apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

For the love of all that is holy, DO NOT PAINT THAT MANTEL!

It is beautiful wood, and if you paint it, someone will be cursing your name 50 years from now when they are trying to strip it off to restore the wood to it's original appearance.

If you want to change up the look, maybe there's a way to attach a different tile ~over~ the old one in some way that it can be easily removed and won't damage the original tiles.

Contrary to many people's opinions, "PAINT IT!" is not the solution to everything. I agree with the editor's comment, you should work with what you have here, which is a beautifully preserved feature with a lot of character -- don't try to make it something it's not. Oh, and these guys might come and kill you in your sleep if you do anything to that mantle. ;)

I'm usually the one who says no biggie--just paint it. BUT this time I can't make my fingers type the words.
Don't touch it! If you really hate it, have a contractor frame it out and put on a new application, but let the original unit remain intact so that the next owners can retrieve it, all the while saying, "Why did they cover this amazing fireplace???" Then someday it will end up on HGTV "If Walls Could Talk".

i second the above comment; keep it as it is. i wouldn't event change the tile. work with it, because it is awesome.

The wood is pretty but if it doesn't suit the poster's taste then there is no harm in painting it. I hate when people advocate doing something (or not doing something) because of what *other* people (be they future owners, or whatever) MIGHT think in the future. I also like the tiles but -- again -- nothing wrong with replacing them to suit the owner's taste.

I guess the question might legitmately be asked, though: why would one choose to purchase a condo in an 1880's bldg. if one doesn't like that era's architectural details?

It would be a shame to ruin this piece of architectural history with paint, simply because it beautifully reflects a period in time where quality materials and craftsmanship mattered. I would also suggest to place something over it that can later be removed if you must.

If you paint it it will lower the value tremendously, If you don't like it as is, you can sell it as is for a good dollar and have something else put in and come out ahead. It looks like cherry. You might also make a good neighbor happy by trading with someone in your building or on your block that wood want this and trade you their identical one painted on which you could just repaint. It sounds like a hassle but preservationists would rejoice and you would get a good neighbor out of it.

But you didn't say 3 important things. Is it a working fireplace? Do you use it? and what style are you going for? Modern, period, classical...

Do not touch the tiles! They are a beautiful almost celadon colour. They are original and are neutral enough to go with anything! If you really dislike the wood, paint it white to match your trim. That's it. A coat of paint can easily be removed, but messing with the tiles is another thing. I think it is beautiful the way it is though.

I'm gonna have to join the Don't Paint Here brigade. But build around it if you want something less ornate (not that this mantle is ornate - i consider it a rather simple one for its vintage). just box around it and go all the way to the ceiling - and if you widen your box (without dimensions can't determine how much you can widen) you can install a chase for wiring and do the wall mounted TV above if that what your looking for. Just please dont mar the mantle

But like Mirandabee - can't understand why buy in a 1880's bldg if don't like 1880's bit and pieces. You'll find more.

I spent a lot of time and effort stripping a fireplace surround and mantle, only to have it look half as good as that one in the picture. Now every one who comes into my apartment are wowed by this anchor of beauty. Mind you, I have Mid-Century furniture, neo-industrial sculptures, chartreuse walls and Oriental rugs, but a classic and beautiful antique like that fireplace grounds it all.

The wood should not be painted and the tiles, which are original, should not be touched. I cannot tell about the mirror. It has a lovely beveled edge but you could swap it out for something else (a painting, shelves, whatever). If the mirror is old I would advise safely storing it as it should be kept with the unit.

Along the same lines, if you really hate the fireplace, because of it's value to the house and whatnot, if you replace it, SAFELY STORE IT. If and when you sell your condo you can convey the fireplace surround and tiles with it. I believe that some future person would pay for the original details. If you do decide to remove the fireplace, make sure that you have a professional deconstruct it so that it can be put back properly.

Don't even copnsider painting that wood work. I could see possibly changing out the tile to something more to your liking, but that wood is beautiful and would be permanantly ruined if painted...

This is a beautiful fireplace--I had a similar one in my last place except tile was falling out in places, the wood hadn't been taken care of...this just makes me want your place! :)

That said, one of the things that might help is thinking about the bones of the place that you live and decorating around that. I love the all white cottages, the newer zen garderns, the homes that look like they took over the Miss Marple set...my tastes are very wide. But that said, none of those looks will fit with my current place. So---I'm going a bit more for electic-something-or-other to keep in character with the things that are already there. And even with it not being my absolute favorite, I'd rather have my style fit my place and me happy because things all make sense together.

I did some quick checking, and it looks like the price on one of the mantels (without the tile work or metal insert) costs about $1500....searching "oak mantel tiles 1800" or similar on flikr could possibly give you some ideas on how to have it fit in with your decor. And if you end up deciding you don't want this fireplace, I'd build a facade over it (which will allow for a much better resale value). Good luck!

To those who advocate 'updating' the fireplace because it doesn't fit the owner's tastes, well, taste can evolve and change. There are definitely certain things I love now that I didn't appreciate 5 years ago and there are probably things I like now that I might not in 5 years.

The fireplace just jumps out at you because you haven't moved in yet. Leave it alone and decorate around it. Having an odd element in the room that doesn't quite fit your aesthetic (which wasn't mentioned, but I'm guessing it's more modern) adds interest and in the case of a nice, old fireplace like this, character.

DO NOT TOUCH IT!

And I agree with the others who ask why did you buy in an old building if you don't appreciate historical features???

jumping in on the leave-it-alone bandwagon..

let's see your accessories and then we can help spruce it up!

I am in a similar quandry with my fireplace, which works and has amazing detail. I would never, ever touch the wood on mine or this one, but like this poster, I can't stand the original tile around my fireplace which I plan to swap out as soon as I can. There's so much you could do here to modernize the look without painting or getting rid of what is likely the original beveled mirror. Check out Ann Sacks for inspiration.

Oh, please don't touch it! It is gorgeous and timeless. You can easily tie it in with anything! Try putting some pieces on the mantle and around the frame to see what happens! Have fun playing with arrangements and you may actually fall in love with it. I'm head over heals with it and very jealous!!!

What is it that you don't like? Is it the wood, the tiles, the mantle, the framed built in mirror?
If you can answer that question, then it will be a lot easier to make a decision that you will be happy with.

But if you want to completely change it go with your tastes, then do so. The best suggestion was by Miran - to build around it a more modern structure and underneath preserving the original wood, tiles, and firebox. Hopefully you can remove the front grate to give it a more modern feel - since the fire opening is so small you would want to choose a gas firesource; consult a fireplace expert to help you decide.
If you can do this the next owners can then have the choice of modern or victorian.

But remember, I know a lot of people who move into a place for a few years and end up staying 20 years. Do what makes you happy.

Are you out of your mind? It's perfect. I'd give an ovary for a fireplace that perfect. To mess with it would truly suck.

If you're looking to modernize, I strongly recommend designing and building a faux front out of 2x4s, drywall, and stone/tile that could be removed at a later time.

By preserving the fireplace as much as possible, you're retaining the value of what is a VALUABLE architectural feature, especially good when you decide to sell.

I will say this, too: if what you do includes retiling and painting, you might be better off calling a salvage place to come and remove the mantel and the tiles instead. You get money and the salvage place gets a piece another homeowner can value.

Just some thoughts!

That is a gorgeous fireplace. I wouldn't really do anything. If you must, maybe change out the tiles. Do a subway tile-white or gray for simple, or a bold color to make it pop. Or like someone said, build a facade over it. Most people who buy in old buildings look for features like this, so it's a resale asset.

I guess I'm confused--what's wrong with it now? What do you want it to look like? What look are you going for, and what are the styles/colors, etc. of your current furnishings? Maybe if we had a bit more info we could help with how to responsibly work this architectural feature into your decor in a pleasing way.

I'm also on the "don't touch it, for the love of god" bandwagon. I have a very similar mantle in my house, only the jack*ss previous owner walled over the fireplace opening with drywall and removed the tile and grate like you have and replaced it with a cheesy curtain to cover the drywall--and yes, I do curse his name regularly (that's not the only asinine thing he did, for sure). I just keep telling myself--at least they didn't paint it and ruin the wood finish. Thank god. Maybe someday we'll scrape together the money to open the fireplace back up and reinstall a historic grate and tile like you have. Until then, we live with the curtain. Sigh.

Must chime in with the "NO!"s. That there is a rare gem.
If you don't like it, then p_l_e_a_s_e, as suggested, build around it.
That way you get what you want without destroying something valuable for future generations.

Part of the problem here might be the wall colour. You could try putting a wall paper only on the wall with the fireplace that incorporates the colour of the tiles (which I'm not crazy about either), but otherwise I agree with majority of the posts above: don't paint it.

I'm going to go ahead and agree with everyone, that wood is absolutely beautiful, do NOT paint it! You'll hate yourself later if you do. That tile is just fine as well, I wouldn't touch it. The fireplace all around is pretty neutral. I think once you get your art on the walls and decorate the mantel than it will fit right in. If you're looking at it now without anything else in the room it may be sticking out to you like a plain outdated fixture, but it's not. It's gorgeous. PLEASE don't touch it!

I've seen a lot of vintage fireplaces in my day, but I've never seen one in such PERFECT CONDITION! Don't do anything. You will come to love it. BTW, the insert was made to hold coals and is probably original.

Don't paint the wood. To me, it seems to be flame maple, and to cover it would be an absolute crime.

The vintage tile is special, too. It should be preserved.

What you could do to learn to love this while preserving its beauty and value:

-Clean and oil the cast iron insert so it takes on a deeper color and a burnished sheen.

- Paint your walls, paint ONLY your walls (not the mantel, not the tiles!) a smoky gray-indigo color somewhere in the middle-to-deep value, like BM Van Deusen Blue. Doing so will awaken the wood and harmonize with the deep cast iron insert.

-Don't try to match the gorgeous wood mantel with your other woods. Choose your pieces to permit the mantel to visually anchor the arrangement.

-Soft furnishings (any style makes you happy) should be visually light and pick up the ambers, russets, caramel and golden sand hues.

- Place artwork or textiles opposite the mirror so it doesn't reflect a drab, blank wall.

So many great suggestions here, big kisses especially for wisdom stated by warponey, enmnm, amidalailama, slowdown, modtramp.

If I don't like something, I change it.
But in this case, I would suggest that if you really really don't like it and can't live with it one more minute, hide it! Put a colourful screen in front of it, a funky collection on the mantle, or simply build a large armoire-like facing in front of it. Live with that for a while and, when you get tired of that, you might enjoy the sublime simplicity of your fireplace and cherish it for what it is.

Everybody is commenting on "what to do" and nobody is commenting on what there is:
Victorian architecture was fussy, and often a smorgasbord of historican styles. New technologies made adding layers of details cheaper. The American "Craftsman" and British "Arts and Crafts" movements were reactions to these excesses, and were in many ways forerunners of Modern design.
"Craftsman" woodwork like this, is rarer on the east coast, and in apartment buildings.

OMG. May the gods and goddesses of the forest smite thee down if you paint this piece. Pleeeeeeez, either let someone who loves quality come and remove it for you or build over it. I have friends with home furnishings that run the gamut of styles and nary a one of them would ever touch a fireplace like this. You have a gem. Treat it that way. If you don't like it, get rid of it, intact.

I believe the people have spoken with regard to changing or damaging this by trying to modernize it, and I also agree. It is really simply too amazing to screw with. But that said I haven't seen alot of input about HOW to work with it.

My first gut feeling is that if you paint the walls a contemporary saturated color, with maybe even a sheen, you may reduce the impact of the wood against the walls. By using a cool color, the warmer tones of the wood can pop out and inform other color chices for furnishings. For example a deep purple wall with a bright orange set of pillows on a chocolate brown couch would pull this right into a color scheme.

I think if you plan to modernize the environs you need to look at designers who are currently repurposing historical artifacts into really modern designs to make them look more contemporary in a new context. A great example of this would be some of Phillipe Starcks latest work from 2009 for Baccarat Moscow and for East/West studios in LA. You need to think about how to engage this historical work in context with modern new pieces and colors such that you don't lose it and also it brings something unachievable to the design with anything other than a period feature such as this fireplace. Ultimately by doing this your process will become "additive" only and require less work overall.

Good luck and please listen and don't futz with it :)

I'm with the preservation crew on this one, but can I throw an idea out there? What about stripping/sanding off the varnish for a natural, lighter, non shine finish? I don't know if I've ever seen it done but have been thinking about it for similiar features at home as I think it would tone down the yellow of the wood.

Hi, I am the fireplace owner! Thanks for all your comments. I have been on the fence about updating the fireplace, and was unsure about the age of the mantle (since it is in such perfect condition) , and therefore its value, but after hearing all your comments I have decided to begin to love and treasure the fireplace for what it is. I think I may just use a couple of framed prints to cover the mirror.

I especially appreciate all your insight into the wood and the insert. I fell in love with the place for its 1800's charm, especially the 12 ft tin ceilings (which unfortunately can't be seen on this picture).

Thanks again :)

Some arguments against change, and an alternate suggestion for an update:

---Paint will NOT modernize this fireplace. It will just look like an old fireplace mantel that has been painted. Don't do it.

---Rather than altering the fp, bring in the modern via your wall paint, furniture, window coverings, art and accessories. 100% modern is pretty boring. Think of the old fireplace as a sculptural accent to your otherwise modern space.

---Generally speaking, buyers interested in historic properties expect and want architectural details. If you gut your property, you'll lose a lot of potential buyers down the road.

That said, if you really feel you must update the fireplace, then do so. But consider a different approach:

Refinish the fireplace. Bleach the wood to achieve a finish in a grey or whitewashed tone. Then replace the tile with a solid piece(s) of matte black slate or granite (or large tiles).

But... I'm not a wood expert. The grain in this wood is very pronounced and I don't know how it would react to bleaching. It might not look the way I'm envisioning it. You might also consider staining it a dark grey or matte black (so the grain is still visible but less pronounced), and using a matte white/light stone to replace the tile.

Talk with a more than one professional before you do this. Your fp is a major focal point; have the work done by a pro.

AND finally... if you do something like this, you may need to change your existing wood floors! Welcome to home ownership! :)

Doing anything to that fireplace, which I think is birdseed maple, will pretty much destroy it.

If you are still looking for decorating ideas...one of the points of disconnect is that wall color. It has, I think, a different undertone than the tiles. You may want to consider hiring a paint consultant (Benjamin Moore has them), to help choose optimal wall colors that complement the variety of colors you already have (the fireplace, ceiling, and floors). This place could really pop!

Again...leave the birdseed maple alone. Birdseed maple is prized for its unusual grain. In reality, the birdseed pattern is...a disease! Yup, it's a diseased tree. And yet its appearance is so attractive, it's a prized wood.

The wood is quartersawn oak, and a lot of it. It is really gorgeous.

^^ Even the lower half?

Thanks for letting me know. I just looked up quartersawn oak, and that is exactly what my fireplace looks like. That helps me to pinpoint its age a little. Thanks so much for your insight!

I just looked up quartersawn oak and that is definitely the same wood. Sounds like it is valuable and rare. Thanks for the insight. It definitely should not be painted! Thankfully I realize that now. Because it is in such perfect condition I thought it was from the 70's or 80's, but now I think it may have been there longer than I thought.

I agree with Retrogrouch; it does appear to be quartersawn oak.
And enmnm, I believe you're thinking of birdsEYE maple, which is indeed the serendipitous result of a disease. It has a lighter color than the oak, and distinctive little circular 'eyes' scattered about.

Both beautiful woods.

^^ Hahaha, you are right! seed...eye....

The mantle is absolutely not from the 1980s...you're roughly 100 years off.

I can see easily the quartersawn pattern in the upper half. It's just that lowered half looks pickled to me. That's why I thought it was a different wood. It looks so different from the uppermost plank.

Perfect timing here. I have a similar fireplace and would like to find similar tiles that are in the picture in or around Brooklyn. I need about 16 square feet.
I would not paint it, she looks very pretty.
K

I have a similar fireplace in ugly orangey gumwood on a stand-alone wall...I painted it. People were horrified, and then it was done and everyone loves it. Opens up the whole space! But, I agree that your wood is much more attractive than mine. And the style is not one that will look right painted, I think. Too much going on...But with the right wall paint it could be just fine as is...not something you could say for my orange monstrosity.

Get an artist on etsy to do one painting the exact size to cover the mirror. Send them your paint colors (agree that a rich gray (see Benjamin Moore gray horse) will help immensely) and send a chip the best represents tile color. Let the artist do something that you like that helps tie it all together. The gray horse paint, yellowish tile and charcoal grate will give you a very warm and modern palette to work with. If gray horse is too dark fir the whole room, consider doing on wall only and doing a color to compliment the tile on the other walls. It will both be a focal point and blend with your decor.

I can't resist... I will agree with all the posts that say DO NOT PAINT. For the love of god leave that mantle the way it is. You are very lucky to have one in such a great condition.

happy to hear this beautiful piece won't be painted! instead you should set everything up in this room to foreground your fireplace. can't believe you have 12 ft tin ceilings too. please post pics of your place!

I sympathize with the poster, inasmuch as I had a similar problem with my fireplace moving in. The photo isn't clear enough to see the details of just how badly the mantel and tiles have aged over the years.

I loved the original details in my place, but some of the tiles were badly worn, and someone had replaced some of the tiles in the 80's (horrendous, non-matching shiny black tiles). I ended up salvaging as much of the original tiles as I could, but replacing the upright portion with new tiles that fit the original's color scheme.

I know someone whose last apartment had this exact same fireplace down to the tile color. It was painted white by the building owners. Not only was it a truly awful, gloppy paint job (especially around the tiny crevices), but it made the fireplace blend into the wall. I'm very glad to hear you are planning to keep it as is, since I've seen what happens if it is updated.

i was thinking about this fireplace before falling asleep. i already made a comment saying don't touch the fireplace, but i thought a good solution to updating the area would be to paint the wall (perhaps a dark gray?) and change the lighting in the room to table lamps and what not, rather than the center ceiling ultra bright light.

Kajones: Why do of you hate the mirror? It has a beautiful bevelled edge, that will catch the light or any candle light nicely. I would just place one or two clean lined pieces on the mantle and maybe lean one (not to big) print up against it, but I wouldn't try and cover it.

I can force myself to love the mantle (and even the tiles) BUT there is no way I can force myself to love that mirror. Since taking the picture, I have framed 2 sepia prints (of scenery from a recent trip to California) and laid the frames again the mirror and they cover it perfectly. I love everyone’s suggestions about making that wall an accent wall with a bold paint color so I may try that. And all of you who have praised embracing the 1880s features will be happy to know that I am currently renovating the bathroom (it was last renovated in 1982) and all of your comments have inspired me to add a pedestal sink rather than the more modern one I was contemplating. Thanks again :)

Kajones, I understand your concern.

Part of the problem may be that it stands out from the white trim on the walls.

I have a friend with a similar fireplace. She painted it white and it looks fantastic.

But I have to agree with the posters that have commented that it will still look like you have painted over a beautiful wood mantle.

Personally, I would paint it if:

1) I had lived with it for a while, and still hated it; and,
2) I was sure that I would be in the place for a long time.

Otherwise, leave it alone.

I'm a little late here, but I just thought I'd chime in. I don't think that fireplace will substantially increase a home's value. I agree it's not the best idea to paint the wood, but I have to say, the tiles are absolutely hideous IMO. Just today I was looking at a "fixer upper" home for sale that had a similar fireplace, and it really took center stage, and not in a good way. I am really interested in seeing your "after" photos to see how things turned out. I could also see covering the mirror with an interesting piece of textile.