposed chimney gives heat into the room like a radiator. Bricking it in would insulate the room from that heat and instead send it up to heat the air above the house. Why spend money to heat the sky?

Our also is free standing. It heats the room much better. Love it. All we need in the winter

We have a white one which is enclosed to make a fireplace. We have just had the wall painted in a sapphire blue and will hang a large picture above the wood burner. The walls either side are pebble coloured as a contrast and have shelves.
If you leave it open it might look more rustic. It depends what style you want.I

I’d leave it, for all the reasons already mentioned. If you enclose the chimney you’ll have to comply with building regulations.

Small room, as photo large room, fireplace and storage for me

Wood burning at home emits more particle pollution than traffic. The days of wood burning stoves is coming to an end so no point in altering the room by building it in would be my recommendation.

Sorry, are not is. Should have proof read my comment.

I think it would look nicer left as it is

I would leave it as it is. You could put light coloured bookcases each side to frame it, and for storage.

Esspee

Wood burning at home emits more particle pollution than traffic. The days of wood burning stoves is coming to an end so no point in altering the room by building it in would be my recommendation.

Not quite true. It depends on the fuel used. Multi fuel stoves that burn seasoned wood and specially adapted carbon products do not pollute the atmosphere more that diesel or petrol.
With gas and electric prices on the rise keep your solid fuel stove, just burn the right fuel.

J52 - and some stoves are more efficient.

Leave it as it is I think.

Joseanne wrote ^... and will hang a large picture above the wood burner."

Will the rising heat damage the picture?

StarDreamer

Joseanne wrote ^... and will hang a large picture above the wood burner."

Will the rising heat damage the picture?

We've never actually lit the wood burner! It came with the house. The room is south facing, mild coastal region, and we aren't ones for liking too much heat! Purely aesthetic!

I would leave the chimney exposed. As already stated, it would radiate the hear from the fire. I would consider book cases, or even positioning other furniture in the spaces each side of the wood burner. Definitely wouldn't enclose the chimney.

I would leave it at least for the time being. You will get used to it too and be grateful for the extra heat when winter comes. You can always change the colour of your walls to make it less stark. If yours is similar to the Pinterest one.

I'm assured a wood burner is carbon neutral Esspee. I have a woodland nearby so no need to transport fuel either.

I think it would be better to leave it open. As others have said, it will allow more heat to remain in the room, and you could look for complementary free standing shelving/cupboards to sit either side, allowing for airflow and the heat from the chimney, of course - nothing placed to close to it, as it will get very hot.

Thanks for all your comments.
I think I have been swayed to keep it exposed. Especially if there are building regs to create a fireplace/surround!

We do intend having cupboards/shelves either side.

I doubt we would actually use it much as that won’t be the only form of heating in that room.

I will be back with other questions to all you knowledgeable lot, so watch this space!

We live in an old house and our woodburner is in set in a huge brick chimney, including bread oven . Three or feet thick in places and heavily bricked through both floors.

We use it in winter during cold spells. Far from the chimney insulating us from the heat, the solid mass of bricks absorbs the heat and the chimney heats up like a great storage radiator and the heat from it, heats not only the living room, but the karge hallway and the two bedrooms above.

A couple of years ago, we had problems with the gas supply to our end of the village and for two weeks in Novemeber had no central heating. This one, not large, stove, effectively heated a large 4 bedroomed house

I had one in the last house with brick round it , the room was good size but the brick looked heavy , the one we have now has never been lit , but I use fairy lights in and on it at Christmas

I have a wood burner. A lot of heat comes from the flue. By enclosing it you would lose that precious heat.