I think painting the mantle will still make the tile look peachy--I think you'll probably need to paint both or else re-tile. Any bigger pics of the room to see the other colors in the room?

We have chocolate brown leather furniture -- only other color is a valance with muted taupes, maroon and sage green, and cream colors -- floral print.

Use a decorative fireplace scrren in front of the Ugly screen that conserves heat but is awful. You can tile over tile , using slate might be interesting with the wall color and the wood mantle could be sanded and re stained darker. Not an even finish also final coat with a matte or satin finish poly to reduce the shine.

houzz....please look into people posting sales on the site...Thank you

I didn't know you could paint tiles. I'm ALL about paint, so if you can do it, go for it! I think I'd refinish and stain the mantle rather than painting it, though. Maybe a nice rosewood stain. That way you'll still be able to appreciate the grain of the wood.

I would paint the mantle black.

Take the mantle and sides of it off. Should pop off with a little work and then paint the walls surrounding the tile.

I agree the mantle has to go, but the whole thing should be re tiled, matt small dark tiles (stone) so its like an overall texture.

I think re-tiling with something you like is your best bet, and doesn't look like it will be that difficult. Maybe get a thin piece of marble or granite as a top to the raised area in front, overlapping a little on the front and thie sides - don't do tile top an sides like it is now, it doesn't look 'right' because it visually loses definition and heirarchy of materials.

there is no need for the mantle to go, its an appropriate size, and pleasantly detailed. However, the classic look of the mantle doesn't really mesh well with the bead board type look of the room. If you decide to ditch the mantle, make sure you take it or sell it to an architectural salvage shop, because there are plenty of people out there with much uglier mantles than that. You co uld also look at staining it a darker color, though this would require a lot of careful sanding and prep work.

I would paint the mantle the same gray as the wall and either re-tile, paint the tile or get a nice fireplace screen to cover.

Why not have a bit of fun...all points above were very valid - but I think, it sounds like you don't want to throw alot of money at your fireplace right now, just want to freshen it up.
Why not paint the the tiles in a "taupe/concrete color" (can't really comment on color unless you provide the colors from your walls).
Then, add a little bit of a chocolate color into the crevices of the mantle. Finally, after it is dry top coat with some paint with a subtle gray undertone.
This is the fun part.....distress your mantle!!! After it has cured for 24 - 48 hours hit it with sandpaper.
I would strongly recommend that you take all necessary steps when painting the tile, tho, make sure that you use an oil base paint, with urethane finish. HOWEVER - talk to paint store...we all know how high heat can affect paint. It looks to me that you have enough clearance, but always ask an expert.
Worst case scenario - pick up some tile at your local big box store and re-tile.
Hope it all works out for you.
Lisa

Wow...thanks for all the great ideas. To re-tile sounds so difficult. I would have to take off the old tile, which is underneath the mantle where it meets. I think that may be too advanced for me to do at this point! I am trying to get it to look OK without spending a lot of money. It won't be my dream fireplace, just something I can live with!

Some great budget-friendly ideas here . . . I'd like to mention that you should have your fireplace checked out to make sure it is in good condition before investing in a new surround, only to find out the you need to repair or replace your fireplace in the near future. The fireplace in the photo appears to be about 20 years old, which is about the typical useful life of a manufactured fireplace. Something to think about.

We have clients come in all the time that tell us that they have just installed marble or granite around their fireplace and now they'd like for us to fix the fireplace, which we have to tell them will require removing the marble or granite for replacement.

Better to think about it now than after. : )

Painting tile never looks the same as with the original look, popping tile off easily is an illusion - doesn't happen. Popping the mantle off is easier. Take a crow bar and insert half way on the out and push the handle to the wall, this should loosen it. Then go down and do the same thing then up and do the same thing. By then it should come off.

You can always buy another surround in the color you would prefer. Buying at cut rate places saves a ton of money. Like habit for humanity more often then not has a store some where. Or you could try places that are going out of business or the place that buys them and sells those items at real clearance prices.

You could make a cover that encloses the tile on the bottom and put something else that is heat resistent.

Ask out Lowes or Home Depot or your mom and pop lumber store and show them pictures and they may have a few ideas of their own. Can never hurt to ask.

Hi Nadine

Sorry....had to interject here.

I would REALLY caution "popping off the mantle". First....if you even want to take this step - make sure you really have have found something that will replace - exactly to size. The thing is - it would be highly unlikely that you would find something that would fit.....given the size of the hearth. If the fireplace was mounted on the floor - than yes, a replacement mantle would be not too difficult to find.

Also...popping off the mantle may require some repair/patching of drywall, plus being handy with millwork if you have to in fact modify a replacement mantle.

For the short term fix - talk to a tile shop perhaps, if you don't want to go the painting route. May not be as challenging as you think (tile stores will even make cuts for you). Plus painting the mantle and surround a huge difference!! If you stay to the same scale as the existing tile as reference.....looks like you would only require some cuts along the hearth in front of the fireplace.

Best of luck to you......make sure to get some expert advice!!!

Check out our company website, we design fireplace screens specifically for your type of fireplace, it will give it and instant makeover. www.fireplacesafetyscreen.com. Others on here I think have great suggestions on what to do with the mantel and tile, but once you see our product you will know you have a solution for the actual fireplace, which in my opinion is the hardest part to fix. Check out the before and after section for photos and you will see you exact fireplace.

Done! Just painted the tile, the glass doors and the mantle.

Very nice, here is another makeover we did of a similar fireplace where the consumer painted the fireplace doors. You can see more at www.fireplacesafetyscreen.com.

nadine....Great job! I really like that dark mantle.

It looks great! I wish I was as lucky, my fireplace has ugly green tile. I thought of doing the same thing, but the mantle is TOO high and needs to be lowered. BUT I may go on do what you did, so I can live with it until it hits the top of the list.

I Think Nadine is right on target. If ou could replace the tiles with a slate version that you look nice, but if you're hesident that I say paint the mantle and the tile.

Yes! Paint the green tile! My fix was what I felt I could do....I would have loved to change the tile but I know that is more than I can handle. Truly -- use a good oil based primer for glossy surfaces and then just choose the color you want! I was hesitant about painting the tile, thinking it would look like I just painted over the tile (!), but it truly does look very nice. I used a semi-gloss good quality paint. I hated the tile and the mantle for 7 years!! I should have done it long ago:)

Looks great!!!!!

I was inspired after seeing your pictures! So my trip over to AR this weekend, I worked on the ugly fireplace. And NOW I can live with it, till I can afford to do something different. This fireplace looked so out of balance. So I painted the outside tiles black to match columns. So the eye now goes to the center, instead of all over. I will not be using it for burning logs, but will use it for candles instead.

Ohhhh:) Great idea painting the mantle, columns and tile black. It looks so much nicer! Yay for you! My half wall was also Knotty Pine. I painted it the weekend before I tackled the fireplace.

I told you mine was way uglier than yours! Now I think I can finish out the room. I only have furniture and a rug. No pictures or accessories. I think some pictures with black frames will help pull things together. I am going to keep the knotty pine for now. I love wood. :)

Haha...I don't think we should have an ugly contest! But I do agree they both look one thousand percent better now!

Yay! Both fireplaces look fantastic! Good work.