Don't like our fireplace, what would you do?

[Fashionista22]

We've just bought Victorian house which has a huge marble fireplace in the sitting room which I don't like at all. I was looking at having it removed but the more I did, the more I realised it might not be as easy as I thought an now I'd feel amost a bit guilty for removing it.

At the moment I'm thinking about changing the tiles and painting the marble...

Does anyone have any experience with painting a marble fireplace? What would you do?

Thanks!

You need to show a picture of it - not something which isn't tiled because I can't quite picture yours.
I have a brown marble fireplace and I hate the marble but I painted the walls on a colour so it is less of a contrast. I'll live with it.
By the way I had a marble surround removed to be restored (and put back) and it will ruin the plaster work and skirting and maybe the floor so it will be a cost to refinish.

Could you take a local parson under your wing to extol it's virtues to all and sundry? It might change your opinion of it, Lady Catherine 😊

I don’t think that’s original. Looks like the wrong period, too much marbling and no tiles. I would source an original or a sympathetic reproduction and remove it. It’s no big deal, just get a fireplace installer to do it. Lots of surrounds and mantles on eBay, the installer will build your hearth and fireback and test it. Get a sweep in to clean the chimney and away you go.

Honestly - it's ugly - some Victorian stuff was shit - age does not give it beauty. Rip it out and find a beautiful one in a reclamation yard. And fixing up the plaster after ripping it out is easy.

Love the fire surround but not the marble.

In terms of painting it - I painted my fireplace, even the clay tiles on the hearth, used heat-resistant paint and it looks great - been surprised by how robust it has been. I hated what the previous owners had done and didn't want to spend a lot of cash fixing it.

https://www.tikkurila.co.uk/muuri

Please post a pic of the actual fireplace!

I can’t picture where you mean when you say the tiles are “in the middle”. What does the hearth look like?

I think we need to see an actual picture. I'd think carefully about removing it, much better for the environment to keep what is there and make it work for you. Not sure if the example you gave is accurate for the shape (assuming not since no tiles) or colour. If it is that dark marble it is beautiful and it would be a crime to paint over it. I'm sure it could look fab. Look on Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration. What is your style like?

Are the red tiles like these? I'd go fairly neutral with the room decoration with just touches of black and red details (light switches, lamps, etc).

Can you elaborate on the “much better for the environment” justification if the removed fireplace goes to a salvage yard and OP replaces it with a salvaged one, which presumably she would do if she wants a period look?

At no point has she said she plans to take the fire surround to a salvage yard or buy another period fire surround from a salvage yard so you are making assumptions there. But assuming she did that how would it use less energy than keeping what is there already?

I think that fireplace could go quite easily with most room schemes. What plans/colours do you have? I think it could be a grower on you with the tight decor.

It's neutral/cool coloured so that's why it looks crap with red tiles.

If it's in the wrong place for the room furniture, it could be moved but think your room would be poorer for it

No more assumptions than you are making.

Following this logic - we should all just leave our houses the way they are - unless something is broken we should just learn to love what we have - good luck convincing people with that argument.

I'd get rid of the marble but keep the actual fireplace if that's possible

Yes, they're this red. I'm not there at the moment so can't take a photo but it's a similar to this layout https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/building-garden/fireplaces-mantels/19th-century-st-annes-marble-arched-fireplace-surround/id-f_21995332/ with red tiles each side of the gas fire..

It would be easier if it wasn't Victorian but I think it is based on the survery etc. I've reached out to quite a few people/salvage yards etc but they haven't been very helpful/said it would be a big job, not many more people I can message now.

My style is the total opposite really, I like neutal walls, wooden floors etc

Thank you for your replies everyone, really helpful!

It’s difficult to say without seeing the actual fireplace, but it suits the style of the house and room in general, if you could find a way to remove and replace the red tiles (or even paint them) then that fireplace could look nice with the wood floors and neutral walls etc, it would tone it down a bit, it needs a simple décor really.
Failing that just get rid of it if you really dislike it as you’ll end up doing so anyway in time.

Is your house quite grand or more cottage style?

I see what you mean.
I would go to the expense of replacement.

Or, give it a go painting first, and replace if that doesn't work out.

This is the fireplace of someone on Instagram. She has managed to make it look very modern!

Less white in that fireplace though than the one posted below.

Well if you can get someone to take it off your hands for £4K you're on to a winner!

https://pin.it/604Ez6a3i

Sorry the link is there to it but not the picture I intended to post isn't showing but the fireplace there is not unlike yours

Thanks for your help everyone!

We've just found out we can only have carpet which is so dissapointing! It's a really grand room with high celings. I was so excited but now feel a bit deflated with the fireplace I don't like and now carpet.

Anyway, I think we're going to paint the red tiles first and see how that goes, what colour would you paint them?

The pinterest link doesn't work but the picture above looks nice, makes me think we should paint the sitting room a colour rather than beige (even though we've just spent £200 on beige paint eek)