Nice home. What area are you in? I'm in the chicagoland area and there is actually quite a few vintage fireplaces for sale around here on craigslist. These are the links

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/atq/6211624265.html

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/atq/6207062594.html

This one looks almost exactly like mine.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/clt/6204426485.html

Might be pricey to have refinished but might also be worth it to keep your houses character. I hate these cheap and corny modern houses.

If anything... If you have a truck or trailer, cleveland is about a 10 hour drive. If you find something you really want, you can drive and pick it up. Just make good arrangements. Have the seller send you more detailed pictures so you get a better idea of what your getting and how much its gonna cost to fix or whatever. I haven't driven that far but I drove to Milwaukee Wisconsin and Green Bay quite a few times. Sometimes a deal on something is way to good to pass up. Sometimes you have to go the extra mile to get stuff you can't just go to menards for.

I just looked. I've been to youngstown a few times visiting a friend in a wreck. Cleveland is closer. So maybe 8 hour drive.

A really nice, heavy wrought iron fireplace tool set on the right, a small, antique American made wooden chair from 10's-20's with a low back on the left, and an old oil portrait of someone's uncle in a large, somewhat ornate frame over top.

I like the rustic simplicity of the whole wall. While I don't usually like TVs in corners, in this case I would turn the whole dry sink a full 45°. Then I'd probably look for a rustic artifact--a large dough bowl or farm implement--to hang over the fireplace and be done with it.

What about more tile? If you could locate some more beautiful vintage tile, not matching but coordinating, you could build that fireplace into a beautiful focal point.

Failing that, an oak surround that looks good with your existing woodwork?

We've talked about more tile. However, it's hard to tell from this picture, but the patina is so amazing, it would be hard to match and/or complement.

The painting looks great! Did you find any vintage/antique mantels in your area?

https://www.google.com/#q=architectural+salvage+cleveland+ohio

You can hang on the wall lanterns or iron candle holders from both sides of wall art.

The art looks great! It's a perfect complement to the chair.

Try removing everything except the largest pot with sticks from the hearth and putting the fireplace tools on the other side.

A Cast Iron Mantel would be so perfect here. http://columbusarchitecturalsalvage.com/catalog.php?category=21

I like that with just the pot and the tools. It seems to fit the simple, rustic vibe of the wall. What do you think?

'sounds of standing and clapping' the early 20th century was pretty minimalist compared to the decades before. The lack of a mantle was a specific look that you just worked with.

Judith Adams, thank you for your suggestion. The other side of the room already has heavy arts and crafts bookcases and a window seat (see photos from original post). I think the addition of new/old cabinetry would be difficult to match. The fireplace surround is 90 year old terra cotta tile with a beautiful patina :)

Ryan Olivieri, Inc. Thank you! I'm really trying to be true to the house. It's aesthetic doesn't really allow for much else - lots of oak, textured plaster walls, iron windows, door handles and railings, terra cotta tile around the fireplace and in the entryway.

Perfect. The addition of the cool red vase was just right. I believe that wall is done!

Fantastic!!

Installed and decored ;)

glad you like it, but not sure it's the right style w/the type of home you have. (I know you've waited many years, and I"m glad it was free, I just don't think it's the 'best' look)

This is how those plastered fireplaces were usually done, with a wood floating mantle.

I would have done a floating wood beam mantle,

something like this mantle beam. I think it fits the period of the home

and maybe redid the the tile around the surround.

Perhaps smoothing out the wall w/a venetian plaster. lots of diff ideas.

This is a vintage 1920's spanish style. I love what they've done here.

I think your room could look like that one above, or below

similar inset tile like yours.

Beth H. always has wonderful ideas, and is a treasure on these threads. That said, I love it! Congratulations, and enjoy.

china, lol. I like the mantle. I do. but w/the spanish style plaster/stucco, the room style, etc, I just think a beam wood mantle is more appropriate to the style of the home.

You would never find that fireplace wood surround in a home w/a fireplace design like she has

and some beams across the ceiling (remove the crown) would look super as well!

Thank you for those ideas! The house isn’t really Spanish, it’s a mix of tudor and cottage. Lots of oak.

Some of these pictures are from a while ago. The shelves are styled differently

And some mission style 😂 crossed with arts and crafts 😂.

great house. yes, now I see more of the tudor elements. (but I still stand by my mantle choice!)

great doors and that entryway tile! wow.

I would prob remove, or paint out the thin white crown though. I'm sure it was put there at some point when they did those popcorn ceilings.

And, while I wouldn’t add beams, because there’s already so much wood, but I’d love an inexpensive idea to make the crown disappear. I’m not a fan.

Everything else is original and I’m not willing to change much.

Again, older pics. We are remodeling a bathroom and my house is a dusty disaster so I can’t really take pics today.

The ceilings are awful - but they’re not popcorn - they’re plaster. I’m hoping to have the living room skim coated at some point. Would you paint the crown the color of the walls or the ceiling?

they are? maybe it's just the photo angle. it's more of a stucco finish I guess. very rough texture

I' paint the color of the ceiling to help make them appear taller

I love your entryway w/the staircase.

Thank you! This house has a lot of character. Now I’m really thinking about painting the crown. I appreciate all of your input.

The molding around the ceiling looks like picture rail molding. You can buy special hooks and not crack the walls with nails. My parent's house had it and I didn't realize until it was being sold. So many nails and cracked plaster and could have been avoided.

Here's an example. It was pretty popular, but went out of style. There should be a small gap at then ceiling to place the hook.

My old house (built in 1927) had that kind of molding. It was gorgeous and so cool. This is not the same, unfortunately.