Do I paint the mantelpiece (and picture rail)?

8 years ago

I would like to paint the brown mantelpiece and picture rail white but a couple of family members don't seem to think it'd look right. Has anyone done a similar thing? Advice on types of paint would be great too. Thanks so much.

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Juliet Docherty

8 years ago

I dont think it needs the picture rail. It detracts a bit from the coving.

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Comments (24)

Natalie Patton
8 years ago
I think it will look great it will really Brighton the room. It may take a couple of coats but will look fab
headers13
8 years ago
is that an original fireplace surround (I can't tell from the pics)... if it is I would leave but I would definitely paint the picture rail white. Maybe the white fire wouldn't go with the bricks at the bottom or the insert tiles. What colour are the walls ? I think I would paint the pic rail white, walls a light stone or chalk white & leave the fireplace as it is
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I would make a feature of it; it adds character and structure and takes the eye sweepingly along and up which is good for adding a sense of space. Could you paint it a colour that ties in with something else - the flooring or a rug, for example? Or you could put patterned wallpaper or a different colour paint below and a lighter shade above it. You could also hang pictures in the feature shapes above though if they aren't original I'd be tempted to get rid of them. I'd move away from the rather feminine and twee decoration and make it bolder, stronger.
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If you’re leaving the archway as is I think you would just have to paint the picture rail the same colour as the wall as it does look a little odd. If you’re thinking of doing a bit more work, I wonder if the opening was originally rectangular, with the edges finishing at the picture rail . Maybe the curved arch bit is a later addition and can be knocked out to open up the window area a bit more.
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TV above Fireplace - solving the neck ache! This month, we will be importing a new dynamic TV mount, that is specifically designed to easily lower TV's that are fitted above a fireplace/protuding mantelpiece for comfortable viewing. The target UK price for the slim mount unit will be £599 including the ability to swivel it left and right (see photos attached). This solution is also ideal for moving the TV away from toddlers when not in use! Please also click on the two video links below (highlighted in green): Comfortable TV viewing for TV's above fireplaces Installer review of "down and out" mount over Fireplace TV Framing Regarding aesthetics, we regularly use local framing companies to put a custom frame, chosen by the client, around the TV. We combine this "picture frame look" with the connection of an AppleTV to display high resolution paintings or photos on the screen when they're not using it as a TV. Mirror TV If you have the budget we offer a special TV mirror bonding service, which is much less expensive than dedicated "MirrorTVs". We bond a special swiss manufactured glass onto the face of the TV, which behaves like a mirror when the TV is turned off. There are two finishes - "antique mirror" which is quite dark when the TV is turned off, but offers an excellent low amount of reflectivity when the TV is turned on (see picture below). The alternative is our "modern mirror" glass which is almost the same as a real mirror, but relatively reflective, so requires the lighting in the room to be dimmed when viewing the TV. The Pleasure Home - MirrorTV Example Project
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pannacotta
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think I would paint the pic rail the same colour as the walls to make it blend in (is a hassle to remove and make good, unless you are ok to redecorate the whole room).
Re the fire surround, it would look good painted black or really dark grey to tie in with the cast iron insert.
PRO
Akiva Projects Ltd
8 years ago
Hello,

White would look great, you could also pick off white or maybe very light peppermint green, perhaps light blue ?

Good luck with your Project!
elliebag
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all so much for your thoughts! The walls are currently a cream colour but would like to change/ refresh them at some point too.
The fireplace surround isn't the original and it has this dark varnish on at the moment. The floors and shutters are bare wood (which I love) so my feeling was there were too many different shades of wood going on, hence the desire to paint these darker pieces a white or light colour. Still need to give it some thought!
minnie101
8 years ago
Is the picture rail original as it looks quite low? If not I would be tempted to remove. If it is, I would paint it the same colour you opt for for the wall as it's chopping the room in half at the moment. I'd probably also paint the shelves to blend with the walls. I'd go for either a stone or grey for the fire surround to blend both with the cream tiles and the dark hearth.
puddinghouse
8 years ago
I would paint the picture rail and the fireplace surround to match the crown molding. It's a very nice room.
puddinghouse
8 years ago
I would also consider painting the bookshelves and their supports as well. They aren't really a feature or architecturally significant, but most of us like books or interesting pieces in our rooms and we need shelves. Too many horizontals with such high ceilings should be minimized. Let the space soar!
tiredoldwoman
8 years ago
No , please leave it as it is !! I love your leather and natural wood together - it's beautiful .
sjtashfield
8 years ago
Yes - paint them both. The picture rail does look a little low, but if keeping I would match it to the coving. Fireplace should be painted in Eggshell (try an off-white/french grey rather than bright white) - look at Little Greene paints - they have varying shades of the same colour which combine really well.
hounoc
8 years ago
If it isn't too much hassle I would get rid of the picture rail unless it is original. Otherwise I would paint it. I would also paint the shelves. The fireplace is not totally necessary (you do have a brown leather couch) but it might be nice painted.
PRO
Pat Oliver Interior Design
8 years ago
The top shelf is ruining the line of the picture rail and since you aren't really using it, I'd take it down. Leave the picture rail and paint it an off-white with an element of yellow in it. Paint the shelves the same colour. The walls can be 2 different light tints of golden yellow, the darker one below the picture rail. I'd take out the brick hearth, which is not original, and put down a stone hearth to match the original stone which is still visible on the floor, Leave the surround as it is, varnished wood.

For more colour in the room, pick out 2 colours from the fireplace tiles and have cushions in those colours. Also, a more colourful rug would lift the browness of the sofa, table and floor.
DJ
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Definitely paint them, it would transform the room. I would go for a Dove Grey and a paler grey on the walls. Have fun!
Pam Hill
8 years ago
yes paint them white. the victorians did have white paint! not everything has to be bare wood. i would also paint the shelves white and the supports to match the wall. the mantlepiece will need a good primer and undercoat to cover the varnish.

i would also paint the skirting boards for a neater look.
elliebag
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for all your thoughts. They're very helpful indeed! The brown leather sofa isn't mine so won't be staying (another challenge to pick a new one!)

I'm going to take the plunge and tackle the fireplace and picture rail : )

I'll match the picture rail to the coving and the fireplace an off-white. Then sort out the dark shelves after. The walls may have to wait until a few pay days time! I'll try and do an 'after picture' but may be some time away! Thanks all.
babyethen
8 years ago
I would paint the picture rail and shelving white. Paint the walls a light colour. Leave the fireplace for the time being and see how it looks and If you can live with it. If not paint the fireplace white. My daughter painted hers white and it looks great. Her walls are also white.
Emma Marsden
8 years ago
We have painted our picture rail to give it a cleaner more contemporary feel. Looks brilliant!
senzanome
8 years ago
We bit the bullet and painted all the woodwork and fireplace so lovingly stripped 30 years ago. No regrets - we think it looks great - features retained but the room's pulled together in a more contemporary way.
PRO
AL PAINTING
8 years ago
Paint the picture rail and leave the rest
leesidenew
8 years ago
Hi - I wouldn't paint the fireplace or the mantel - particularly if it is the original, the fire surround tiling looks original possibly I can't tell from the pick.

I would remove the picture rail completely, then I would build white cupboard doors and box in your book shelves then build a matching pair of door cupboards and and mount on the right handside of the chimney breast - wall mount your TV and satellite box etc on a tilting cantilever bracket with a shelf either above or below to store all your DVD's xbox games etc..

The doors are easy to make from MDF or tongue and groove, paint them white ( or cream and they will hide and safely store all your bits and pieces.) Choose hinges that you like to set it off.

Then when you look at your fire place your eye will be drawn to it as a focal point, cosy in winter, lovely flower vase or plants when not in use, and by disguising any clutter and raising the eye level your room will look bigger too! - let us know what you do and post an updated pick !
vv0123
8 years ago
I am sitting at the moment in a very similar room, the only differencies
are that the tiles of the fireplace are bottle green and the picture
rail is higher than yours. The ceiling and the walls above the picture
rail are painted white, the rest of the walls are some creamy colour,
which we consider chainging in the future. The picture rail, door
architrave, skirting boards, and the mantlepeace are painted white -
looks like oil based paint, I suppose eggshell would look better. When
we decide to redecorate, I would choose another neutral shade for the
walls below picture rail and white eggshell for the mantlepiece and wood
trims but the general colour scheme will remain the same.
vv0123
8 years ago
If you click on the picture, you'll see the ceiling. The picture in the comment is cropped.
Jackie Hales
8 years ago
I painted my daughters mantle in French grey, it transformed it from a varnished monstrosity into a very nice focal point. I'd go for it and blend picture rail in by painting it the same colour as walls. But as said previously, don't use white as it will be too harsh, mind you that's just my opinion. Good luck with the decorating.

Do I paint the mantelpiece (and picture rail)?

Juliet Docherty

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Natalie Patton

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Do I paint the mantelpiece (and picture rail)?

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