How can I make an brick inglenook fireplace look less imposing

6 years ago

Our lounge has a brick walk in inglenook fireplace. I find it too imposing. We are having the gas fire changed to a wood burner and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas how I can "scale down" the fireplace. One idea is to lower the beam and plaster above it.

Height from hearth to bottom of beam is 166cm (5'5").

Beam is 20 cm (8")

Top of beam to ceiling is 47cm (18")

We don't want the expense of a new carpet so the hearth part of the fireplace has to stay.

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Comments (8)

Resh
6 years ago
Cheapest would be to paint it to match or complement the wall, minimising its impact. If that doesn't work for you, you can still do structural work to it later.

Painted or whitewashed brickwork can look great.
Misha M
6 years ago
Apart from the above, I think your tiles are too dark/dated and contribute to the imposing feel.
Would you consider painting or replacing them?
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Hello erross, Ah well.. hahah never mind.. I may have suggested placement based on someone else's furnishings but there's possibly something to get out of it nonetheless. Glad you're going with the wood burning stove idea. If you didn't choose a double door stove like Trish suggested, there are single door options too.. It has more flame visibility with a larger glass window... There are so many to choose from.. We had a Jotul at home where I grew up.. It was magnificent.. you could take the top off and smoke fish.. It was long rather than wide but the heat was amazing.. There was an open fire at the other end of the room too, but it had a little window to open so you could see the flame if you wanted .. You could then have an option to have a longer but slightly slimmer stove and store a pile of logs at the side of the chimney.. : )) http://www.stovesco.co.uk/store/stoves/wood-multifuel/763/burley9112.php or Jotul idea.. This one is an old one.. Exactly like the one we had at home.. but.. there are more modern versions and Jotul is available all over the world.. For old maybe Ebay..
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I think it all feels cold- probably a combination of having a deep roof overhang over the window, the walls being painted white, the contrast of the white and the terracotta colour of the brick/sofa/curtains- and the down lights are probably a little harsh. Personally I think the walls need a different neutral, perhaps with a green quality to balance the reds of the brick etc. (Such as Farrow and Ball -James White). I would also get some table lights, make sure the bulbs in the spotlights are warm white, install a dimmer, put up some pictures and buy an oversized houseplant.
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Jonathan
6 years ago
I would have the inside plastered and painted in a pale colour.
You could also tint the bricks a paler colour on the outside.
I also agree that the quart tiles date the feature and I would put slate or flagstones on top of them
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I would make it more impose but in good way by painting brick in charcoal colour. It gives you modern look.
tamp75
6 years ago
Leave the brick inside the fireplace but maybe tone it down a little. Get the rest of the brick plastered over, including the little display recesses which are very dated. Change the tiles to slate (still could be tiles to make it cheaper) and it would look so much better.
tamp75
6 years ago
By plastering over, I meant to say fill / block up and remove the recesses altogether.
Resh
6 years ago
And as someone suggested, a slate hearth would go over those dates tiles without needing much disruption...
User
6 years ago
Decopierre the lot to stone . With lowered beam in stone wood...

How can I make an brick inglenook fireplace look less imposing

Comments (8)

Resh

Misha M

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