What would you do with this fireplace?

[OatyLatte]

Giving this room a lick of paint as an interim measure. We can't afford to replace the fireplace right now.

It's not really to our taste, but I'm not sure it's worth trying to tart it up by painting the wood bit, might look a bit naff?

What would do you...

1. Paint the wood bit
2. Paint over the tiles
3. Leave it as is, take it out in a couple of years and hopefully sell the surround to someone that will appreciate it

Leave it as it is

Leave it as it is. What colour are you painting the room?

I wouldn't paint the wood but would probably paint the tiles, you're unlikely to be able to get them off without breaking them anyway, the surround might be wanted by someone else

I’d put it on eBay and use that money to buy a replacement. Definitely wouldn’t paint it .

Personally I'd go Option 3. 1930s is due for a revival and that wood is lovely! I'm a bit soppy for traditional features on 1930s houses though as they've all been ripped out and open planned/wood burning stoved to oblivion.

Keep the fireplace. Get rid of the wallpaper. It's a bit busy looking.

Leave it! It’s a true period feature. Keep a plain wall behind it, massive plant or whatever in front of the grate. It’s part of your house and in lovely condition.

No, do nothing or have it removed and sell it. Agree with a pp, against a plainer wall it will look lovely.

@BaileysforBreakfast you're right the wallpaper is rather busy. We're going for a very neutral colour (valspar spring daffodil). Maybe it will look better once the wallpaper is gone and there is a plain background.

Seems a definite consensus on keeping it as is! To be fair I don't mind the surround so much, it's more the tiles.

It’s the most beautiful example of an Art Deco fire place I have seen in recent times. You will be able to get a fire basket that fits in that grate and you will be able to light a proper coal fire in it( a reputable chimney sweep will check the chimney for you) . It won’t be suitable for logs but coal ( and there is treated coal available from a fuel merchants) which will make it burn cleaner and longer. My advice is to sort the tiles on the floor in front of it as they look to have been painted over. I believe you will be very pleasantly surprised by what you uncover. Please try to love it as it is very special and if in doubt don’t do anything in haste . I’m able to offer further advice but your eyes will start glazing over . You really are very lucky to have it x

It's lovely!! Do nothing, it's the making of the room. You could get the chimney checked and swept, get a pretty little grate and have it as a working fire. It's very sweet.

It's beautiful. I'd leave it.

I like the tiles! I’d be tempted to paint the walls & woodwork (skirting, not the fire surround) something that goes with or matches the blue tiles, or just a plain white – I think the daffodil colour (although I’m looking at it on my phone) might clash a bit.

Leave as is - I think the floor colours really doesn’t do it any favours and is not working with it. The combination of light blue and that purple always reminds me of a football strip (Aston villa?).

I’d keep the fireplace but use it as the starting point of getting a complimentary paint for the walls and change the floor - either sand/wax/varnish the floorboards that look already there, or paint them really dark/black or really light/white (depending on what you’re doing on walls, how light the room is and what look you’re trying to achieve more broadly)

@OatyLatte

Giving this room a lick of paint as an interim measure. We can't afford to replace the fireplace right now.

It's not really to our taste, but I'm not sure it's worth trying to tart it up by painting the wood bit, might look a bit naff?

What would do you...

1. Paint the wood bit
2. Paint over the tiles
3. Leave it as is, take it out in a couple of years and hopefully sell the surround to someone that will appreciate it

Easy answer.. get it cleaned professionally.

I've just painted our early 20c dark wooden surround with a satinwood copy of F&B pointing (off-white) and it looks lovely!

Use [[https://www.screwfix.com/p/zinsser-b-i-n-shellac-based-primer-sealer-1ltr/29661?tc=EB8&ds_kid=92700052136101425&ds_rl=1243321&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=CjwKCAjwgviIBhBkEiwA10D2j-f6mvHzOAPC5q6A9gji98StPtfPtmqXA0Y_zscAD5vgpPLHmZwLbhoCDCsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds]] primer first. Don't attempt anything cheaper or the colour will keep bleeding through (I speak from experience!)

Then see what the tiles look like?

I would definetly paint it if keeping it - biy only because (whilst it is beautiful) the colours woildnt go with the decor I would have in a living room.

I'd stick to the art deco style when choosing colours etc tho.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Unfortunately I don't think we can have it as a working fire because there's a clean air restriction where we live.

But, your comments have made me see it in a different light! I think we need to paint the wall and then see. You're right it is a feature of the house and it would be a shame to do anything in haste. The wallpaper and interesting choice of floor colour isn't doing it any favours at the moment.

I would have the chimney swept. Put some hardboard across the fireplace to block everything inside the surround in and pain the hardboard a paler shade of whatever colour you are putting on the wall. The put a fire screen infront of it. That'll keep you going until you can decide what to do and afford it.
Screen like this

Also @HerkyBaby that's interesting about the tiles...any further advice would be much appreciated I won't get bored I promise!

Crazy link! It's Zinnser BIN shellac primer.

Yes, do nothing or remove in entirety and sell. It's very early Art Deco - I'd say circa 1929.

Oh my goodness it's beautiful!!! Don't paint if, work with it. What a lovely feature to have.

Leave it as it is

I'd paint the tiles but leave the surround as it and work with it. I love it, it'll work well with some of the current trends.