apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you aren't up for repainting the mantle black (my first choice!) I'd go with the dark gray.

B

dark grey

if there's no going back (it WAS kinda kicky) then paint it (the inside surround) white like the mantel, or black like it's dark little fireplace heart... the intermediates feel kinda chicken

or tile it with something folksy and colorful, kinda morroccan even.... you guys have great daring color sense from what I can see

I love the way solutions bring problems which bring solutions which bring.... that's how a place stays alive

To be honest, I prefer the tile that you already have. It looks interesting & seems to match your decor better. The other options look bland & soulless in comparison.

Umm... maybe dark grey to match the hearth but i still like the orig best. How unhelpful am I today?

Your decor has a great mid-c pop look... why do you want to turn the fireplace into a blah hole?

resale value? I'd at least considder keeping a mosaic in another color, or smaller tile. With the blocky mantel i think a swath of marble would look too miami vice.

personally i like it the way it is now. the tile color is very pretty. i wouldn't touch it.

but i liked it better when the mantle was black.

I like how "B" blends with the floor tile.

But I also like the red mini tiles on the 'before' pic... just to be difficult. :-P

I like option A as it is. It has the most pizazz.

Wow, I love the tile and seriously dislike the other options.

I like the tile as is, although I am not crazy about the white mantel. I do think the black mantel you originally had was too harsh...maybe consider repainting it a darker brown, but not as dark at the black :)

back to black!

The "Before" photo is the best, tho I don't mind the white mantle either.

Your existing tile has personality and works w/ your jewel-tone style - the others options just scream "HGTV Quicky/Cheap Redo"

i like the current tile with the white! keep it.

I prefer the tile you have now. It's much more interesting.

my vote is for the tile/white combo

I like the current tile (it is nice and there is no need to remodel and use more resources and $), but I like the dark mantel.

I am redoing my fireplace right now. Can you tell me where you got the mantel? I love it.

Thanks.

A, current tile with white

I also prefer the tile, the other options look so blah which is maybe why you're having a hard time picking which one is right, because none of them are. I like the red tile, but with a black mantle.

I also prefer the tile. Have you thought about re-painting the mantel a different color (besides white or black)?

I'm with most of the posters here...the current tile looks the best.

The current tile is much much better than the other choices. And the mantle did look better black.

keep the current tile and paint the mantle light grey. it'll pull out the grey tones in the original tile...

As a guy who has been reading the site, keeping all my commentary to myself - i finally feel the need to speak up.

I feel much like some of the others and say that the original tiles have so much charm... moving to a more modern front - takes far too much away.

On first glance, I was actually thinking the tiles were the final choice - of the "after". A dark Grey mantle could be great change in terms of the mantle color.

Are you kidding, the tile is the best. Paint the mantle back to black!

I like the current tile, and actually like the black best, but the white is fine too.

i also vote to re-paint the mantle...

I like the tile, replace the fireplace screen!

Unless the original tiles are really beat up or crummy in a way that we cannot see in the photo---then I vote for the original tile. If you must replace the tile, then I suggest small multi-colored tiles again. Blah gray and blah beige have zero appeal in your otherwise charming room.

I love the tile, like the white just fine (either mantle colour is great) - and think it's the (greenish?) hue on the hearthstones that's throwing things off, with all those lovely warm and bright colours that are happening in there. I think that's what needs to be changed. And I might as well throw it in - the screen looks neater and cleaner when it's folded up smaller, like in B,C, and D. Do that maybe.

I like it as is.

I like the tiles the best. The rest just don't look quite "right" for that fireplace. I like the white mantel, but you could always do a gray, too.

the tiles are awesome, anything else is a downgrade.

The tile looks great...the rest look cheap and boring.

Personally I like the tile, and would think about picking a new color for the mantle if you don't want to go with black. Something with personality. White with those new tiles you've picked is very bland. Inoffensive, but not what I would call a net gain.

Maybe different tiles are the answer, if you like the white and want a new look for the surround. A similar small-scaled tile, in a new color.

Then, one or both grays could work.

another vote for the current tile and against options b/c/d! i think the red tile w/ white mantle looks really nice as-is.

I actually like how it looks right now. I think I even like it better than how it originally looked. I like the contrast between the white mantel and the dark tiles.

If you must change it, I'd go with option B.

why would you change the tile? omg, people have way too much time on their hands.

I really prefer the original tile too. I realize the others are computer mockups, but they remind me of cheap fireplaces in overpriced condos.

i really like the original tile best. i think the other ones look too generic. i liked it with the back around it, but the white isn't bad either. in any case, i think the mosaic tile thats there now is really the best, its unique and interesting!

black*

I am also going with the masses too and saying that I think the tiles you have now look great!

I say keep the tile. Fold up that screen or get a more modern one. White or maybe another color for the mantle. My first impression is that the color of the tile doesn't go with your orange and red accent colors, so maybe you need to find a painting or art piece that uses all three colors to help unify the colors scheme.

I like the tile, I saw the pictures and then read the information. maybe it photographs better then it looks in real life? the tile gives it depth and personality and rest look like any one of a thousand other houses.

that said if you have to change it, go with one of the greys. the other thing you might think of is moving the vertigo poster. those two blocks of color might be the problem...

Another vote for keeping the tile.

I agree w/ M.Good that the grey slate (?) on the floor is what's causing the tile to look out of place. Replace those instead of the tile.

Keep the gorgeous, interesting tile! Paint the mantle back to black.

the white works alright - and I would DEFINITELY keep the red tile. So much more interesting than the overdone grey/beige tiles. sorry. keep what works!

i wouldnt touch it because i love those tiles, but if you had to, dark grey.

either paint the mantel grey or replace the tiles on the floor but the red tiles you have now, as pretty much everyone else said, are great the way they are.

Love the tiles.

I think it looks grand with the white mantle - the black is okay too but maybe a bit overpowering.

What about a slate grey stone veneer for the mantel? Stone that would match the hearth. I like the current tile.

Keep the tile! And paint the mantel black.

Be careful that this doesn't start to look a little too 1980's SF Valley especially with that light colored tile.

I really like it how it is. The others look less interesting to me, sort of bland.

I like the original black mantel/tile combination the best. I think it works better with the room. The other options look a bit flimsy in comparison.

Why are all of the re-do options so bland and unimaginative? Tile comes in thousands of colours, patterns, shapes, and textures. Either pick a tile option more interesting than what's there now, or leave it alone.
Of the options shown here, I like the one before the mantel was painted white best.

Wow, I love the tile you have now and actually think it looks great with the white! I'd lose the fireplace screen...

With the warmth of the other objects in the photo, I'd go with the light beige. The White mantle is a nice choice.

Still, I do love the original tile - at the top. Can it be salvaged? Or can the lower part of the tile be re-done in a similarly sized tile of a complimentary (and lighter) color?

definitely keep it the way it is! it would be a shame to cover those tiles! i can't even imagine why you would. it didn't look bad with the dark mantle either. particularly since your mirror and table are also dark, it sort of balanced out.

I prefer the original tile with the black paint.

Those tiles are great! (Faux?-)marble would be super-icky! The only thing I'd do, if you want it to look minimalistic & modern, is to reface it with dark stone.

Dunno what you had in mind, pics look like marble.

The current tiles look much better than any of the new choices. The new choices are so bland and neutral.

The fireplace surround looks fine in white. Maybe you just aren't used to it so it looks odd to you?

I would suggest to paint the mantel black.

The tile and white are really great, especially with the colors of the room!!! You just need a different screen to balance the white and the hearth...

I'm not wild about the color of your current tiles (that's just my personal taste), I do like them better than whatever mockup material you have in the other images. Are you actually putting in a material that looks like it does in the pics, or are you just using the images for the colors they show? The mockup fireplaces look like marble. For some reason marble always feels so 80s to me, but beyond that, it doesn't seem to go with your furniture (what I can see of it).
I think you should just put in new tiles. You could do different colors of your choice or more neutral ones. I love the look of slate surround on fireplaces. But of the above choices, I like the light gray best with what you have around the fireplace.

I agree that (a) looks the best. I like the original tile-it has personality. I think I would try to pick up some of the colors in the tile in the room decor. It looks like you have a lot of orange (which may be your favorite color), and some dark red or oxblood accessories could pull the room together. I do prefer the white mantel.

The original tile; and paint the mantle. The slate looks common and you'll grow out of it in a year or two. All newer houses and apartments with fireplaces have that look. Don't make your home look like Home Depot, keep the old :)

Keep it the way you have it now (or the original black), but replace the fireplace screen so it looks more like the photoshopped alternatives.

That screen is messing up your nice graphic fireplace. Maybe something like this:

http://www.unicahome.com/p17249/bebop-fireplace-screen-by-blomus.html

or maybe this:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=4690&f=13920

Way cheaper than replacing that nice tile.

Dark grey for sure.

If you want to keep the red tiles, I'd paint the mantle back to black.

2nd post here... the tile already compliments the great decor of the room- no need to try to add colors to be matchy, matchy. The lighter pinky tiles are pulled from the art, small table, floor and pink/red chair. The darker tiles are accented by the blue chair, dark table, and mirror. The black mantel was too heavy and now the curves of the mirror and coffee table mimic each other. The white mantel has created the tile to be a focal art piece now. Honestly, from my original post, just a new screen is all you need.

i love it just how it is now. i think it is beautiful!

change it back to black

I think the white is beautiful with the small red tile! You'd be crazy to change it to one of those bland fireplace surrounds...they look dated and dull.

The tile is BY FAR the best look. It's hand-crafted and classic MCM. The marble looks like tacky a 80s timeshare condo.

I like the tile the way it is???

The other seems very very boring.

option a.

i agree that a more modern fireplace screen would really fix everything.

keep it white with the tile, black looks too 80's

keep the tile