Suggestions for boarded up fireplace please!

yumyums

Doozergirl wrote: »

Please take out those fake arches either side. That's not original and must have been put in by the same people that thought the fake Adams surround was tasteful. I wonder if that's the same people that thought the starfish were a good idea as well.

I couldn't do anything but put in a new, tasteful fireplace, even if it didn't work. What amcluescent suggested is a nice compromise. If it's a 1930s house then what was there was probably a tiled number and ugly. There probably isn't anything lovely hiding behind what you have there.

You can make quite a cheap surround look nice by painting it. Prize that urn relief off and the accompanying swags off and knock out the hole and you might get it to pass.

Fake arches have been taken out, don't worry! It's a mess behind there but still looks better than the arches. Trouble is, the ceiling has been plasterboarded and skimmed at some point but after the arches were in, so the ceiling behind the arches is a different level

I think I'm swaying towards putting a new (or reclaimed) fireplace in, even if it doesn't work. Our central heating is sufficient to keep the house warm. Behind there, it's a complete mess though. Looks like someone's put breezeblocks in to make the opening narrower though so these will have to go, I suppose. The brickwork behind is really uneven.

How exactly do I go about putting a fireplace insert in? Do I find one to match the size of the surround if I can get that to look good? Do I have to get the brickwork fixed or can I get away with just cleaning the chimney out then putting an insert in?

Sorry I'm absolutely clueless about fireplaces as in addition to the fact that this is my first house, I'm from a country where no one has fireplaces or heating so it's all new to me!

Thanks for all the great ideas so far

suisidevw

If you're planning on sticking in a fireplace that doesn't work just to look good, just ensure that the surround will cover it, then place and secure in the void (removing breeze blocks and anything else but it won't have to look pretty) and refit surround. Easy stuff.