I think you could probably look at taking out that bit of red... Plasterboard? Leave the surround! Marble surround is fantastic and you could really open up the fireplace more actually.. You could take out the small grate and have the entire recess open and then buy stylish basket that is bigger even if you don't use it. You will see what the width is when you uncover the front. Just make sure the lintel is intact which I am sure it is... I had to add another to be sure. See image.. You see what I mean about being open.. Also I was not as lucky as you as I found my marble mantle piece bashed up in pieces at the back of the recess... I could not afford to replace it... So it's a piece of wood and two brackets! You have red above the picture rail, so I would keep that and paint the chimney breast a deep deep red that compliments what is already in situ. Also raise the mirror slightly or even replace with something a little bigger in height. : ))

hi all, as promised (or threatened ?!) here are the photos of my new fireplace. I am still not convinced that the wallpaper on the chimney breast is right and we are thinking of just repainting the whole area white/offwhite. (The carpet and curtains are new). the red in the previous photo above is what was on the wall pre-installation and i was hoping to replicate that, but could not find a plain red paper anywhere! so have gone with red curtains instead. any advice regarding replacing the stripy paper welcome !! thankyou

Hi Clara, Congratulations on buying an Edwardian property, its still on my dream list and it is my favourite architectural period besides Deco! Your Edwardian property might have some Arts & Crafts influence (not an architectural style, but an artistic movement which emphasises craftsmanship) which might be apparent on some of the external detailing of your home. The mantle could be original. The piece itself could have been done by an artist or the builder may have just "fashioned" the house in a particular way to make his houses sell (yes that used to happen back then too!). In the Edwardian times this may have been seen as "fun" or "whimsical". I would have expected to see a tiled surround and that is what is throwing me a bit, as a colourful and light surround would have given it away, especially in pink, blue or green! Looking closer at the photo, maybe there are tiles that have been painted over? The detailing and egg motif are quite simple, which again may or may not be from the era as during this time there was so much variation, (some artists and architects detailed things in either a revival or were leading the way for less detailed designs and sometimes the builders who were trying to stay on trend just got the styles wrong). I would start by meeting your neighbours and see if your home was built as an individual or as part of a development. If it is part of a development, checking the details in some of the other homes could help. The next thing I would do is see what material it is made out of. If it is pine and looks like it was "machined" then my guess is that it is not original. If it is built from solid timber and has layers of paint and or varnish underneath it could be a real gem! Personally, I think it is original as ornate fireplaces were very fashionable at the time, but other things that would give it away are any original remains in the exterior details of the building, such as any decoration (Queen Anne style) windows, doors, posts, balconies etc. Either way, I;m totally jealous. I hope this helped give you a head start on your journey! Have a great day. Jo

Hi, the thing that stands out to me is the clashing wallpaper and curtains. As you say, the wallpaper has had its day and needs to go. Then I would paint the wall in a slightly bolder neutral colour such as Dulux Egyptian Cotton or F&B Skimming Stone. I feel these colours will go nicely with the curtains and the lovely footstool (I’m a great fan of footstools!) but do try tester pots first. Or even darker? I find good lighting really can cosy up a room, especially at night. Make sure each corner has some lighting, a mixture of floor lamps and tables lamps is good. Dunelm and Wayfair have good ranges. Then put the tv unit at an angle but mostly against the wall not the curtains. I love the little stripyish cushion which has some fab colours in it to dress the room. A rug would also help cosy it up in a warm neutral shade (not too busy) - doesn’t have to cost much. I would also bring your cluster of photos together so that you can create a nice photogallery say on the wall near the tv? I think a more prominent wooden mirror would look nice too. I hope we haven’t baffled you with too much advice - just pick the bits you like and ignore the rest! Good luck. EGYPTIAN COTTON BY DULUX WALLS