Ugly old fireplace

[HorsingAround2022]

I’m desperate to change the fireplace in my living room but don’t know where to start.

We have a working chimney but it is an old disconnected gas fire that we have blocked off so our daughter doesn’t pull the fake coals out constantly.

I’d love a tiled or a exposed brick log burner, but I’m reading mixed opinions on log burners, being a environmentally friendly is of the most importance with a new fireplace.

Has anyone replaced/ renovated a similar fireplace who could give me some ideas?

Excuse the scribbled on photo, trying to block out all of the toys!

We had similar at our old house. We had the gas fire removed and then opened the fireplace up. It was horrendous because what seemed like a ton of soot was there. But when that was finally cleared we simply had a nice opening. We never bothered getting a wood burner because we couldn't afford to. We did put in a nice chunky mantelpiece.

I have installed a wood burner in my current property and that cost the best part of 2k to fix and line chimney, buy the wood burner and get it installed.

Watching with interest, we have exactly the same problem! Wood burners I have decided against because of the environmental problems, but then I come to a blank. Gas stoves look naff. I think I'll open it up again but coal fires are also terrible for the environment!

Do you need it as a heat source?
If not, just keep it as an open fire (make sure your chimney is up to it though) and out a log basket or similar in. If you really fancy an open fire you can. They throw back more pollution into the room than a burner but as long as your room is adequately ventilated this is unlikely to be an issue if it's very occasional. The rest of the time you can simply keep it staged, or if you want light/ambience you can put candles, fairy lights etc in there.

We removed an old gas fire and installed a reclaimed 1930s fireplace. DH ripped the old one out, gas supply was capped off and the reclamation place recommended someone to fit the new one.

We have just had our fire out and multi fuel stove put in, we love it. Haven't had a reason to use it yet but neighbour has one which they say is great and heats the whole downstairs.

Wood burners are very expensive. You’re looking at a couple of grand to install minimum and then you need an outside log store to store the wood, buying small bags will cost a small fortune. You also need a defra approved one, make sure it is hetas registered engineer who installs. You need to get it swept annually for your house insurance and when it is installed the hetas engineer will register is with building regs, otherwise you invalidate your house insurance if you have a chimney fire.

you need to burn seasoned wood, or smokeless coal. I’d ask why is it you’re getting one? We have one but are rural and have a large living room and we are self sufficient on wood, I’d say we go through a very large basket every two days, October through to March. So maybe two supermarket bags a day.

We recently replaced a wood burner to a gas fire as the gas connection was still there. Yes, gas is expensive, but doesn’t produce toxic smoke in the house as long as it is properly maintained.

there are some ugly gas fires out there, but also some nice simple modern ones. We got the surround and fireplace from Chesneys. Their website shows some good examples of what you can do and lots of different looks.

Op if you’re just getting one for thr aesthetics and budget is an issue go for an electric one , you can get them from fifty quid on Amazon or costco and you can ger some fairly decent mid range ones for a couple of hundred quid. See link here but you can Google loads.

www.dimplex.co.uk/electric-stoves

you will still need a builder to open the chimney up, but honestly you could get away with not even doing that, just get rid of the current mantle, add a nice oak ledge in its place and sit an electric one underneath, tile over what is already there, you need deep pockets for a proper wood burner and space to store the wood, and unless it’s a proper period property or in a rural /semi rural setting I’d not bother. You can achieve a similar look for a few hundred.

Open it up you can put a fire basket with logs in for a focal point. If you need a heat source get a gas wall heater

We did what @Dirtylittleroses suggests. We moved into a house which had three fireplaces blocked up. In one of them someone had added hideous slabs of stone all over the chimney breast and most of the adjoining walls. The previous owner had left a little electric fire.

We spent some time with a sledgehammer removing the slabs, got the walls replastered and put the electric fire which looked exactly like a log burner in the fireplace. We haven't bothered with a mantle, but did re tile the bit in front of the fireplace.

It looks better than it did before and we rely on radiators for heat.

If you are on a budget and want a quick fix you could chalk paint your mantle a lighter colour and maybe epoxy resin the fire surroundy bit? But check re the fire proofing of anything you use