DIY advice please

[Tom]

ok, the front bedroom is about the last room in my house to be decorated. Its in a right state at the moment, but that should be sorted in a few weeks. I'm trying to work out how best to retain a brick fireplace in the scheme of things, so need people's opinions on what would look best. I have already decided to paint the entire room one shade (old english white), and paper the chimney breast. What I need to decide is how to get around the fireplace.

This is what it looks like right now:

And this is sort of what I'm after:

Obviously papering around those bricks isn't possible like that, so I'm thinking of making it look something like this:

Yes I know it looks a bit rough, and yes the bedroom is a fucking tip, but I don't bother keeping things clean that will be ripped apart. The floorboards are oak stained, and the furniture is dark oak. The windows are large oak sash, and there will be a stained picture rail around the top of the wall.

I can't afford to put a new cast iron fireplace in right now, maybe some time in the future. I will also be plastering the back of the chimney breast, and painting it the same colour as the walls. The skirting board will be white.

Helpful suggestions only please, thanks.

 

[Will]

I would really recommend just hiding the fireplace until you can afford to put something proper in. It'll annoy the hell out of you until you do fix it. It will mean more work once you have to sort out the fire, but for the (I assume) 6 months between, you'll be glad you did it.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by Will
6 months

More like 6 years tbh, lots more important stuff to do.

 

[Will]

Just do a rough job on the papering at the fireplace, and cover it with a...I'm not sure, a mirror maybe, or a picture, and a pair of vases, once at either side, with dried flowers or something.

 

[Wij]

Originally posted by Will
and a pair of vases, once at either side, with dried flowers or something.

Are you a botter ? :uhoh:

 

[hoggsboss]

tidy up the fireplace the best you can and put some candles inside it, to paper round the bricks you could always put up a small wooden frame that can be painted to colour of your choice.

 

[Will]

Originally posted by Wij
Are you a botter ? :uhoh:

Are you feeling lucky?

 

[Jonaldo]

I'd leave the bike where it is though, it would make a nice finishing touch and a good talking point when people visit.

 

[ECA]

Originally posted by Jonaldo
I'd leave the bike where it is though, it would make a nice finishing touch and a good talking point when people visit.

Agreed :-]

 

[Cdr]

Originally posted by Jonaldo
I'd leave the bike where it is though, it would make a nice finishing touch and a good talking point when people visit.

I think to off-set the bike, you need a car the other side.

 

[kameleon]

the asymmetry of that fireplace is offensive.

 

[Testin da Cable]

how big is the room Tom? can you enlargethe fireplace and put a bear-skin rug in front? some chesterfield chairs and whiskey should also beplaced in handy positions

 

[~Lazarus~]

you could put a simple mesh frame round the outside of the fireplace.

Not HIDING the brick-paper join, but softening it.

Then decorate the fireplace with dried flowers / candle arrangement.

G'wan - you know you want to.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by kameleon
the asymmetry of that fireplace is offensive.

Its an upstairs fireplace u burke!

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by ~Lazarus~
you could put a simple mesh frame round the outside of the fireplace.

I'm not sure I follow you, could you provide a picture?

 

[~Lazarus~]

Originally posted by Tom
I'm not sure I follow you, could you provide a picture?

Not too good at piccies and not much time to go looking for a suitable.

Its a simple inverted U-shape, the width of the bricks and a bit more.

If you arent burning anything, it can be framed with wood and even a simple linen stretched across to soften the area behind.

Ill try and come up with a picture later