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Original poster

Would you get rid of this fireplace or keep it?

76 replies

Kmj2018 · 03/08/2022 11:47

So we are in the process of renovating our house and are about to plaster/skim the walls so need to decide if we want to keep or get rid of this fireplace . My husband doesn’t mind it and wants to keep it but I want to get rid of it. I think it’s quite ugly but it is real marble.

Would you get rid of this fireplace or keep it?
OP posts:
drpet49 · 03/08/2022 11:47

Get rid, I don’t like it

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/08/2022 11:48

Hmmm...its not my taste but its fairly inoffensive. How will the room be decorated? Colours/style

DisplayPurposesOnly · 03/08/2022 11:48

I'm not keen either. I'd sell it or put it on Freecycle.

GiantSpaceHamster · 03/08/2022 11:49

I think it’s ugly, it’s not got any real value in terms of style or character. I’d get rid of it if it was me.

Purplehonesty2 · 03/08/2022 11:51

It's pretty awful I would get rid of it too

MintJulia · 03/08/2022 11:52

How old is the house? What heating do you have in the room? Would you ever use it?

It's pretty inoffensive but takes up valuable space if completely redundant. Would you take out the chimney breast as well or just the fireplace?

FictionalCharacter · 03/08/2022 11:52

I like it!

TeeBee · 03/08/2022 11:53

Get rid.

Comvit · 03/08/2022 11:53

The whole joy of renovating a house is that you get to do it exactly to your tastes. You don't have to settle for ugly shit because it's already there and the rest of the house/room is nice.
If you don't like it, get rid. You will absolutely regret it if you don't. You'll look at it every day and think "We should've stripped that out". I am speaking from bitter experience.

Given it's marble, I would try to sell it somewhere. But I absolutely wouldn't keep it in a house I'd renovated. It's got very early-00s "60 Minute Makeover" vibes. <Shudder>

Bimblybomeyelash · 03/08/2022 11:53

Get rid. It doesn’t look like it matches your style.

SolasAnla · 03/08/2022 11:54

I think its bland and dated but not total disaster.
It depends on what look you want for the rest of the house.
if you are pulling it out i would start look at replacing it with a sealable fire box to better retain heat in the room

MakingNBaking · 03/08/2022 11:56

It's a lovely fireplace but it's made for a bigger room I think. Too many intricate little carved bits for a smaller room.

Original poster
Kmj2018 · 03/08/2022 12:00

I think that’s the main issue , it’s not a thing of beauty but it’s inoffensive which is why husband wants to keep it. But if it were me it’d be gone already 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Kmj2018 · 03/08/2022 12:00

We don’t ever use it either

OP posts:
Blowyourowntrumpet · 03/08/2022 12:01

I'd keep it. I like it

blurpyblurp · 03/08/2022 12:04

We have the same mantelpiece with an ugly electric heater. We replaced the carpets with floorboards. In hindsight, we wish we pushed our budget to get rid of it and put something else there.

if you replace the flooring, it’s absolutely worth scrapping. We are now at the point we’ve decided the next owners can deal with it.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/08/2022 12:04

MakingNBaking · 03/08/2022 11:56

It's a lovely fireplace but it's made for a bigger room I think. Too many intricate little carved bits for a smaller room.

We don't know the size of the room.

Original poster
Kmj2018 · 03/08/2022 12:07

@blurpyblurp yeah we are skimming walls and replacing the ugly red carpet so now would be the time to get rid of it . Think that’s why hubby wants to keep it. He’s trying to save where he can as cost of renovating is so much more than we initially anticipated

OP posts:
IsThePopeCatholic · 03/08/2022 12:11

Get rid. It’s characterless.

Comvit · 03/08/2022 12:25

Kmj2018 · 03/08/2022 12:07

@blurpyblurp yeah we are skimming walls and replacing the ugly red carpet so now would be the time to get rid of it . Think that’s why hubby wants to keep it. He’s trying to save where he can as cost of renovating is so much more than we initially anticipated

I understand where you husband is coming from but this isn't a thing to try and save money on. 'Big' focal points and features in the house are where you should be spending money. Or at least not scrimping. You can save elsewhere.

The fireplace is very very dated. No matter what beautiful things you do to the rest of room, the fireplace will always drag it down because it's the focal point. If you retain the fireplace, the room will always look like it needs updating, like it hasn't been done 'properly' since the early-00s. Your renovation will look half-arsed. More importantly, it will drive you wild because you'll regret not getting rid when you had the chance.

Now's the time to get rid, and here's the time to spend money. Do it, OP.

Melroses · 03/08/2022 12:34

It is probably 'composite'* which is sort of mushed up marble or something. Anyway, it is cheaper and easier to make into this stuff.

(*very confusing as marble is a composite rock if you do any geology🤷‍♀️)

GreenManalishi · 03/08/2022 12:36

Get rid, inoffensive is not the goal and if now is the time to rip it out or never, then go for it.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 03/08/2022 12:37

I like it. Inoffensive and goes with anything. Much better than our pornstar red monstrosity the previous owners installed.
(it’s going asap)

DurhamDurham · 03/08/2022 12:39

It's a lovely fireplace but it's made for a bigger room I think. Too many intricate little carved bits for a smaller room

How do you know the size of the room from that photo? Confused

Paprikapommes · 03/08/2022 12:41

Get rid. It's dated. Someone will buy it though. Put the money towards something you like

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