We are (fingers crossed) buying a house that has, in the front room, a corner fireplace around which is a very dark wooden mantelpiece. It extends quite a long way up the wall with some carved twisty pillar things and is very dominant given the small-ish size of the room. I think it's original 1930s and wouldn't want to get rid of it, but would want to update it. Any ideas? Not that wild about white gloss, was wondering about a pale colour wood stain or paint ... But i do like the reflective depth of real polished wood.. would i lose this with paint...?