Would you enclose this?

Would I enclose it ?
No.

If you do enclose it, you need to be very careful with safety issues. Monica's woodburner which heats the bricks enclosing it so that enough heat goes out to heat a four-bedroom house shows just how hot the surroundings get.

We knew someone who had, not a woodburning stove, but a big open fireplace with a centuries-old wooden beam as a mantlepiece, in a very old house - It was beautiful, and they used it a lot. One night they went to bed leaving the fire very low and, they thought, safe. One of them was up during the night and when passing the fireplace in a darkened room, realised that the mantlepiece beam was glowing red. It turned out to be almost hollow from the back and would have eventually burned through and collapsed. It could have been a tragedy.

Leave it open. The exposed flue will generate extra heat in the room. Floating shelves at staggered heights on either side could look quite nice while keeping a spacious feel.

Good luck with your move.

Leave it as is, go to Ikea for some “Billies”, in summer surround the burner with house plants.

I miss my log burner…

Definitely keep exposed, wood burners are designed to give you as much heat as possible, enclosing them limits this a fair bit. With the cost of heating now days you need everything you can get! Also try using an Ecofan, they sit on top at the back of the stove and fan the heat out, also great way to see if you're needing more wood as the fan slows as it cools...

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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 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.

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!

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

Will the rising heat damage the picture?

J52 - and some stoves are more efficient.

Leave it as it is I think.

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.

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

I think it would look nicer left as it is

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

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.

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

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

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

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