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Original poster

Should we keep this surround for our wood burner?

71 replies

Callmegeoff · 02/10/2016 14:13

We've just knocked a wall down to create a kitchen diner. We're about to install an 8kw clear view wood burner. I'm finding it hard to decide whether to keep what I think is the original surround. I think a simple oak mantle might look better - any views?

Should we keep this surround for our wood burner?
OP posts:
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Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:02

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

It's 3 slate tiles for the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:02

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

It's 3 slate tiles for the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:03

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

3 slate tiles make up the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:11

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

3 slate tiles make up the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:11

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

3 slate tiles make up the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
GinAndOnIt · 04/10/2016 11:15

shove that's the bloody cupboard loo that someone built in, in the most obscure place. I don't know if you can see from the picture, but the door has obviously been taken from somewhere else and had a big chunk chopped off the left hand side. Utterly bizarre. We have rectified most unusual choices from previous owners, but this one is still yet to be fixed Grin

GinAndOnIt · 04/10/2016 11:16

Ps, thanks for wall colour comments. Lucky really, because I've painted most of the house that colour as a base Wink

Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:30

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

3 slate tiles make up the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 11:31

gin I love your wall colour.

pickled this is my lounge wood burner , we took out a really ugly 1930s fireplace to install it. The guy who fitted it put the mantel on (excuse clutter) it's from the other room.

3 slate tiles make up the hearth.

The other picture better shows the window seat- it does have a cushion ( not comfy ) the dog loves to sit on it and bark at everyone.

OP posts:
shovetheholly · 04/10/2016 13:20

gin - I think geoff likes your wall colour Grin

As do I.

Mumsnet is ultra-glitchy at the moment!!

Original poster
Callmegeoff · 04/10/2016 13:27

Gosh it is, pictures didn't attach - will try again!

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GingerIvy · 04/10/2016 19:41

geoff I am right there with you on the windowseat. I love ours, but it would be perfect to put our table there (and yes, Christmas tree!) and open up our front room a bit. Plus the radiator is actually IN the windowseat, which is the most odd thing I've ever seen! The dcs would be so upset if we ripped out the windowseat as they love it and use it all the time.

Original poster
Callmegeoff · 05/10/2016 11:03

What colour is that gin?

Should we keep this surround for our wood burner?
Should we keep this surround for our wood burner?
OP posts:
GinAndOnIt · 05/10/2016 11:14

It's Skimming Stone - it's worked really well with lots of different 'feature' colours and looks different colours in different rooms. I'm really pleased with it.

PickledLilly · 06/10/2016 09:23

It really is a beautiful house Geoff, I love all the period features!

Original poster
Callmegeoff · 06/10/2016 19:30

Update , just met with the fitter who suggests he can grind out the side tiles, but retain metal surround. Keep the wooden surround and hearth. Pleased about that, price all in 4.2 k unfortunately needs to be done with scaffolding. Now to convince Dh we can go ahead Smile

Price is ok I think.

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Original poster
Callmegeoff · 06/10/2016 19:31

Thanks pickledlilly

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Coughingchildren5 · 07/10/2016 08:20

Taking out original features to install modern trends will eventually devalue your house. Remember how original features were replaced with gas fires and wooden sashes with plastic windows? Bad idea in hindsight. Save what you can and work with it.

shovetheholly · 07/10/2016 12:15

I reckon that will look really nice, geoff. Can you get the tiles out intact and use them elsewhere? They look lovely.

It's funny what counts as 'authentic' period furniture. I'm guessing most people wouldn't necessarily want to live solely with things from any one period (imagine actually living an entirely Jacobean house! Or dealing with an actual 1805 kitchen), so in the vast majority of cases, it's always some kind of inauthentic compromise.

Am surprised scaffolding is needed and that the wood surround will be OK, but what do I know?! Grin

Original poster
Callmegeoff · 07/10/2016 16:52

holly I don't think so he's using a grinder. He did measure and said the surround was an inch out so shouldn't really be kept, but for such a small amount said it would be fine. The scaffolding is to drop the liner down and install chimney thingy. I'd hoped he could use a cherry picker via my neighbours drive but it's not possible. We have a very high house.

I have a Dh problem though, he really doesn't like the surround and wants something much simpler like our other burner. Any way I've booked the work for 7th November so I have time to convince him Grin.

coughing the owners of my old house ripped out lovely Edwardian windows and replaced them with double glazing. It sold for 30 grand more only 2 years on bet it was warmer too!

Does anyone think the current trend of kitchen diners will become dated? In the 80s my parents made a lounge diner which is now not popular. I can't imagine it will I just love the much larger space now the wall has gone but I was very nervous of doing it.

OP posts:
Coughingchildren5 · 07/10/2016 18:46

Ultimately you have to make your home work for you!

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