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Other Design Dilemma Fireplaces

Hideous fireplace

5 years ago

We purchased a home a year ago with the ugliest, non-vented fireplace. We are probably never going to use the fireplace because of the danger of CO poisoning. It is in serious need of a facelift, and painting it isn’t going to solve the problem. Is there a way to build some type of frame work around it and then tile? Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!

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PRO

Hansen Wholesale

5 years ago

Can you post a picture from further away so we can see the entire fireplace from floor to ceiling. I may be able to come up with some design concepts for you. Also, post a picture of the entire room so we can see the decor.

What you have is an old Heatilator wood burning fireplace. Someone retrofit it with a ventless gas log. If you intend on using the fireplace, the general consensus among professionals is that you cannot remove or cover up those vents as not only do they serve the purpose of circulating heat, they also help keep the metal burning chamber of your fireplace cool.

I have heard of some who removed the stonework and rerouted the vents to the sides to make them more obscure. Otherwise, you have to design around them, which is tough to do.

I see these several times a week as I sell fireplace doors and people are always sending me pictures. We provide vent covers that match the doors we sell as a way to tie them into the fireplace a little better, but it's hard to make the disappear.

Most of these fireplaces have a single vent at the top and two at the bottom, but often times there are 4 like yours. I have provided some pictures of ones where we provided glass doors and vent covers just so you can see you are not the only one with this type of fireplace.

Notice how some of them have slots in the masonry instead of vent covers. If your fireplace does not have fans beneath the bottom vents that are wired, removing the stone and adding a different facing may allow you to put slots directly into the new facing to build them into the design a little better.

Here's are some examples of fireplaces like yours:

Provided by: Hansen Wholesale Fireplace Glass Doors

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Comments (11)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I'd be surprised this that is real stone. I'd bet it can simply be popped off the substrate and replaced with tile. Good luck.

Without knowing the appearance of the rest of the room, maybe if the 'stone' was stripped it would look better in a more natural color. Have you thought about getting an electrical FP insert?
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Both of those suggestions are great!!! Thanks so much for your input. I never even considered an electric insert. That is definitely worth taking a look at.
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We had a similar hideous fireplace in our Victorian flat. We bit the bullet and ripped it out ourself, it turned out to be a reproduction and I suspect yours is too! It was easy to take it out. I then bought a smaller, more appropriate fireplace on gumtree for £100 and attached it using grippafill and two brackets at the side onto the wall. We had to pay a plasterer about £80 but it was amazing the difference it made!
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I agree with headers- there is no half measure- the hideous fireplace has to be replaced with something grand enough for the room. You may also have to reinstate some skirting. As far as decorating I love the earlier suggestion of Peignoir, I think you should put down a silver carpet or a wood with a silver quality (not yellow), woodwork should be a soft white (not brilliant white) and if the ceiling is painted a pale grey white coving will stand out more. Since the windows are missing any architrave, curtains and pelmets are in my opinion a better option than blinds or shutters as curtains will hide the edges. When you choose a light fitting remember to choose one that is a wide as the ceiling rose- if there is no rose then get one the width of the door.
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I'm sure we've seen this before with those pipes..................a couple of months ago ? When you were thinking of wallpapering? Wallpaper looks great, but yes boxing in wlll disguise the pipes and the fireplace. If it's not your house, ie a rented property why are you doing the work?
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Not a lover of the surround either it was plastered over a hideous brick fireplace (long story) and is staying there until we either move(in a few years) or replace the back boiler and get rid of the offending baxi altogether!! Got solid oak flooring I will have to replace that one I scale it down a bit as well
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User
Original Author
5 years ago
I just removed one of the vents at the top of the fireplace exterior, looked inside the hole and and it is real stone. THICK real stone. There used to be an old wood burning fireplace prior to this ventless being installed and I was able to see the brick wall behind the new thick facade. Ugh.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Well, like I mentioned...............depending on the style of the room, stone in the right color could be perfect. Tile, without a surround, will be quite contemporary.

Do you have an inspiration photo for the room?
Colleen Borgesano
5 years ago
Love ur ideas
HU-187528210
5 years ago
Agreed with Beverly. Those flat stone ideas are beautiful
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Beverly, I’m not such a fan of the floor to ceiling fireplaces. I prefer something understated, but I really love the one with the graduated surround! It still has a mantel and I would want to keep that as an option.
User
5 years ago
woof, that is bad. what were they thinking with those vents? weird. yes, you can easily build all kinds of things to cover that up. and if you plan on decommissioning the FP, then the sky is your limit when it comes to materials.

I'd start by removing the insert and trying to carefully demo the rock veneer off to see what's underneath. maybe you'll hit the jackpot and find a nice material under there that only needs some patching and painting. if anything, removing the veneer will slim the profile to get it ready, should you decide to put new materials over it. for the inside, you could paint it black and put decorative logs or candles in it.

CAUTION: some old fireplace inserts used asbestos rope as a seal between the insert and the stone, so you might want to hire a pro to do that part!
anj_p
5 years ago
so if it used to be wood burning, doesn't it have a chimney? if the chimney still works, you can get a gas log.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks so much! Here’s the rest of the living room. The room itself is 18x24.

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