Wow, that is one of the most beautiful fireplaces I have seen on Houzz. If you must change it, please have it removed carefully and resold.

That is beautiful AS IS ! Find a way to work with it !

Yes, that mantle is amazing. For vintage/ cottage, perhaps Delft tiles ( white and blue Dutch tiles). Then some bowls and vases on mantel in stoneware white cottage feel. Wish you could reprint the brick on floor, but it looks like a real fireplace so ashes are a cleaning issue. Of course, vintage country may mean something else altogether to you!

Oops- repaint, not reprint :)

Ditto everyone. I wouldn't change a thing. It fits perfectly with your design aesthetic as well. Lovely!

It is soooooo beautiful! We are just finishing a complete remodel and added a new fireplace. I can tell you that to have that surround and mantel done today with the trim details would cost you a fortune. The craftsmanship on the wood looks lovely. But, it looks like the brick on floor had a bad black paint job at some point. I would change that brick and the tile around it doesn't look like anything but 1960s tile. Could be wrong, hard to tell on picture. So I would change the tile. Where the brick meets the bottom of the fireplace needs help. Love it!

Touch nothing! as Hercule Poirrot would say. Just get accessories that match you design style!

Bring into the 21st century...replace the tile with Nero machina or carrera

how hard would it be to re-stain? tile will definitely be replaced... just not sure with what colors.

Tmpearso--I don't mind the proportions, but the tile and the materials are certainly appear latter 19th Century than 1905-1925. Simpler carving/ornament, less tile, more stone would seem to be more appropriate in the design to me. If anything, the wood is what is likely driving much of your dislike for this. I like natural finish, and if this were painted, I personally feel that it would not be an improvement. This surround, carefully disassembled, would likely have significant salvage value. Here are a few ideas for your consideration--The last is one of my design (I would go for something different in terms of stone, perhaps slate?). Note that all are much simpler in terms of the relief of the surround. Happy Houzzing.

Omg, that mantel is stunning.

Easy peasy.. just repaint it with an antique staining process and either repaint those tiles with tile kit or take them out(eek) and replace the tile with a warm, natural stone.Personally, I think taking out that mantel wouldn't be that difficult and could make the room look larger and stunning depending on what you choose to do. Good Luck

If anyone is interested in antique fireplaces and what they say about them, please visit -
www.castfireplaces.co.uk/content/38-antiquefireplaces
Here is one image taken off that site:
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By the way, I am a little uneasy about followers because I have a stalker terrorist family stalking me for 28 years! They are well known the world overs for their violence. And what do you know? They are here!! So if you like something I have submitted I am happy you liked it. But other than that, no point in following. One other thing - I am not following anyone either; just doing my own thing but my profile says I am following someone.
No, that's not my style. My sincere apologies to the genuine professionals and the non pros like me who are here because they are actually interested in providing information to help others who are requesting help regarding interior decor and landscaping. I enjoy these 2 subjects very much. When I joined Houzz, I made my situation clear to them. I am here because I enjoy helping out on this subject at least by submitting images for new ideas for those who are looking for them. Stalkers for 28 years. You have threatened me with death. That's ok. but leave me alone on this website please. Now do carry on with your discussion friends. this message is only for them. They are on every website. Death threats? I am used to them and I have avoided close calls so many times. but my husband was not so lucky.. Like I said, do carry on with the business in hand. I hope Houzz will publish all of this because it is a good warning to all about bogus requests. My heartfelt apologies to the requestee for using this page for my life story. but it is interesting isn't it ? Everyday I wake up wondering what kind of trap has been set for me.
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Finally, I also feel there's nothing to change in this fireplace. According to the internet, you find them only in stately homes now. So it's a rare privilege to have one like this. Thank for giving me your valuable space for some personal airing. Thank you so much tmpearso. I will do the same for you..

We do know that this mantle was transplanted from an old victorian home in our area...problem is, this house is a smaller cottage without the grandiosity of tall ceilings, etc...it IS gorgeous, but seems very out of place to me- i would love to keep it in line with the rest of the living room:). Thank you SO much for all your suggestions.

Does anyone have a good website for learning how to antique glaze, such as what was suggested above?

PS. This is a picture of the whole (current) living room prior to renovations of course, and the exterior of our hoise.

Selaginella- no, your life story is not interesting! Most of us enjoy RELAXING with Houzz, not listening to crazy rants. Please stop! The nightly news is enough. Find a more appropriate site for this craziness.

Dear dooders whoever you are, I have stopped. Looks like you want me to start again. In fact, I opted out from getting notifications on this subject with no offence to tempearso.. But Houzz has sent me one. Now if you will excuse me I will click on that stop notification again. If tmpearso said it I would have understood but she had the grace to ignore the subject completely because she is more interested in the subject of HER fireplace and Her house..
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Message to tempearso: If the fireplace does not fit in with the rest of the house, perhaps someone with a Victorian home might buy it off you at a price.. According to the website given above on antique fireplaces, this is rare and there could be a demand for your fireplace and you could go in for a more suitable one. I presume it can be removed without damage. I think the website is all about restoring antique fireplaces which are sometimes about 500 years old. Hope this info is useful to you TMPEARSO.

I am somewhat contemplating removing/selling it sellanigella...but just wondered if anyone had suggestions for making it work in that space... I really appreciate the mantle, wondering about glazing now... hmmm

@tm.... While this mantle is very nice it is no so grand that it will not suit your house. I would think that painting it white or a wash with white paint will help you achieve your look. I would not change out the tile to matrble etc. You can work with this mantle for little or no expense or mess.

Upto you temparso; but, you could advertise on ebay or something similar and check whether there is a demand for it. There are people, the ultra rich, who will pay anything if their mind is fixed on this 'collecting rare things' track. Even if you do not sell, it could give you a rough idea of the value of what you have. Sometimes there are 'antiques' which are only imitations but with the wood carving you have there, it could be the real thing. Either way, knowing the history of something out of the ordinary you have in your own house might come in handy one day.

Just my two cents worth. Food for thought maybe?

I love the mantle and wouldn't get rid of it if were my house. The chair you have beside it in one picture goes so well with the style and from what I can see, so do the other furnishing you have in that room. The problem I see is the placement of the furniture. Here's my idea for what it's worth. It's late and I've had my cocoa which makes me very mellow.

I'd have two distinct groupings. Rug directly in front of the fireplace. Settee/sofa across from the fireplace far enough away from the patio doors for easy access. Coffee table in front of settee (which from the picture looks like a perfect match with the fireplace by the way). The chair can go to the right of the sofa (to the right if you're sitting on the sofa) straight on, not at an angle. The one end table can go between the settee and chair with a lamp. The rectangular table can go to the left of the sofa with another lamp. That could be the divider of the two sitting areas. OR you could get another similar chair to put there. Nothing too splashy.

In the place where you have the furniture now you could get a hefty round table with a pedestal and four hefty, overstuffed chairs on casters. Great place to read a book, write a letter (does anyone do that any more?), have coffee or tea with friends, or play cards. Or play on your laptop.

Now, as for the other end of the room, you could maybe put a heavy, ornate pool table. I've seen those and they're absolutely delicious. I don't play pool but I'd want one in my house If I had the right spot for it.

Now I'll excite, stage left, and leave the advice giving to those that know more of what they speak. Good luck, and please keep that fireplace. If not, send it to me. I'll find a place for it.

You never know a thing's value until you lose it!

That mantle is amazing!!!

I think it is a Victorian Mantle in the Eastlake period style which would be from the end of the 3rd quarter of the 19th C. with a few neoclassical elements like the garland swag in the center.

I was just admiring that fireplace again, and discovered, to my dismay, that the pictures you posted were the realtor's pictures so I'm assuming the furniture is not yours. DUH! I still like my vision (above) just not with the furniture that is there. I'm wondering just what kind of renovations you're planning and if you have furniture you're going to use or if you're planning to start from scratch.

Hi Suzanna...yeah, not my furniture, the couple that sold the house to us are in their late 80s-and have really traditional taste. Our furniture is eclectic, as we are still deciding what pieces will work in the space and what has to go. I would like a very cottage like feel. I'm thinking a linen couch and we have a dark coffee table that will work. If like to have it planned out before I make any large purchases.

It sounds good, tmpearso. I'm sure you're going to make that place wonderful. Keep us updated. Are you moved in yet or still have that to look forward to? I'd love to see more of your house, if you have pictures to share. Good luck with you decisions.

We haven't moved in yet, still in the process :) I'll def share pics in the future!

Once you have your furnishing is this room, around the fireplace it will be the star and the feature of the room. Keep your artwork more simple and framed more simply (or mirror) let the fireplace be the star. If you paint the walls in a warmer tone, the fireplace will belong. Hoop that wreath has gone!