house style advice needed

TBeckett100

This is our living room at the moment


1) I was staring at the fireplace last night and I was wondering whether I should paint the brickwork cream - does anyone think the bricks look ugly? I was wondering, if we changed our mind how difficult it would be to reverse the idea?

2) In the alcoves either side, I was wondering whether I should consider in built units to maximise the space. Any ideas on cost?

Any opinions welcome....

donnaessex

Watching with interest because we have the same predicament at the moment. This is what we have just moved into - we are getting it carpeted this weekend then painting next weekend.



By the way I just wanted to say I think your fireplace is beautiful and if that was mine I wouldnt change it at all!

shindig_addict

Hi TB, what a lovely room! I personally think that the bricks give a bit of texture to the overall look and that your room is plenty big enough not to need to maximise space. It looks great as it is.

Of course I know that sometimes you get bored with the same old - I'm terrible for spending fortunes updating everything but I honestly don't think it needs anything.

shindig_addict

Donna, your room is a great blank canvas and judging by your sofas you like a modern look. What were you thinking of doing to it?

ps, better to paint before carpet goes down if poss.

donnaessex

shindig_addict wrote: »

Donna, your room is a great blank canvas and judging by your sofas you like a modern look. What were you thinking of doing to it?

The sofas arent mine - this is the picture that was on rightmove.

We have chocolate sofas so we are decorating in cream and green but I'm unsure whether to paint the bricks, leave them bare, or plasterboard over them.

Edited - we have to work with other peoples time unfortunately - the carpet fitter (my brother) can only do this weekend and the painter (brother in law) can only do next weekend! Cheap labour!!!

Sorry for the hijack OP!

slummymummyof3

OP, you could get the bricks plastered over for a more contemporary feel, obviously you need ti retain the fireplace for your woodburner. Then just paint in a neutral shade.

DonnaEssesx - do you want to retain your fireplace? You could remove it and have that wall reskimmed as necessary. Is it an open fire or what? If you block it up, you would need to have a vent put in the wall to stop dampness.

donnaessex

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

DonnaEssesx - do you want to retain your fireplace? You could remove it and have that wall reskimmed as necessary. Is it an open fire or what? If you block it up, you would need to have a vent put in the wall to stop dampness.

Its not an open fireplace no. The upstairs chimneybreast has been removed so it shouldnt be a massive job to get rid altogether but I do like the central feature and plan on having some kind of decoration in the hole. Not too sure yet.

shindig_addict

Donna, sounds lovely. You could paint the fireplace with a watered down white so you still get the brick effect. I really like brickwork on show as it gives a bit of texture.

Doozergirl

I like the bricks. You'd have to be brave but I've painted one of our chimney breasts in Downpipe by Farrow & Ball. The darker colour sets off the brick surround beautifully I think (I have a lot less brick in mine - it's like a mini inglenook). It's a shame to paint it if it's genuinely old as you can't change it back again.

For built in units you'd get a carpenter in and a whole load of MDF. Our carpenter spent about a day on building us a shelving unit into an alcove in our hall which makes the wall run completely flat now. That's £150 in labour. I have no idea how much we spent on mdf - it was two or three big boards of it, about 7ft high! Just need to decide on wallpaper for the hall and paint it now.

Blackpool_Saver

Yes, I would

pimento

Try watered down paint so they just look lime washed. Painting them would be shame, you just need to lighten them up.

How about half units and shelves above for the alcoves to show off some of your knick-knacks.