I agree with Rennew Traditional Building Materials - it's not a question of what's 'trending' or 'passé', but of really paying attention to the existing building and marrying that with the sensibility of the future inhabitant. Some spaces suit the industrial treatment, some don't, and no-one should be forced to be fashionable. I can't help thinking of the old Bauhaus principle of 'truth to materials' though. If you find yourself faking an 'authentically exposed' surface, then something isn't quite clicking in your analysis of what's in front of your nose. Not that I wasn't once taken in by an entirely ersatz 'industrial' café in Paris once, which was not, as I'd supposed, a converted butchers! The convincingly-aged metro tiles were to die for...

Hi Beccikiddo, I'd highly recommend against wallpaper in a fireplace recess (due to heat on paper etc) However that's not to say you can't find something that would be suitable. I would like to suggest that we (Brick Slips) are the leading UK supplier of brick tiles and slips which we supplier and produce from real genuine clay bricks, thus giving the same look as you require. Take a look at our public website https://brickslips.co.uk If you have any questions, please drop us a line or email sales@brickslips.co.uk 0844 567 8811 Kindest regards, Brick Slips

Bricks are a fired clay product and will give you 4 hours fire resistance so do not worry about fire. If the wall is internal then no problem re heat insulation, however if the wall is an external wall then the insulation to a new wall should meet the current heat insulation standards for a dwelling.How you meet the requirements will depend on the construction. If a new structure it should have been checked by the Building Inspector. If an existing wall then check out the construction to assess where and how it can be insulated - cavity fill would be most discrete if you wish to avoid heat loss. Traditionally almost any paint can be used but will need regular freshening . if you like the bricks then simply seal them with a proprietary brick sealant and no more painting of that wall.

Both could be suitable for different projects, depends on the circumstances...