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Design Dilemma Living Rooms Storage

Do you have a fireplace like this?

7 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

My living room has a 1940s tiled fireplace. Although I'm keen to keep it, I'm unsure how best to use the alcoves for toy storage; I can't visualise a contemporary way of complementing the fireplace. Please do any of you have any ideas or, even better, photos you could share of what has worked well for you?

Featured Answer

Lauren

7 years ago

This looks more like a 1930's art deco fireplace to me rather than 40's.

They do tend to be the most contentious era and type of fireplaces and so they\ve cropped up a few times on Houzz. I think the best way to go about encorporating it into the decor is to play up the deco theme with statement mirrors/clocks/art etc.

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Comments (12)

Lauren
7 years ago
For storage I would suggest going for something like the ikea expedit shelving which is uniformly square and should pick up on the square stepped detail and tiles on the fireplace. This could be enhanced with wallpapered backs in complimentary colours like the first pic below.
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It looks like the original brick around the sides of the opening, with a bread oven on the left. I would remove the concrete at the bottom, clean up the original bricks and make a feature of the bread oven as a little niche to display some nice ceramics. You could plaster above and around, then add a piece of slate for a hearth, and if you haven't got enough money to add a fire - real or gas/ electric, I'd put a temporary block on the chimney to stop draughts, and fill the fireplace insert with a plant, dried flowers, wood- even books stacked in there would look nice and purposeful until you can afford what you really want. You could add a floating shelf and a mirror above, too. If you only have a limited budget I think it's always best to wait until you can afford what you really want rather than compromise, and if you are not sure make it look tidy until you have decided.
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nmlondon
7 years ago
We have got four in our new house, which was built in 1934. Still work in progress. I quite like them, though not keen on the colour of tiles much.
Daisy England
7 years ago
Sorry, couldn't cope with them. Sledge hammer springs to mind.
alice_driscoll
7 years ago
I think they are 1970s... We are getting rid of ours
KK1000
7 years ago
They're not nice, I would get rid of it.
Midcenturylass
7 years ago
It's lovely! We appreciate Victorian fireplaces nowadays, but people merrily ripped them out a few decades ago. I think any kind of open storage or simple shelving would work, perhaps painted a shade of white or a pastel to tone in with your tiles.
Sally Roberts
Original Author
7 years ago
This was my first time seeking advice on Houzz and I found it very helpful. Thanks nmlondon for sharing your photos, MidCenturyLass for your advice on open shelving and thank you Lauren for taking the time to post such useful comments and photo examples. I am currently seeking pale, square shelving to fit one of the alcoves and a statement mirror.
Angela Gilham
7 years ago
I've always rather liked them.

If you're open to going the whole hog on the Art Deco theme, one possibility for storage is to pick up a couple of 1930s sideboards and use them in each alcove if the alcoves are deep enough.
nmlondon
7 years ago
Came across these when searched arts and crafts/art deco fire places on houzz. Liked the idea of the shelves, painted or plain wood.
KK1000
7 years ago
I agree it would look much better with timber surrounding and shelf , but I am not sure whether they are meant to be finished of like that. I am not fan of the look but like to tweak something that I am not happy with, some people like the original at all costs.
jozweedy
7 years ago
I had a fireplace like this in my old flat with the same alcoves - we painted the fireplace white (can't remember which paint now), covered the mantelpiece in plants that hung and trailed and shelved out the alcoves for books and artwork with the tv at the bottom on the left hand side. I loved it! You can get a really cool mid-century feel with those fireplaces.

Unfortunately being in a city we weren't allowed to light the fire so we had pillar candles in the actual fire place which made it feel cosy

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