To rip out a 100yr old beautiful fireplace?

[Adriftat46]

Sorry only posting here for more traffic!

I want to consider the possibility of moving my beautiful original fireplace from its home in the ‘back room’ to the ‘front room’.

The back room will become part of a larger modern open plan extension - think roof lantern and bifolds, tiled floor, etc.

I worry the old fireplace will look out of place.

The front room has (lots of work needed) all the original features except any kind of fireplace. Currently a boarded up hole.

Can I realistically get good builders to somehow take it out of one room and reinstall in another?

It would give me the chance of putting in a modern flame source (gas, electric?) and possibly hanging the tv above it.

The old fireplace has a mantelpiece and large mirror with another shelf above, it takes over the whole wall.

Any thoughts?

Ps of course I will not be ripping out an original feature to dump in a skip!

Well I think it's lovely but I'd be tempted to see if it was possible for it to be lightened.

Ity’s a tatty 1910 fireplace of no particular interest whatever the setting.

Actually you are wrong. It's It's nice example. I see a few of these when I record/assess houses (I am a buildings archaeologist) but many have been totally ripped out. A 1912 fireplace in a 1912 house is an asset and it can be modernised by painting or stripping varnish.

OP if you do move it pop a note between the wood and the wall explaining where moved from and date. I love finding builders grafitto.

@TatianaBis

Oh my God it’s hideous.

I wouldn’t bother moving it just send it to salvage and get something nicer and less brown.

I agree. I'm not sure why you'd keep that if other parts of the house are going to be really modern.

Thanks Mog, love the note idea.

Lightening it could be a possibility.

I was brought up with the ‘if you’ve nothing nice to say, say nothing’ philosophy.

Chikapu - I try and retain original features where possible. The back of the house was already slightly modernised before we bought it, the extension will add to that.

The front half of the house is still period and the front room has perfect Victorian proportions and I’ll be keeping it that way.

Its gorgeous, I'd definitely want that in my 1920s house!! Our house is a little older, but no original fireplace. Its an assent in an older property!!

And just because you want some modern parts to your home, its not an all or nothing thing, mixing traditional with modern can work well!

We moved a fireplace. Most people assume its where it always was. A few people say 'isnt that a night grate' as ours came from upstairs to downstairs.

@mogtheexcellent

Ity’s a tatty 1910 fireplace of no particular interest whatever the setting.

Actually you are wrong. It's It's nice example. I see a few of these when I record/assess houses (I am a buildings archaeologist) but many have been totally ripped out. A 1912 fireplace in a 1912 house is an asset and it can be modernised by painting or stripping varnish.

OP if you do move it pop a note between the wood and the wall explaining where moved from and date. I love finding builders grafitto.

@mogtheexcellent

Wrong about what. I got the date correct. I’ve seen gazillions of these. It’s not particularly good quality or of any particular aesthetic interest. It’s worth taking to salvage and replacing with a nicer one as I suggested.

You can get much more attractive, better quality Edwardian fireplaces than that.

We moved a fireplace like this in our old house and revamped the wood so it ended up a lighter colour in the new lighter sitting room. It rather dominated the darker smaller room it was in previously and looked great in the bigger room.
Edwardian/victorian houses round our way are especially valued with such beautiful original features

I think it's lovely - keep it in your house, definitely and move to wherever you want it. Did you say you might hang the tv over it though? I really wouldn't do that unless you really have to.

Good grief, I know this is AIBU but there are some rude posts on here this morning.

I like it OP and it fits with the period of your house. The most important thing is that YOU love it and so moving it sounds like an excellent plan.

Lovely fireplace and would definitely be moveable. You can buy ones like these in architectural salvage yards. Suspect the people who don’t like it don’t live in period properties!

I love it too OP

Each to thier own taste.
I have a very similar fireplace in my 'front room'
Couldn't stand the brown, I painted it white and can't wait for the day we do up that whole room, I'll be having it removed. I will try selling it rather than throw it in a skip tho
The colour makes a huge difference, when it was brown I felt it took over the entire room, so in your face, you couldn't miss it even if you tried. After painting it white, it's not a monstrosity, opened up the room a lot, you can walk in the room and that's not the first thing you see.

It’s a great fireplace, definitely keep it.

I’ve had an old fireplace put into a room which had had its original removed many years ago. Apart from the fact I think it is too small for the space (would avoid this in future by cutting out cardboard shapes to check the proportions) it looks like it’s been there since the house was built. Installed by the place that sold and restored it.

They said they are getting ‘new’ fireplaces and fitting them all the time, which made me realise all these original features that appear on EA ads are often not original to that property at all.

Thanks for more replies.

I won’t hang the tv over this fire surround, but I could possibly hang the tv where it currently lives. If that makes sense. I haven’t got a ‘home’ for the tv atm, or after the extension is finished and it’s caused many discussions about where it could go!

If I move the fire/mantelpiece/wooden surround to the front room, then I free up the wall space above the hole in the wall.

Tatiana I’m intrigued as to what you would consider a nicer fireplace? Could you share a photo of an example?

Just curious.

Yes I think it would look great painted a lighter colour,

We had a fireplace upstairs that was moved into the dining room, it looks great!

Go for it

When you are running a gas pipe, I'd be tempted to chuck in an electric cable too.... If in the future it becomes impossible to replace a gas fire, you will appreciate having a ready electrical supply without disturbing carpets or flooring etc.

Don't go for gas or electricity, they simply aren't ever convincing as a flame source. Get a multi-fuel burner or have an open fire.

Check the width of the chimney breasts as they can be different between rooms.

It doesn't matter whether some people think it's ugly. You like it and it is your house. I bet they have "hideous" things in their houses that they love.

I think it's a great idea to reuse it in another room if you're going for a different look where it is now. Other people's (rude) views are irrelevant. As for it not being a "good example", it's the fireplace that the original builders chose and keeping it is the best thing you can do.

Tatiana she didn't ask if you liked it. She asked if it could be moved.

I think it's pretty.

You should see the horror I have in my house - it's very chipped peach/dirty beige tiles. I clicked on this thread out of interest because I'd bloody love to rip it out and get something else nicer!