Talk to me about fireplaces!

[Florabritannica]

I am in the process of buying a flat in a converted Victorian terrace. Kitchen and living room both have fireplace openings with surrounds, but just a hole instead of a fireplace. I’d like to put a fireplace insert in the opening - but, having measured the surrounds, they don’t seem tall enough to fit an insert.
Am I missing something obvious? What’s the best way forward? Get a new surround that will take an insert? Leave them as they are? Get custom-made inserts to fit?

You should post a picture

I think you need to explain better, why an insert and not something like a multi fuel burner?

Not a great picture - does this help?

Maybe I’m not explaining well because I don’t really know what the options are. I’m not planning to use it - given that there are two flats above I think it would be complicated - I just don’t want an empty hole.

Take measurements and when they re-open trawl a few reclamation yards, look on ebay and so on. They come in all sorts of sizes.
You could face it with brick slips or paint it black in the meantime.

I measured the living room fireplace - it’s 80cm high. I’ve done quite a lot of eBay/reclamation trawling and I haven’t been able to find anything below 90cm.
Is that just because I haven’t looked hard enough? I was wondering whether there was a minimum height (I am completely clueless about this).

Honestly if you don’t plan to use it just buy a second hand small wood burner and sit it in there, you can get them on eBay, Facebook etc, cor about sixty quid,

They do seem small, I think standard would be about 3 foot square. I think they look quite tasteful as they are though. Paint or tile the inside and add some candles or maybe a freestanding grate.

Just a thought, you are measuring the opening in the marbled surround not the cast iron bit?

You can get electric stoves too. There's one that has a steam effect to make it more realistic. I was looking into them recently but I've never used one or seen on in the flesh!

The kitchen one would look fab as a wine rack.

You could put a fire grate in and not use it - lots of options here:

www.gratefireplaceaccessories.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=fire+basket&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7yCBhDJARIsAMWFScOXlEQHMSGJtdI2h80MWbojheyIqPBWfLHfiDc76h27scN7jLC9mHAaAu13EALw_wcB#page=1

@teatoweltable you have it! I have been measuring the cast iron bit which I assumed was integral to the marble - so does that come off?
Embarrassed but I did wonder all along whether I was getting something wrong - which is why I posted here.
Lots of good ideas though - having looked at brick slips i think that could look really good, maybe with a freestanding grate.

Massive thanks to everyone who posted.

[quote Pigletty]You could put a fire grate in and not use it - lots of options here:

www.gratefireplaceaccessories.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=fire+basket&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7yCBhDJARIsAMWFScOXlEQHMSGJtdI2h80MWbojheyIqPBWfLHfiDc76h27scN7jLC9mHAaAu13EALw_wcB#page=1[/quote]
Actually that’s not a bad shout. Out a grate in, pile up some logs in it. Job done.

www.aveccookers.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/600x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/e/l/electric_stove_dusky_pink_1_095_lg.jpg
Get one of these!!

@veuvestar omg I am in love.

Aren’t they gorgeous? They do loads of different colours

They are seriously cute

You can also get some cheaper authentic wood burners. Just to sit in there, not to use.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264266765606?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=264266765606&targetid=1140323548310&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006810&poi=&campaignid=12125451281&mkgroupid=117045676499&rlsatarget=pla-1140323548310&abcId=9300480&merchantid=115210368&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5tHv9pCz7wIVELrtCh3tdgUxEAkYAiABEgKDRvD_BwE

Or something like this.

www.electricalworld.com/en/gb/Focal-Point-ES2000-Electric-Stove-with-Log-Flame-Effect----Grey/s-5085-9323.aspx?PartnerID=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=UnitedKingdom&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5tHv9pCz7wIVELrtCh3tdgUxEAsYASABEgKdn_D_BwE

This is all amazingly helpful. Love the old French wood burner and yes, something like that would fill the hole beautifully. I could have that in the living room and the Everhot in the kitchen (now I’ve seen it I’m not going to be able to live without it) and get a reclaimed ‘bedroom’ fireplace for the bedroom, which just has a hole and no surround.

Oh my god that everhot stove is so cute!! But pricey!

We bought a bioethanol stove - it looks like a wood burner in style but doesn't produce smoke or waste and doesnt need plumbing or plugging in like a gas or electric one.

The bioethanol stove needs venting surely? That’s not going to work for me.

@Florabritannica

The bioethanol stove needs venting surely? That’s not going to work for me.

No, no vent required. It has a small metal tray inside, into which you pour the liquid ethanol. Then you light it and shut the door. It doesn't produce any waste product. The flue is for show as the stove itself has vents (presumably to allow oxygen in) and it looks better with the glue on it. Some batches of ethanol have a slight chemical smell at the end of the burn, i have noticed.

*flue, obviously