What would you do with this 60s fireplace

[Lelivre]

The gas fire is broken beyond repair so need to do something. The surround I didn’t mind when moving in as the house is 60s.

But...there are some cracked tiles and we don’t love it.

We are pretty skint. Can we retile it? I keep seeing fairly simple marble or stone used fireplaces on gumtree, is this an option or a nightmare to install.

Or just replace the gas fire for a more contemporary one. I can’t think. Any advice welcome.

I actually like your fireplace. I'd be tempted to replace the just the fire and keep the surround.

Looks nice to me. I would hesitate before replacing it.

I would just replace the fire (ad the brass surround). I can assure you that taking out the whole surround and replacing it will not be cheap and it will be messy. You appear to have lovely decorated walls, so do you want to mess this up? Tiling over the top would be a poor choice I think.

I’d take it out and put a contemporary gas stove in the hole , which would also get rid of the hearth part , although it would mean getting a match on the flooring .

I was going to post earlier that I liked it, then got worried about being excommunicated by the style mafia!! So glad I'm not alone. I think it looks good in your room. If anything, I think the thing that lets it down is the rather 80s gold-trim around the fire - black would look better.

Haha!!! This cheered me up!!! I will struggle to get a match on the floor at this point! I like the inset wood burner style ones. I just get sarcastic comments occasionally about the fireplace so I thought perhaps it should go! I may hold onto it now!

I’m thinking to keep it now (not worried about painting but don’t want lots of expense and mess I’d you think it’s not too ugly) anyway I’m posting another pic of the fireplace in case anyone wants to reconsider

Here it is In all it’s glory.

I think a feature like that is a bit like a bold hat. Wear it confidently and you are lauded as a style queen, wear it timidly and it falls flat!! Maybe consider adding some of the nicer mid-century accessories to the mantlepiece that will harmonise with the rest of your decor, yet that will simultaneously make it clear that this is a deliberate choice, not an afterthought?

Ok I’ll think about that thanks.
Fire itself is pretty nasty and here when me moves. Yes it will be 80s

I would get a fire like this ideally

Here is ours mid being knocked out and after but before painting . It’s made a lot of difference in our lounge which is still a work in progress . Before it had exposed brick and a large hearth sticking out into the room , which was great for stubbing your toe on .

I like that too, it’s not run of the mill and quite a feature. I’d keep it and do something with the actual fire.

Get rid of the fire and gold bit, make good the hole and put something decorative inside (candles/ flowers etc)? Or a more modern fire as per above.

I actually quite like the surround I'm currently committing a style faux pas with my electric woodburning stove in the fireplace alcove. I only have it for the flickering light, rarely have the fan heater on

Can I ask what paint you have on your walls?

gingerK - I did mix it but I’ll look at my paint chips and see what’s closest. Friends with two wood burners have a plug in one in another room and it was very cosy and appealing

Thanks! I'm looking at the Dulux teals, your shade looks gorgeous

I think keep it too!
ginger, I have Proud Peacock Dulux teal on my walls, I can recommend.

Hi Ginger it’s very very close to Turkish Blue in the fired earth paint chip book. Next closest is F&B stone blue. Still a bit too green in real life for me so toning it down again next time.

Ok so looks like the fireplace will stay and I am all for an easy life. The GAS fire I posted above is £15000!!! So need another modern gas fire option that’s for sure!

I’m in a similar position with my fireplace. The fire itself was brass like yours, but scuffed and rusty in places. I bought a can of high heat spray paint from Halfords in matt black for £10 and it’s done the job perfect. It’s made it look more modern for now.
I got a plumber to look at the type of gas fire it was, and typically it’s one that quite expensive to replace. One option would be to have it capped off and replaced with an electric fire, as they are cheaper to buy and install, and they seem to come in a bigger choice on modern designs. But I do like a gas fire, so I’m hanging on for now.

Would it be possible to paint the mirror the same colour as the wall? The style of mirror frame doesn’t match the fireplace, but it is a great mirror

I actually really like the surround. The gold fire I would replace with something like you suggested earlier. I don't like the hearth. If you replace the fire with one with a black surround, I would paint the hearth with black tile paint. I painted mine black (I had particularly unattractive bottle green tiles) and it totally transformed it and it looks great.

Oooooh there is an idea!!! I like that. I agree it could make a big difference. Might you be persuaded please to post a photo?

Mirror looks better in real life it is muted matte gold and the fireplace has a golden bronze trim but I could try another one. I have lots of mirrors. Wouldn’t paint this one as it was a gift.

I also like it. Looks more late 70s/early 80s to me though. Still suits the period of house so I'd definitely keep it

Op, think you have a typo there, the gazco fire is 1500 not 15000...