Red brick fireplace 😩

[Sweetmelody72]

We moved house in the summer. Built in the 1980s but it does have some character we like, although some things we aren’t at all keen on.

We are doing a full renovation so have the scope to make improvements so that the decor is more to our taste. Have lots of ideas but I’m stumped when it comes to the fireplace.

I don’t hate the red brick, but the whole look of the fireplace is just too strong (the red, the little alcoves , the very size of the damn thing).

The fire is used and we will continue to use it, but I would love people’s ideas on how we could make the whole damn thing more stylish. We’ve been considering plastering over the brick and painting it, but then what??

Photo attached. Check out the little Admiral Nelsons (that thankfully can be screwed off).

@customerisqueen

Definitely get rid - you won't regret it. It's got v odd proportions with the fireplace not going done to floor and looking wider than the chimney breast.

We had similar large red brick fireplace and we took out ... worked well and v glad we did.

Yy the proportions aren’t right, definitely get the chimney cleaned ASAP & a carbon monoxide detector.

Nothing a sledgehammer couldn't sort

I'd take it out and put a new woodburner in. Much more ecologically sound than an open fire and would look better.

A friend bought a house with a similar fireplace in the late 1980s.
She tried living with it.
She white-washed the bricks.
She painted the bricks in with the walls.
Nothing worked.
Eventually she had it taken out - transformed the whole room!
Take it out.

Take it out now - otherwise you'll paint it, replace the floor, then decide you still hate it and have the floor/hearth issue. It's fugly, and as others have said the dimensions are the main problem, so just painting it won't fix it. Make the mess all in one go, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself in 2 years that you didn't.

Thanks everyone

I hadn’t noticed a few things - that its width extends beyond the chimney breast, that the fire is elevated etc.

Since we were prepared to plaster over it anyway, we will now just remove the whole thing and start again

Have it rendered?

We got rid of the 80s fireplace last year after living with it for ages and it's so much better now, the room feels much brighter because the dark matt bricks were absorbing so much light. We put in an electric fire that looks like a wood burning stove because husband can't tolerate that much heat, but it looks the part and I'm happy.

I’m expecting this too. Brown framed windows go next week so, once we sort the fireplace I’m sure I won’t recognise the room

You seem disenchanted enough with it to do for removal or rendering. Can’t say I agree with those who think the height is the issue, our last house had a fireplace this height and it is so much more practical to clean, lay and gaze at over sofa arms. A much heavier looking lintel would, as others have said, balance its bulk better.

That fireplace is hideous in every respect!

I'm glad you've decided to get rid. It makes sense while you're renovating anyway. There's no point in throwing good money after bad.