1930s Fireplace - what to do with it?

[FManc]

Hi.
So we could do with a little bit of advice.
We moved into a 1930s property at the end of last year and slowly been tackling each room in turn. We have original fireplaces in both bedrooms which had both been painted white by the previous owners. It’s taken us a day or two to strip this one back and we just can’t decide whether we like it or not. It’s got a lot more depth to it compared to just being painted over but then I don’t know….is it awful? Thoughts please? The colour scheme on the walls is staying so we won’t be repainting that.

I think it’s lovely.
So nice to have original features.

I love original features but this isn’t my style. We live in a 1930s semi and have put in restored Victorian fireplaces because I prefer the look. Do you like these? If so, keep them!

Sorry it's a no from me too! The proportions are all wrong - much too deep above the opening, but then it's a really narrow mantelpiece.

But really it doesn't matter what I think, it's you that's got to love it and live with it. Just because it's "period", it doesn't mean it's beautiful!!

Sorry OP I'm not a fan, I'd be taking it out, maybe keep the fireplace hole and put pebbles and church candles in (unless you have young children...)

I really like it, I’d keep it.

Also really like the colour on the walls - so you know the colour/make?

I like it a lot. I like the colour but not sure from photo about it with wall colour. Id definitely live with it for a bit as it won’t be hard to paint it later if it really doesn’t work that colour. I deffo would not be pulling it out. It could look great a deep strong colour - v dark grey or a deep green.

It's lovely 🥰 also like the wall colour

Buy some candles or fairy lights to put in it and live with it for a while

Its the exact same proportions as the cast iron night grates that are in the upstairs of the 1930s houses round here. Its interesting as id only seen 1930s tiled style downstairs with the wider proportions. The iron ones look from an older era and i wondered why the 1930s builders had such different choices upstairs and down.

I cant tell if iike it or not. I like the shape but its maybe a bit beige - but it might be a bit brighter in reality. Id be inclined to leave it

I think that one is fine.

Given you're not re-painting the walls, you can live with it for a while to see if you like it though - it'll be messy to remove and you'd have to replace it with something or redecorate.

I love the style but hate period fireplaces in bedrooms as they can't be used due to fire hazard so they just waste space. They're often turned into rather sad 'features' with pots of dried flowers or fairy lights in them. They're not features. They're space guzzlers. I'd take the chimney breast out and gain extra floor space for storage.

I think it's lovely but would probably paint it white

Do it up....

I had one in the bedroom the previous owners had painted over.

I love it now

Looks good craving

Thats beautiful, @cravingthelook

Thanks everyone
Fairly split opinions as I imagined.
The reason why we aren’t painting the walls anytime soon is because we’ve only just finished doing an IKEA Pax hack with their wardrobes so can’t bare to paint them again! Lol!

We love the shape/style of the fireplace so I don’t think we’ll be ripping it out anytime soon. It’s just the colour we’re unsure of at the moment. The images don’t really show it that well but there are hints of blue in the fireplace which actually matches the colour of the walls which was a bit of a fluke! It’s also hard to tell as the room isn’t dressed/no pictures up yet etc..I’m not mad keen on the carpet in there so we’ll be looking to get the floorboards sanded and varnished instead in the next couple of months. I think we might wait and see what the room looks like then when it’s finished and if we’re still not sure, look at possibly painting it.

@Teesdale2622

I really like it, I’d keep it.

Also really like the colour on the walls - so you know the colour/make?

It’s Dulux Denim Drift

I think it looks lovely especially in your latest photo. I think retaining original features is really important, to me it's about respecting the integrity and authenticity of the building.

I love it, compliments wall colour perfectly

It's even nicer in the shot with the wardrobe

A beautiful picture above and some tea lights on the mantle piece and big candles in the grate will just be gorgeous

I’d paint it darker I think. Maybe something like railings…

I like it very much.

I like it as it is, but you could paint it.

I would never in a million years pull it out.

@FManc what's the IKEA pax hack?

It's lovely, and I wouldn't pull that fireplace out for love nor money. The reason you're unsure I think is because indeed the colours of the wall and the fireplace don't really go together. Your paint scheme will eventually change, then you can bring it into line with the fireplace, yes?

I really like it.

I love it.

It really stands out when you see Victorian fireplaces in 1930s houses. I prefer the original art deco feel of the period fireplaces from that era.