What is an "ordinal insert"?

I think the OP meant it was the "original" insert.

Keep it! It's fab!

I'm not crazy about Victorian, but that's spectacular. Probably worth a fortune to the house, too.

What does the rest of the room look like? The outside? Show photos.

I think it’s a piece of art and a great conversation piece. Especially in a victorian home.

Yeah, it’s big, bright and bulky, but it’s original. You bought a Victorian house. It’s a piece of the house. Please, don’t muddle it up. If you don’t want it, dismantle it and sell it.

Those of us who are fortunate to own historic homes have a responsibility to care for them and pass them on as intact as possible. What you have is unique, not mass produced, easily duplicated decor. At the time it would have been expensive and an object that was admired by the original owners friends. Turn it into an asset by using black as accents in your much more contemporary styled room. Think of it as an antique piece of jewelry worn with a simple classic dress, unexpected and having its own flare. If, after all, you cannot live with it, have it carefully removed and store it in your attic so the next owner can restore it to its rightful place of pride during their tenure as caretakers of history.

I agree with you ..., but , it's rather spectacular ...so, on looking on how to improve it , I would leave the fireplace "as is " because it's the original ...and probably ads to the value of your house and instead , would focus on the surroundings . I would take out the little ..unimpressive flooring in front and put a new marble or granite surround ..even go a little bit around both corners to make it more important and add wood racks on both sides ..or some sort of lovely decoration , then address the top of the fireplace I like the idea of a beautiful large mirror ...that may reflect a lovely chandelier ...? ...look at houses of that time in history to get ideas of how they decorated around their fireplace ...more photos would be helpful ...

If the fireplace is all original it should not be touched. Research, however, might necessitate conservation because maybe the clash you see could be a latter addition. Research and education is part of the fun with owning an old home and I would tread lightly and softly going forward. The real visual infraction is that the fireplace is popping off the white walls, not in a good way. A Victorian home would have had wallpaper. I could see how amethyst velvet or flocked wall paper against the fireplace would soften up the look. Maybe you want a more minimal approach and that's why the fireplace is bothering you but if you embrace the fireplace and make the surrounding wall the feature in this room you could simplify the adjoining walls and ceilings and accent the space to your liking with furnishings. It might be disconcerting at first but how about following Jacques Grange on Pinterest? Good luck.

Davidhunternyc has a great idea. A dark background on the walls would make a dramatic statement and the fireplace would blend into it.

Some examples:

Hampstead Apartment · More Info

Eclectic Living Room · More Info

Contemporary Living Room · More Info

Or keep the walls light and feature the quirkiness of the fireplace, like they did in these contemporary living rooms. The fireplace is similar to yours, and looks great in this room!

St Julian's Farm Road · More Info

Modern Period Living. By Born & Bred Studio · More Info

And holy moly, look what I just found! This looks almost exactly like your fireplace! And the room is fantastic!

Manor House Victorian House · More Info

Manor House Victorian House · More Info

I believe that's a coal fire, not a wood fire... That insert is too small for wood IMO, and it might explain why the hearth is so small: a wood fire would throw sparks much further. I'm not convinced that hearth isn't original.

A wood fire might also damage the wood and rose tiles. I don't think I'd run a wood fire in it.

To the side, you might have a brass or copper coal scuttle? A Victorian vase somewhere else in the room to echo a little Victorian here and there? Yes, on the mirror or a very large picture..

The brown marble and wood might need cleaning?

That's a tile hearth? That seems about right for period. And it sure looks true to the fireplace design. But you might want to find photos of Victorian hearths to give you ideas about what belongs there.

I really think once you get the walls painted and your stuff in the room, the fireplace will get its pride of place. Your guests will have many delighted conversations about it.

You are lucky to own such a wonderful piece.

following

Solid fuel ??? Do you mean like ethanol? There is no way that can be used safely with anything else IMO. I do not agree that I have to keep a home intact forever just because it is historic but some things are really an integral part of the home and this is IMO one of those . I like the idea of the dark wall I think that will make it more part of the space . We had in our 1905 house an insert almost exactly the same we sold it to someone who was restoring an old house to its former glory we used the insert spot to display a piece of sculpture more in keeping with our style. Glass table and red chess set not usually there

Work your decorating around the blackness of it, as suggested. Get a fabulous mirror and embrace this amazing piece of history. If you can’t live with it the you really must carefully remove it, encase it and store it for the next owners. Many people buy Victorians and bemoan the loss of these features. It will be a conversation piece at parties you throw! It is not modern, but it IS fantastic.

Here we go again with the argument about the proper way to treat a historic home.

As there are fewer and fewer historic homes, why buy one and then try to make it modern? Why not just buy a home in a style you like rather than trying to change it into something it's not? Respect for the age and period of a house should be paramount when deciding to purchase and/or renovate it.

Not a Pro.

Your fireplace is beautiful!

Post pictures of the rest of your room and the furniture you need to work with. You may be able to make it work in your room just by making some changes.

This is such a beautiful conversational piece.

Put some coffee books on your table with the history and time the home was built or a book on the town you live in and when it was established. I envy what you have.

Hi thanks so much for your ideas and input. I do feel that we need to preserve a lot of this. However i also feel it’s ok to make some updates to make this more appropriate for current day (eg update the hearth or update the surround). The surround is not marble - it is Slate painted with a marble affect (it would have been slate and then someone would have painted it at a later date). The hearth is not the original.

with that in mind what would you do? We are thinking of stripping the marble effect on the surround to get it back to slate, and relay a slate hearth.

or remove the surround and install a limestone or wood surround

thanks

With that in mind ...do what you really like , take it out and replace it with what you love ! YOU live there and you should be happy ..first and foremost !

Likely that is the original marbling- it was very common to use slate as the surround but was almost always faux painted to look more expensive. Wonderful that it has lasted until now...

I really like the look of the darker walls in a few of the comments. Your fireplace needs some decoration: a nice piece of art above the mantel is always appropriate.

Keep the surround. Most posters in this thread IMO are referring to the surround AND the coal-burning insert. You have a museum piece...

if you start modifying the fireplace (surround and/or insert) you can’t undo it. Try decorating for it first, Diana’s inspiration pictures are really cool. I think the fireplace is great and so much better than the ubiquitous “shiplap” or tract homes that lack character.

can you post pictures of the rest of your room or your style for the Pros to make some suggestions on how to incorporate your great fireplace.

Here's a similar fireplace!!!!! I serendipitously happened on it.

From this article: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/california-confused-bougie-boho-golden-girl-on-acid-other-decor-styles-you-didnt-know-existed-211802

I would paint it all black or dark grey with dark background my grandma's China is beautiful but I'm not using it do what you love it's only a object you can still see craftsmanship if painted

I am a firm believer in period or vintage homes that we must preserve the history. I don't think this fireplace has been modified. Faux marbling was done and tiles like the hearth were common. I hate that people buy these old houses with lots of character and workmanship and then want to rip it out or paint brick or wood. If you don't love the style of a house let someone that appreciates it buy it and buy something else. In my own home I try to decorate around things that are to hard or expensive to change. Pull your colors from the tiles don't pull them out.

I don't think the fireplace has been modified, either, and if painted, it will remove some value from the house.

I would remove and save it for the next owner in its current condition, rather than alter it. Put in something you like.

That is AMAZING and should be preserved for future owners. You are the steward for a piece of history (your home) that existed long before you and will exist long after you move on. Please preserve the historic details as much as possible.

I agree the faux painting is probably original; I’ve heard of it but never seen it (have owned 3 Victorian homes).

I like the idea of painting the wall a darker color to de-emphasize and keep the room cosy. :)

Garish?? Why did you buy a Victorian home if you don't appreciate What it offers? Do not alter in any way. When you sell that will be a focal point. Shame you don't appreciate the history.