I think you definitely need to talk to your landlord first and I am thinking you would not want to do anything to the brick or wood trim if you are going to need to restore it back.

Well I'm not planning to do nothing with the wood trim, I kinda like it. :) The landlord gave me an ok to do changes as in color and also they left the floor unfinished for me to complete, I'm planning on using tile. It's just that I hate how dark the room is with that red massive fireplace...

i would ask them about the fireplace just to double check.

if they would rather you not, then i would put a nice mirror on the mantel, and add some battery operated/plug in puck lights ( http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00119424/) to create a little more lighting in that area.

Thanks abbyjean, I would like to keep a great relationship with my landlord, and since I'm really happy I'm this neighborhood I don't see us moving any time soon. But whenever that day comes I would like to leave the house in great shape. According to their liking. ;)

Thanks yoboseiyo. I know this place would benefit with additional lighting. I stay close to IKEA, I'll check those lights. Thanks for the reply!

I'd get rid of that wallpaper for sure and I'm sure the landlord will be happy you did so....but still double check and ask!

Don't touch the fireplace, cover the wallpaper with a vertical light tan reed paper and ask your landlord to put in a large skylight if it doesn't have a second floor over it, especially if it needs a new roof.

I like neutral colors! And I love natural light, that's why I feel like it's too dark in here! :/

Yes it is dark, I feel your pain. Removing the wallpaper and painting the walls a light color is worth considering. The landlord might be ok with that if they can pick the color. Could also paint over the timber if landlord oks it. I see there is a window, have you put a very large mirror opposite the window? This could help considerably to lighten the room up.

I love the idea of taking the wallpaper out. And I'm already shopping for a mirror, definitely painting the ceiling bright white. Is there something I can do to clean the fireplace and make it look brighter? I really wish I could do the whitewash, I just want to make sure the paint comes off if they want to go back to red bricks (I remember seeing a post online about a procedure to remove it) I'll keep on searching. I love the look of the whitewashed fireplace because you can still see the natural shades on the brick.

if you cannot paint the brick, a large artwork or mirror over the fireplace would cover much of the brick. You could also add a couple of matching tall plants either side of the fireplace to obscure the brick

You could also get a firescreen which is solid and bright in color

Do you plan on using the fireplace? If not, consider hanging drapes floor to ceiling, or getting brick clips to hang plants or other décor. I really think it would be a shame to remove the wallpaper- the room is so unique and original. Please consider the other options mentioned above, as well as fabric, panel inserts, etc. What a special place!

To me this looks like a very old fireplace. I do not think you should be painting it. Because people are living in lofts with red brick walls and are unable to paint them because of historical buildings many different styles are appearing. Your landlord may be very unhappy with a changed fireplace. You should probably try to find a way to put more light so that it isn't so dark in the area.

one more thing. Are you sure this is wall paper. Do you see a seam? They look like a wide board that should have a seam if it was wallpaper. They made a board with a print on it in the 70s. You should make sure it isn't it because it is more like paneling. You would have to paper over it.

Thank you, I would start with the easy changes, once I paint and add some lighting and the mirror I can maybe realize the fireplace isn't such a big monster.

Yes, I can see the seam. And it's scratched in a few places.

Don't forget to check out garage and yard sales in your area for a mirror. I can't tell you what low cost, wonderful, huge, mirrors I have found in them over the years for a fraction of a new ones' price!

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