Reclaimed fireplaces..

[ASauvignonADay]

Want to put an original Victorian fireplace back into my bedroom and living room, but not sure where to start!

Assume I'll need to get someone to actually fit it (or can this be done DIY?!), but how do I pick one? Assume smaller bedroom size for bedroom. There's a hole (currently covered) in one room, do I need to measure this and if so, what measurements?

Go an have a look round local reclamation places. Bedroom ones are the narrower ones. To fit, it depends if you want to use it as a fireplace or not. We relaxed the 30s shiny monstrosity in the lounge of our Victorian house with a reclaimed fireplace and as we are using it as a fireplace got someone from the local wood burning stove company to install it. If it is just to be decorative you can do it (as long as you notify people it's not functional if you sell)

Replaced! Not relaxed. Yes you will need to measure the hole, all dimensions includ8ng depth. Expect to spend plenty, our living room one cost over 1k and then more to fit, add new mantlepiece and hearth. But we've just sold and feel it's paid for itself 10x over plus we have loved seeing it every day!

If it's decorative and not a working fireplace, the original ones just screw to the wall.
Mine was painted bright pink when I found it (it was boxed in, in the master bedroom); I stripped it and then used grate polish to blacken it without obscuring the details with a layer of paint. I'm going to try and get another one on eBay for the living room.
It's only decorative though, we have a chimney balloon to prevent drafts and soot coming from it.

Thank you! Planning for it to just be decorative, so perhaps I can do it.

I've measured the opening and have seen some I like, but the 'hole' in my chimney breast seems a touch small, so I don't know if it opens up further. I can't see a lintel, and it opens up to the right. I guess probably best to get a professional to have a look, bu I imagine expensive!

What is a chimney balloon?

Goes up the chimney and blocks draughts/things falling down, I think!

Sounds useful, thanks. When I had the chimneys swept after we moved in, I found someone had stuffed a duvet up there.Good job I didn't start a fire!

AwkwardPaws, your fireplace turned out well! I have 2 fireplaces which I am planning on selling on. They’re plain. Our house is an ex-council cottage built in 1919 so no decorative features. I’m wondering where to go to sell them on.