1930s features

[shiveringwiggles]

Buying a house with 1930s original features (picture rails, wooden doors, tiled fireplace) and I'm in two minds.

I cant decide whether to rip it all out and modernise or keep/restore.

Is it worth keeping for resale value? What would you do?

[Shesapunkpunk]

Some things you should keep. But definitely not that fireplace

[EasilyDelighted]

I like picture rails. Are the doors the panelled ones with high up bakelite handles? I'd keep them too. Less sure about the fireplace.

[Palavah]

Why are you buying a house with original features if you're just going to rip it out.

That fireplace will look great with different wall colour and flooring.

[shiveringwiggles]

@EasilyDelighted the door handles are like these, high up on the doors.

[GreyishDays]

The fireplace is a fashionable colour. Might look good with new carpet and walls around it.
I think you should keep it, it’s sad to see original features ripped out in general.

If you don’t like them then you might be better in a new build?

[shiveringwiggles]

@GreyishDays that's the thing- I hate new builds with a passion!

[sashagabadon]

I love 1930's features! don't rip them out - they are just becoming the new desirable features to have - like victorian is/ was!
In fact, I absolutely love that fireplace - it could look great if made a feature and a nice trailing plant on it.
I have just put in a replicar 1930's fireplace into my 1930's house as the previous occupant ripped the original one out.
I love it

Gotta say, i don;'t think those door handles are original 1930's though??

[Palavah]

The door handles dont look especially 1930s. Are you wondering about the doors too?

[EasilyDelighted]

I don't think those handles are 1930s either, have you got a picture of the whole door?

[shiveringwiggles]

Unfortunately no pictures of the doors :-(

[EasilyDelighted]

I have to say that although I don't love the fireplace I'd be reluctant to rip it out.

[Shesapunkpunk]

Those door handles don’t look original. Maybe the fireplace would look better if you get rid of the non-1930s features.

[Palavah]

1930s typical doors are unoffensive and not faffy to paint as less coving than victorian.

Handles tend to sit higher up.

Tbh I'd keep it all. It's part of the charm of the house, easy to make neutral colours or feature, and it can be tricky to replace without it looking odd.

[JoJoSM2]

Those door handles don’t look original and I find the fireplace insert v unattractive. There are cheap books on Amazon on 30’s house styles that could give you inspo for what would look in keeping. I’d go down that route.

[HildaTablet]

Agree that those door-handles aren't 30s style. If they looked like this, on the other hand......

[sashagabadon]

the fireplace insert isn't original obvs - looks electric? and they don't have brass.

anyway, I would prob remove that - and replace with an original insert/ grate etc

It will look immediately better.

[7to25]

I'm pretty sure that is not a 30s fireplace. It is too low and doesn't have any "step" features or a wood surround.
The tile colour isn't right, either.
Looks like 50s or 60s to me. Door handles should be knobs. Bakelite or oval brass. Door style one over three.

[Shelley54]

Our house was built in 1935. I love the picture rails - and they look really clean and crisp with painted walls. I also have an ugly original fireplace, but we've kept it. It's been here 85 years and I don't want to be the one to rip it out! 90% of our doors are original but we had 80s brass door handles that we replaced with silver modern ones and that made such a difference. Especially keep any stained glass in or around the front door - beautiful on a sunny day.

[Witchgonebad]

Don’t rip the original features out.
That fireplace insert isn’t original, it’s a gas fire! I bet if you replaced the insert with a proper grate and decorated the room generally it’d look completely different.
Don’t change it all too hastily.

[sashagabadon]

that is definately 1930's style
A previous house I lived in was built 1929 and the fireplace was exactly that style - sadly a less attractive tile colour but I learnt to love it!

these smaller fireplaces were used in bedrooms for example or smaller front rooms in smaller houses (my house was a terrace 2 bed) and they did not have surrounds

[EasilyDelighted]

This is the sort of door I was imagining

[shiveringwiggles]

@EasilyDelighted love those doors! Sadly, not the doors I have.

The power of Mumsnet- I think I might keep the fireplace!

Where do you all stand on tile painting? Is there a way to do it that doesn't take away from the fireplace? I could live with the grey but nice to have options.

[Witchgonebad]

I would leave as it is for now. Just strip the floorboards/replace the carpet and paint the wall in a colour to compliment the tiles.
Then replace the insert with something in keeping. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
Are you opening up the chimney?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Those high handles were a godsend when our kids were little. They couldnt escape if we shut the door to the room we were in.

Picture rails are brilliant for painting up to or not needing a ladder to wallpaper up to.

We had very similar tiles fireplaces but did remove them after dd fell over backwards once smt cracked her head on the hard surface. Ours had the stepped edges inc in the bedrooms.
We kept them in the bedrooms and painted them.

[sashagabadon]

[quote shiveringwiggles]@EasilyDelighted love those doors! Sadly, not the doors I have.

The power of Mumsnet- I think I might keep the fireplace!

Where do you all stand on tile painting? Is there a way to do it that doesn't take away from the fireplace? I could live with the grey but nice to have options.[/quote]
noooo, donlt paint the tiles - it will ruin the look completely

just learn to love the colour - pick a wall colour that will complement the tiles, trailing house plants like Devils Ivy on the mantlepiece and a nice largish plant in a nice plant pot on the hearth like a monstera/ cheese plant - it'll look great - honestly