Taking out my fire

[beermonsta]

I will soon be installing central heating and want to take out the fire in the living room. The reason for this is that I plan to put a 50 inch screeen above it and build a shelving unit inside the fire place for my DVD and sky box etc. I was thinking about using melamine for the shelves.
Is there anything I need to be aware of as I may need to knock a few bricks out to make the opening big enough for the shelving unit?

 

[noseall]

make sure the opening you create has an adequate lintel.

the chimney needs to "breathe" so keep it vented from the lowest point on the flue possible.

 

[beermonsta]

Thanks buddy!