What can I do with this fireplace?

[beanstalk]

We're moving into a new house (hopefully, contracts not exchanged yet so keeping fingers crossed!) that has a multi-fuel burner in the front room. The actual stove/burner is quite attractive, as most are, but it is has a red brick surround and pine mantelpiece, with a terracotta-coloured tiled hearth. I really don't like the brick and tiles, although I guess the tiles could be changed pretty easily. Any suggestions for cheap fixes for the brick? DH suggested painting the brick and the mantelpiece, but I am not sure if it will look ok. How much would a new surround and mantelpiece cost?

Remove mantelpiece and plaster over bricks and then paint to match walls?

is knocking out the brick and replastering an option. fyi a new granite heart is £120. you can get very good bargains on surrounds with mantelpiece etc on ebay.

Plastering over the bricks will mean a section of wall that sticks out a little beyond the rest though won't it?

Paint mantle or stain it.
You could tile over the bricks.
What age/style is the house?

If you aint the bricks they should look Ok but it depends what kind of result you want.

The best thing would be to replace the mantelpiece with one which has perhaps a marble insert which would cover the space between the surround and the burner.

Best bet is to take a photo of it to a fireplace supplier or reclamation yard and ask what to do. They should have a few ideas.

Thanks for the suggestions. Its a Victorian house so the obvious thing would be to replace the whole thing with a Victorian fireplace and hearth but I think that would be quite expensive (even from salvage/reclamation). I think womble's suggestion of knocking out the brick is worth investigating, and then replastering. The mantelpiece would actually be fine if it was painted I think, unless we can get a lovely period one. I think it is the brick that is the main issue.

Have you got a picture, Beany? You can see ours on my profile...it was a bare chimney breast but I kind of sorted it out.

For the insert I was thinking about something like this: sorry hideous room but ykwim!

Mantelpieces are readily available from ebay - search under distance nearest first, there should be a few original ones.

I got mine for £25

Thanks NationalFlight, ebay sounds a good idea - your mantelpiece looks lovely, can't believe it was only £25!

I don't have a picture unfortunately, we're not living there yet. I'm just trying to plan out the work we're going to do when we get in there!

Be careful about non combustible material near the multi fuel burner. There are legal limits about these things. You could use a specialist spray paint and change the colour of the tiles/bricks to black.

Thanks charley. Who would be the best person to advise on this then? A fireplace supplier?

Will ask DH when gets in from his run as he sells/makes fireplaces but you could always try your local retailer and ask their advice most should be able to offer advice on your options. It is useful if you can get into the house before you buy to get some measurements of your back panel, hearth, mantelpiece etc.

Will post later.
Cheers

We had a chimney reinstated, then woodburning stove installed. Specialist fire bricks were used, then specialist plasterboard, and we were told to use water-based paints. Be mindful that the area will need to be repainted periodically (easy job really!).