What to do with 1920's/30's fireplaces?
Ellis
6 years ago
I have just bought a property built in the late 1920's and can't decide what to do with the fireplaces in two of the bedrooms? I'm not a huge fan on the style of them but didn't know whether painting them both black would help? Would love to know your thoughts...
Many thanks in advance guys.
Many thanks in advance guys.
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
chief_brody
6 years ago
Daisy England
6 years agoRelated Discussions
What can I do with my fireplace?
Comments (6)Hello Questn, A good room you have there and good floorboards! Don't rip it all out and start again! I would say take all that part out that you mention. The rest is absolutely fine!! With the hearth (the floor bit) take it out carefully as you may find a piece underneath that you can paint- I'd suggest a black or have a piece of slate made to sit there... The room is a good size so I would definitely open it out more.. I have attached an image of mine with a focus on the opening.. Unfortunately in the 30's they bashed up the marble surround threw it in the recess and put a little 30's fire in front.. I couldn't afford to replace it. So I just created a mantle with what little budget I had.. Ie None! Point of the photo is to show you the opening with just a basket. I put in a new lintel to be safe buy you should be able to check as you start removing the front. No need to remove the mantlepiece while you do this. I would have a think about the chimney breast colour before you decide on a colour for the mantlepiece. Little Greene do a lovely colour for the space above the picture rail and also the ceiling.. Whitening- it's a lovely chalky and bright creamy colour.. perfect for those two areas. Decide on a nice colour for the chimney breast and then paint the alcoves and rest of the room with a nice light colour to compliment... So for an example.. Grey moss (Little Greene) for chimney breast, Whitening (LG) for above space between picture rain and cornice and also ceiling. Then for alcoves and other walls..Ceviche is quite nice complimentary colour... For the skirting, picture rail and cornice, make sure you paint these all the same colour.. An eggshell in slaked lime (LG) could be good... All depends if you want it to really contrast or compliment.. I have not mentioned the window frame but if you want to paint that then use the same colour as well for that too and the architrave round the door. You could also do the mantlepiece in the same colour... You'll see I have only suggested 2 or 3 colours and that is as much as you really need... Of course my choices here are suggestions to give you an idea.. Get some sample pots and paint them on paper and stick them to the walls... So you can take a look through the day and see how the light changes the colour. With flooring... I painted my floorboards white as I hate carpet but again it's just a suggestion.. What I would say is get the chimney looked at and see if it can be a working fire.. They will sweep it and give you a certificate... Get them to do all the fires at once as it's easier...Then all you need to do is buy a good cast iron basket. If you intend to use it like I do then you need it swept every year and a certificate which they will give you. Have some logs delivered and away you go... Store them in a log store to dry.. As damp logs smoke!.. Or even if you don't want to use it - you can create the look as if it works... Just lay a few logs in... It's a good room - it's going to look very stylish.. Enjoy working on it.. : ))...See More1920's Semi - Open plan design help
Comments (4)Thanks for clarifying - I suspected the velux windows would be in that back area, but always worth checking! Your 3D View also gives some useful info. To ask another question - are you restricted as to where residual sections of wall may still remain after you have opened out the space? Again I would be speculating on what was load bearing and where there may still be obvious structure left (e.g. hiding RSJs). Your 3D plan shows quite a large section of residual wall by the kitchen. There are so many options, it is difficult to know where to start. One option which may be worth considering is moving your kitchen to where the dining room currently is (if services allow) and bringing a breakfast bar across further back into what is currently the lounge. This might make nice use of the bay windows at a sink, and the hob could be positioned in the breakfast bar so you could chat with dining guests while cooking. It would also open up a larger footprint for the lounge (where the kitchen currently is). The fireplaces sound like another challenge - it would be interesting to know just how close they are and what profile the wall is around chimney breasts etc. Where possibly, I would try to avoid removing chimney breasts (often a can of worms), but work with the existing wall profile - you can use shelves & fitted furniture to create straight clean lines, and a second fireplace "gap" could be used as a log store to avoid assymetry. Wrt doors - I think 3 next to each other is overkill in an open plan area like this, but might still keep 2 depending on where any remaining sections of wall are and how you lay out the area. With so many possibilities, I'd mock up a few on CAD and chat them through with family/friends or a friendly local designer to narrow it down. I'd also think carefully about what furniture you have or will get - sizes and shapes may point you towards a particular layout. Good luck and have fun designing!...See MoreIs this fireplace original 1920/1930s?
Comments (7)Not an expert but I feel the wooden surround is probably original to the house and painted white at a later stage. The tiling looks later than 30s to me although, as you mentioned, there is a deco element to it, but some 50s tiled fireplaces look Art Deco inspired. Possibly put in at the same time as the fire. Will you use the fireplace with a fire? Btw, bit of a pity the cornice isn’t original....See MoreHelp with fireplace in 1920s house, please
Comments (6)I don't think you should replace it with something plainer. If you want simpler lines I'd remove the clock and candlesticks and put a vase of plain greenery and that would instantly update and make it look cleaner. Also if you were able to lift the mirror higher or a narrower, less chunky frame would make it cleaner looking....See MoreEllis
6 years agochief_brody
6 years agoEllis, if you are going to keep and paint then don't use black but a deep grey colour. I used one from F&B but can't remember the exact one. Here are some pics of one I painted and some that ended up being stripped. Its a big house so some on the top floor were not as ornate. We are still working on the house so will finish them later. Good luck!
Sonia
6 years agoJonathan
6 years ago
PRONicky Percival Limited
6 years ago
Nick Rice
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
It's a shame some people come out with mindless comments such as 'sledge hammer' them, there is value in everything and what one person doesn't want someone else might (consider selling on gumtree or ebay or even offer them free for someone to take away?)Agree fireplaces in bedrooms do take up valuable wall space but also add character to a room and in older properties adds value too.
We are in the process of putting a tiled one back into our bedroom (1930s semi), keeping it clean cut with minimal furniture.
J C
6 years agoEmmanuelle
6 years ago- PRO
User
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoShame on the sledgehammer gang! - Period features add value- Spray paint them in Pewter and give them a nicer hearth. It's a little easier on the eye than black, so better for a bedroom - I know this is a larger one, but you get the idea.
Plastikote do a pewter metallic spray - as do Valspar Valspar metallic paint at B&Q
Here's the wife on site after she finished installing this one, building the hearth and testing it out. - She won't need so many clothes now bless her - Good girl!
Behind every good man, there's an even better good woman - x
Humber Architecture