I've never done it myself but I know there are high heat paints, my dad put a coat on outdoor gas grill using that stuff. I would ask someone at a hardware store. I would thing you need to clean, sand surface a bit and possibly prime. As for the mess painting I would tape and lots of plastic and paper about 4 feet or more beyond the area you are painting, even cover furniture with some old sheets. My husband sometimes uses a small airbrush to paint things and it leaves a soot like coating in the unfinished room(he is the process now of buying a small painting booth), but the paint from cans is not as fine as airbrush. Use mask and open windows.

You know, it doesn't need to be to code if you don't modify it (painting isn't a modification). It's "grandfathered" in. But getting a fireplace company in to inspect it is a really good idea. They will probably know local code, too. It's good to be aware of code and know about any issues, of course, and use your judgement as to whether or not you want to bring it to code.

Hi, There are "hole covers" available on Amazon, but there is nothing pretty about them Hole Filler Can you go back to the salvage place where you got the door plates and see if they have something that will work? You may need to use your imagination a bit to find a piece of hardware that will cover well. Especially if you end up painting the hardware as suggested above, even a new piece of hardware could be painted to match. Something like this might work but I think it might be a bit long for your door. It could cover the hole and if painted to match the backer plate for the handle, I think it could blend right into the scenery. Push plate 3 X 12 Or, put a lock into that space but make it a dummy - non-working lock. That might be the most authentic thing to do. I'll bet your vintage hardware place has something that would fit it. If you find that the wood once stripped, isn't as nice looking as you thought and you end up painting it, then the hole can be filled with a wood block and filler putty, sanded smooth and then painted - done well it should disappear.

I wouldnt paint it either. If you really are going to want it painted, then paint the fireplace and leave the rest. If you insist on doing more, then do it all, doors, and trim, etc, and since doors and trim should be the same color, throughout the house, than do all of those too. It looks very nice right now.