Retiling fireplace hearth & victorian inserts

7 years ago

Hi,

As you can see, our black tiled hearth badly needs updating, and at the same time we're considering upgrading/modernizing the victorian-style inserts in the fireplace too.

Any suggestions for how to approach? We'd like something neutral but serves as an accept (i know it's silly, but ideally work with my gorgeous geometric cushions in the other pic below).

So far, I'm thinking concrete/stone/white tiles in 30x30 or subway size for hearth, and then patterned tiles for the inserts which evoke either the olive green/mustard shades of the cushions :)

Thanks in advance!

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User

7 years ago

cant give advice on fireplace but...what are those cushions??? They are gorgeous

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Comments (6)

Jeni Fisher
Original Author
7 years ago
They're from http://kitmiles.co.uk/ :) I LOVE them, so I need my fireplace to match :)
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Dear Jennifer, i agree with the other commentators the fireplaces look original. They might be marble but are more likely to be marbleised slate. But the tiles look very new. I am sure originally the fireplace would have had a caste iron insert. I have a large marbleised slate fireplace in my lounge, and another in the cellar which had been removed from the dining room by previous owners. Although large my fireplaces would have had caste iron inserts, both removed before I bought the house. The only thing that appears strange in your photographs is the location of the fireplaces, especially the top one which appears to be located in a corner. Has this room been divided, the wall to the right of your picture may be new, butted up against the chimney stack. The skirtings also appear new, which would confirm this. You don't say whether or not you are concerned how dominant these features are. I was concerned for some time as to how to integrate my fireplace into my white and Ivory colour scheme, however a brushed steel insert, firegarde has helped. I'll send photographs if that would help.
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PRO
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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.
Jonathan
7 years ago
As MATH says the way you do this properly is to take out the fire surround, change the hearth and tiles then replace the surround.
minnie101
7 years ago
Hi Jeni. I think the colours in the tiles pick up the cushions perfectly. If im honest I wouldn't change tiles to match cushions which have a very short shelf life anyway. Why not paint the chimney breast the dark olive green? You've also got a green in the tile. If the hearth needs upgrading I'd go for black again
Juliet Docherty
7 years ago
I agree with Minnie. if the cushions are your main source of inspiration I would also paint the fireplace wall. I have just painted a wall in Mouses Back Farrow and Ball and it looks stunning and reads as slightly olive.

Retiling fireplace hearth & victorian inserts

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Jeni Fisher
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Retiling fireplace hearth & victorian inserts

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Jeni FisherOriginal Author

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Jeni Fisher
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