Outdated but original fireplace

last year

last modified: last year

Any suggestions welcome on painting, sanding, anythng at all to the actual fireplace. Its an original feature of our house which was built in 1911. Which my husband says has to stay! the tiles and old gas fire have to go. Ideas for tiles and what to put instead of the gas fire.

Lizzie 123 · More Info

Hubby and I agreed to take out original fireplace and send it to a highly recommended wood restorer to do his magic ( well it turns out its solid mahogany and walnut! ) so has to stay really. He has promised it will all be a uniform colour when work completed. Which it is not at the moment. So onto the tiles, the room is neutral so nothing too bold, same tileson the inside of the fire, then different on the front aspect and what about a hearth yes or no? And what style of tile? Grateful for any suggestions Houzzers

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Wumi

last year

last modified: last year

Saw an older threadin Houzz with the same dilemma https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/5447358/what-do-do-with-this-fireplac.

Someone posted these pictures of their modernised arts and craft fireplace.

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Comments (16)

Sonia
last year
No reason why you can’t paint the wooden surround. I feel they look better painted either white or a colour to suit the room decor. Are the tiles original?
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Thanks very much Sonia. The tiles are not original and happy to replace them. Any ideas for tile design and the inside of actual hearth? Husband reluctant to paint fireplace because its original and has marquetry inlays!
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Thank you for your comment, The fireplace looks so bare, originally there was a huge surround and I couldn't believe the size of the actual grate when it was all removed. I had wondered if I should have had the piece of granite hearth extended to the wall and built a narrow bookcase by the chair. I will definitely get a mantel. No tv yet, don't know where to put it,? There is a tv point in the corner to the left hand side of the couch, just under the window. Thanks again,
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From the looks of things, that really is the only place for the sectional. So...can you pull it out just a foot maybe away from the window? Move your tv over the stove if safe to do and try a big plant in that corner where the tv is now. Your painting behind some is way too big for that wall. Move to opposite wall. I would remove the black loves eat and replace with two reading chairs and maybe that end table you have by the sofa. For window treatments I just do not see drapes/curtains working in this room with that sectional.
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Totally agree with Coco Nuts. It's a beautiful fireplace and only painting the mantle shelf and placing a large mirror would give it a contemporary look.
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Sonia
last year
But it’s dark brown Lizzie, never attractive in my eyes 😂 Maybe remove the tiles and open out the fireplace? Then you could put in a biofuel, electric or a log burner. I opened out my fireplace, removing all the rubble, and then we scrubbed the internal bricks and added an electric log burner and a pine surround which we painted white.
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Thanks again. Wow Sonia yours looks lovely! Great job.
Jonathan
last year
last modified: last year
To me the insert and tiles are wrong but with those replaced for a cast iron insert it will be in keeping…… and I think that the dark brown only works if you have other dark brown furniture and want to embrace that look….. personally I love to see this painted in a strong colour with matching wall colours.
Lizzie J thanked Jonathan
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Thanks Jonathen. A cast iron insert is certainly worth considering. Its all so dark atm that may be adding to the dark look would work🤔
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Thanks Wami, interesting to see the older thread. We have a wood restorer coming to look at the feasability of sanding it all back to its original colour. whatever that actually is! whatever we do the tiles, old gas fire and hearth are going. Looking out for some nice light tiles to useand then an insert to place some logs on, we dont intend putting another fire inside. thanks again, very interesting to see what other houzzers have done.
Karen Sargent
last year
I had the same dilemma when we moved into our house with 2 fireplaces. I left one in natural wood as it has a beautiful colour and I pained the second one. With the pained fireplace I also bought stickers to hide the original tiles as I didn’t like them. Super cheap and easy solution. Here’s what they look like
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Both so different but equally classy. You would never think these were stick ontiles. they look great! Did you need to restore the wooden fireplace or is that how it was when you moved in? Its a good colour, sadly ours is so dark- possibly mahogoney, still trying to get a wood restorer to give an opinion and price to restore it. Slow project but will be worth it eventually.
Karen Sargent
last year
It was that colour so no restoration needed. Good luck with your project.
Holly C.
last year
It's a lovely fireplace. With new tiles, it will look great either lightened or painted, IMO. Painting is more fashionable at the moment, wood will be more respectful to the original. But either will be beautiful.

(It's always a relief when horrible tiles are non-original and can be removed with a clean conscience, isn't it? One of my fireplaces had hideous cream tiles from the 1980s which I was delighted to rip out. The other is original brick and I'm gritting my teeth and preserving the original, even though it's not at all what I'd choose.)
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Thank you Holly. totally agree re a clear conscience about removing the old, but not original cream flowery tiles. whereas the actual fireplace will Im sure improve with restoration, maybe some light sanding. I will send some pics when its all completed. Ive got my eye on neptune firplace tiles. Work not yet started but getting excited. Re your original brick Ive seen simiilar with a generous ie thicker complementary grout. looked lovely. thanks again Holly
J
last year

I have a fireplace similar to this. The tiles are very reflective. A darker wall colour works much better than a light o one.
Lizzie J
Original Author
last year
Thanks J. your tiles are attractive in design and love the colour! agree re reflective aspect.
Pauline Luxford
last year
Sonia, I don't mean to sound daft, but when you say scrub the internal bricks, (of your fireplace) with what? Did you use good old soap and water, or is there an easier solution?

Outdated but original fireplace

Wumi

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