Help needed for a victorian fireplace surround
margot tenenbaum
7 years ago
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Comments (8)
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HELP: Victorian Fireplace
Comments (7)Hi Nancy. I agree with SJD on the tiles. I know you don't like it but the bit that stands out to me is the white plasterboard at the back as there's so much of a contrast. I would either paint that a stone colour or go lighter on the surround. If it wasn't rented then perhaps you could actually pop a fire in but I don't know if it's worth the money? How deep is the hearth? Could you look at putting something decorative in there? I would also add a mirror or art above (something with a bit of wow to detract your eye) and maybe keep accessories to 2/3 larger things...See MoreRetiling fireplace hearth & victorian inserts
Comments (6)From a practical point of view:- Obviously you can put what you like on top of the hearth, tile straight over tile on tile, but you'd need to make a surround as you'll see the edge. I'd make sure that your hearth tile isn't going to clash or look wishy washy against the white skirting and the marble of the actual fire surround. Also, as I see it's a working fireplace, if you go for something very light on the hearth, the grout will be filthy within days. You also couldn't go for a tile with a porous surface as this would lead to the tiles themselves also getting dirty. You'd either have to seal the surface of the whole hearth to make it cleanable, or go for a shiny surface tile & somehow seal the grout to keep the soot of it. Once on, never off. This is why hearth's are usually grey / black with grey grout. I'd keep the hearth as is, because it matches the fireplace and is a practical colour. With regards the tiles on the fireplace, they are inserted from the back of the fireplace in to a frame not visible from the front. The only option you have without taking the fire out is to tile on top of those tiles. You will then get the same problem with seeing the edges as you would if you tiled the hearth. You can buy thin 'pencil' edges to possible combat the problem such as these from B&Q Pencil Trim you just need to put your tiles in between them. It all depends on what the tile surface is like and where the originals butt up to the cast iron. Maybe you would be better off with fire retardant tile paint for the fireplace tiles....See MoreVictorian fireplace refresh
Comments (11)Thanks Johnathon. I have toyed with the idea of trying to prise off the tiles and would love it if there were original tiles back there! I am also thinking I'd need a back up plan before doing something like that just in case there is nothing there! I think you're probably right about the hearth being less offensive without the vertical tiles but the corner is chipped on one edge so will probably want to change it anyway. Thanks again...See Moreclassic stove or insert for a Victorian fireplace
Comments (10)The space is currently too small for a log burner, so you would have to open up the Chimney. Unless you are going to use this as a source of heat every day / most days, then given the new legislation that's probably going to come in re the use of log burners and open fires, I probably wouldn't bother with one. I think in your case i'd go for the gas inset. It really is down to personal preference though, how much work you want to do on the Chimney and how you will use it. We have a log burner and would freeze without it. It's a lot of work though....See More
PROboundsgreener
7 years agoHi Margot - I'm going to make the comment that I'm sure you anticipated: please don't fiddle with it! You could pull one of the colours from the tiles to use around the room to draw attention away from the dark - either with paint or accessories. Here's what I did in my old place, which might not be your style either, but hopefully gives you some ideas:
Wayne Bryan - Designer
6 years agosjtashfield
6 years ago
special morning
6 years agoWe had a similar problem and got a skilled carpenter to box it in and cover it over. Then painted white.
Although we already had a white mantle piece and surround it was just the immediate tiles we hated.
minnie101