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

It’s beautiful. Make a feature of it.

It’s glorious!

Oh, it’s beautiful! I really like the art deco look and that one is in excellent condition! I would use it to inspire the room myself. Really classy, lucky you!

Would it be practicable to strip the varnish and stain then wax the wood so the natural light wood colour might tone better with the palette of the tiles?

@BaileysforBreakfast

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

I'd agree with this.

It is an absolutely stunning fireplace and would be a tragedy to get rid of it if it's original to the house. Everyone seems to want to preserve Victorian features but 1930s houses are just as stunning in their way.

It’s really pretty. As pp say, keep it and make a feature of it. Are there others in the house?

Ooh, that's an original 1930s fireplace. I love it! It'll be worth something to the right person.

I would definitely make a feature of it and agree with PPs to get rid of the wallpaper.

Yummy. Lucky you!!

@borntobequiet we have this one as well which is quite different in style, I'm very attached to this one!

It’s beautiful! I would have the chimney checked and get it working again.

It is a gorgeous fireplace but if you aren't into 1930s furniture I would sell it whole, the money you make should cover the cost of filling the hole. It has a tiny hearth - is it a bedroom?

@HerkyBaby are those inset tiles original?

My first reaction was 'crikey!' but actually if you get rid of the hearth (that colour is all wrong) and the wallpaper and go for something very neutral you might pull it off. The wood isn't bad.

My goodness what a beautiful fireplace! You lucky lucky thing!

Don’t touch it! It’s beautiful. Is it a 30s house? Tone down the decor around it though; that wallpaper is far too busy.

https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat07/1901291328SmokeeControlWeb.pdf

Definitely keep the fire and it seems as long as you use the correct coal, there's no reason you can't use it.

It looks like a wooden frame added to an existing fireplace.

I'm in two minds though, I like it and I don't like it.

I'd do 3. I can see why you don't like it. I'm not a fan at all of Art Deco but, clearly, it's right for the age of the house - presumably? - I don't think you actually say.

Beautiful period fireplace - sort the room out to match?

Oh that is just beautiful! Literally one of the most beautiful surrounds I have ever seen. Please don't paint it!

Surround is gorgeous and please don’t paint beautiful wood like that.

Tiles are —awful— not to my taste. I’d paint over them. Rustoleum does a cast iron effect paint which might work.

Another one saying this is enviably gorgeous.

What is going on with the floor in front of the fireplace? Is it painted floorboards? The cherry colour does nothing for the fireplace or the wallpaper.

I would leave the fireplace and paint the walls behind it either a light blue/grey like some of the tiles or a much darker blue/grey. I’d be inclined to try and fit a wood panel into the arch, so that the cream tiles can’t be seen, and paint that the same colour as the walls.

I think blue 02 would work well or blue 06 www.lickhome.com/products/paint/colour/blue