Fireplace

[Lambethlil]

I've uploaded a photo of my ugly fireplace onto my profile.

Please help me prettify it/ accessorize it We use it all the time and wouldn't want to get rid of the guard, companion set and coal bucket without replacing them.

The room is being redecorated and we could put a mirror above it, although we have many pictures that would also go.

It has an ugly wooded bar round it that we could replace with a club fender.

It looks dark wood from a distance, but in fact it's a paint effect stain, so we could paint it another finish.

Any ideas?

Thank you!

I would paint the dark wood bit white, and the light wood colour insert bit black (can't tell what material that is at the moment?)

If you want to go for a cast iron insert effect instead of full black, the paint company 1829 do a colour called Grate Black which really does look like polished cast iron (it's a dark grey metallic paint).

A mirror above it would look lovely. You could also have some pretty tealight holders or hurricane lamps along the top (reflected in the mirror would look great).

I can't really tell what the hearth is made of or what the wooden bar looks like, so not sure what to suggest on those. Club fenders are nice but a v traditional look.

PS I don't think it's that ugly - you should see the red marble shocker we've got!

Thank you PG.

(Spooky -I am eating peanut from the jar as I read this!)

I'm certainly minded to paint it white, but for all its faults at present it at least doesn't get dirty (or show the dirt)and we light a fire regularly.

The lighter wooden bits are in fact tiles- original 30s, and I think if we're keeping the dark surround it would be perverse to change the tiles.

(I'd like to rip the bloody thing our and gave a hole with a wood burning stove!)

I'm backtracking on the fender idea now I've seen how expensive they are.

(I'd like to rip the bloody thing out and have a hole with a wood burning stove!)

And I previewed, sorry.

Ah couldn't tell they were tiles. Do you like them or not? I have just painted over the horrid tiles in our cast iron fireplace, and it looks sooo much better. though I don't think they were original.

Is it a real fire then? (coal/wood?)

I think I'll try the white wood and cast iron effect insert.

It is a real fire- hence the heavy skuttle and companion set- we burn smokeless fuel.

I think if the surround was pale and with lighter (chrome ?) accessories it would look better.

Off to google Grate Black - thanks!

Good luck! I painted our tiles with a multi surface matt paint that said it worked for tiles (i.e. used that as a sort of primer), before painting on the Grate Black.

if the fuel is smokeless the white should be ok