This is our living room fireplace situation. House was built in 1951. We’ve lived here for years, but had kids and lots of major life/family events right after moving in, so I’ve back-burnered doing anything with it for a long time.
We have never used it because it needs a flue liner and the hearth tiles are waaaay too shallow. I usually have it styled with a long, narrow ottoman and pillows in front to cover the nasty brass doors. The face is not real stone. I’m guessing it is some sort of stone dust mixed with resin? (Close up of “stone” in photos.)
I really do not love the pink tones, but I feel like painting it would not look great either. I intend to paint the doors with high temp black paint to make them look a bit better.
And the previous owners put a long fluorescent tube inside the mantel – it’s really a weird choice, but I now kinda like having whatever I have displayed on the mantel lit up.🤪
I can’t afford anything major right now to fix it. Can this great hive mind come up with any solutions?
by Whut-The-Mel
4 Comments
I think replacing that insert with a black one would go a long way. I actually like the fireplace itself. BTW we have a chimney that can’t be used for a real fire too, but it’s fine for a gas log insert. So you could do away with the glass doors and get gas logs, if that’s in the budget.
Dark wood veneer on the mantle to add some natural texture and distract from the stone.
Add a large mirror or piece of art above it. Again, distract from the “stone” but still make it a “moment” like fireplaces are intended to be.
Add a plant that hangs over the edge. Again, nature textures and color plus distraction.
Paint it. I know you said you’re concerned it won’t look good, but if it’s not real stone there’s not much reason to keep as is. The color and finish you pick will make or break the result.
Wild idea: put a light in there and then stain glass in the insert (or stain glass film).
I don’t usually like it but this is one fireplace I could get on board with a brick wash
Honestly I think with a black insert it would be fine, as long as you style the mantle well. Right now that’s a hodgepodge of random crap that doesn’t look good together at all.