Fireplace/Stove - restore or remove? (Advice please)

8 years ago

We've recently moved into a property with this old stove and we'd like to do something with it. It's from the 1890's - the only original piece left in the house as the rest was redone before we bought it - and it either needs restoration to look the part or removal. At present I'm leaning towards removing it as it isn't a functional stove (flue is closed off) and it will require extensive refurbishment with parts that I don't have nor the time//inclination to find.

If I did remove it I would put in a slate floor with a few logs or candles to make it look nice. One extreme idea was to put in a wood burning stove with a big window that I could put lights or candles in to be a feature.

I'll keep the stone surround.

Any thoughts? Please weigh in - all voices welcome. Please include photos if you can of your ideas so that I can see what you're thinking.

Just to give an idea of space, the width is 160cm.

This is the sort of oven I'd consider - panoramic window - but doesn't have to be this one.

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Comments (3)

Jane Caborn
8 years ago
I love the original stove and hate to remove original features but if it isn't working for you then the other option looks great too. I tried to restore original Victorian floor tiles but in the end it was impractical and looked a mess. If you need the stove to generate heat go for your second option. If as a design feature stick with the original.
Elan Tsarfati
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Jane,

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I've also been discussing this with quite a few people - everyone thinks I should keep the range and do my best to refurbish it. So, my plan now is to speak to more local antique dealers to see if they have missing pieces to help me build this back together. I've also spoken to a fantastic place in England called Antique Fireplaces & Ranges (http://www.antiquefireplacesandranges.com/) and they've given me tips on how I can clean and bring out the beauty in this piece with some iron paste called Black Lead. They also suggested making the missing pieces (if they cannot be sourced) with a local theatrical company that makes props for sets. This is a very reasonable idea given that I never intend to use the range other than as a feature piece.

Thanks again, Jane and have a Happy New Year!
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Is it painted or is that polished cast iron? I'm asking as there's a lot of detail visible, whereas a painted fireplace they'd look 'softer'. If it's painted then you only need to strip the paint if there's a load of layers or if it's flaking off etc. Looking at your fireplace, the details are very clear and probably ok to paint ( unless it's polished cast iron, in which case I've no idea). I'm painting one in a bedroom at the moment which I've washed, sanded the gloss very lightly before undercoating with Zinsser 123 (because I've got a massive tin of the stuff) and a few coats of white eggshell from a tin that needed finishing off. I coated the black section with Rustin's Matt black. Not the best pic, work in progress as it needs another coat. In an ideal world I wouldn't have this painted, but the wall colour forced my hand!
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Judith Evans
7 years ago
I'd go for the wood burning stove - love that second picture

Fireplace/Stove - restore or remove? (Advice please)

Comments (3)

Jane Caborn

Elan Tsarfati
Original Author

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Fireplace/Stove - restore or remove? (Advice please)

Comments (3)

Jane Caborn

Elan TsarfatiOriginal Author

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Elan Tsarfati
Original Author