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What to do with this dated fireplace... with a small budget

6 years ago

I am wanting to modernise this fireplace. It is in a downstairs livingroom/dining area. I haven't sorted out the floor but planning on having an oak laminate flooring. I am keen to keep the white walls.

My plan was to paint the rather outdated mahogany in a chalk paint. I was keen for a grey but having done a test sample of "flint" rustoleum chalk paint it has shown some horrendously yellow/peachy tones to the marble that I hadn't noticed before. Therefore I was considering using the hessian chalk paint which is more warm toned.

I have found some almost perfect curtains that contain a creamy/yellow but make it actually rather nice (in my opinion) Not sure which is better the cream colour or the grey tone curtain material.

I would be grateful for any suggestions.

thanks

:)

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Comments (5)

Karen Woods
6 years ago

We carried out a refurbishment of a similar mahogany-coloured fireplace last year, using rustoleum satin finish paint. We also removed the brass fire basket and surround which was identical to the one in your photo and replaced it with a small free-standing Dimplex electric stove ( a £40 eBay buy!). Here's a pic of the finished effect.
Tamara Anne
Original Author
6 years ago
I do like the white finish - very nice!
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PRO
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I like the material that you've chosen. You just need to be careful with greys and oak flooring. It needs to be a warm grey to go with the wood. Cooler greys don't look so great.

I think that leaving the old fire and the hearth in situ are a mistake. The mantle is just screwed to the wall, so that's easy taken down as is the hearth and back plate.

If you remove them and open up the fireplace ( it really is fairly easy to do, and if you do it yourself it costs nothing ), then you can always cut another plain back plate the shape and size you want from MDF and paint it plain to match the wall, with the fireplace another shade.
As above though, I feel that the Mantel should be white and the wall the colour, it will go better with your flooring. I would also not choose the grey unless you compare it to a sample of the floor first.

You can always add another fire at a later date!
Kate Home-Roberts
6 years ago
Hiya, we painted a very similar fireplace in my sons bedroom- I popped the frilly chintzy flowers off with a screwdriver, primed and painted! Looks fab
Daisy England
6 years ago
I'd keep the granite surround and hearth and replace the actual mantle and sides of the fireplace with oak.

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