help with Victorian fireplace!!
I need advice on how to fix this fireplace up. It’s a beautiful soapstone mantle but the insert has some sort of gunk all over it that won’t come off and the opening at the top keeps dropping out dirt and soot. The tiles are not jiving with me color wise. Help!! I just painted the room a very pale punk in fact it’s so pale that it’s called gorgeous white and I want to fix this up so the room feels more done. Would it be a sin to paint these tiles? I know they are probably valuable and desirable but I’m not loving the colors. Don’t mind the clutter We are painting everything g and the house is upside down right now.
Comments (9)
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoSo the insider of the hearth looks like it has cast iron fire back plates. See link.
https://www.woodlanddirect.com/Fireplace-Accessories/Firebacks
http://www.noreast1.com/mta005a.JPGSomeone might have tried painting it if they were not using the fireplace for heating. They are usually just plain metal of some kind and are used to keep the heat reflected back into the room.
I'm puzzled by the tile on the hearth because it doesn't look like something you could build a fire on top of safely.
If the flue keeps dropping soot, then it likely the flue needs to be cleaned ASAP. No fires until you hire a chimney sweep to remove the creosote from the chimney. This is a dangerous situation.
How to Clean and Maintain Soapstone Fireplaces
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-clean-and-maintain-soapstone-fireplaces
PROBeth H. :
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoRelated Discussions
Victorian fireplace remodel
Comments (1)I think cast iron in a satin finish black would blend in nicely with Victorian style. Check the jotul product line on their website. The parts are made in Norway and assembled in Maine. We have their gas direct vent insert that performs beautifully. Very high quality, nice subdued styling. For more suggestions post your questions in the chat room at hearth.com....See MoreNeed help with interior color selection for a victorian
Comments (8)The homes in our area that are from the end of the Victorian age are usually done in dark green, gold, rose, deep red and maybe some dark blue. Eastern Washington didn't see any big money until the late 1800's. Many have early Craftsman elements, too, with a return of the dark timbers and earth tones. If you like earth tones, what about dark green in the library? It's a beautiful color with most woodwork (think english pub green) and would look nice with the tiles around the fireplace. The music room would be beautiful in gold/mustard, very much like the tiles around the library fireplace. In both rooms, neutral or tan/brown furnishings (maybe some leather in the library) would look great. Do you have much furniture in the music room? Something soft (like a velvet type fabric) for a comfy side chair would look beautiful in the rust/terra cotta, or maybe use the color on pillows for accents? What color is your dining room/other rooms on the first floor? Would the terra cotta/rust tone work in your dining room? Warm orange tones are always nice in a dining room and stimulate appetite/conversation. Some green and gold accents would really tie the spaces together. The entry way might be a nice place to try a little wallpaper, or maybe some stenciling. Perhaps you could find something in a natural motif that would tie in the golds, rust and dark green. It sounds like a great project and a lot of fun. Remember, paint is one of the easiest things to change if you don't like it...but I would still try some test areas and see what it looks like under different lighting/times of day, before I painted the whole room :)...See MoreNeed help modernizing an old Victorian
Comments (27)I have owned several Victorians and I love the period! I would recommend against knocking down into the den. You may not use that space now, but definitely will in the future! As far as furniture and area rug, can you buy from a place that has a good return policy? Then you can try out some pieces in the space and see what looks good in the actual size and lighting of the room. Your woodwork is so special. It will be much easier to care for than painted trim. The scuffs and marks don't show up the same way at all, and having young children, that can be an issue. I have taken years off my life in stripping painted woodwork! However, one idea to try though would be to see if painting the very centre sections of the coffered ceiling would bounce light down into the room. Before committing to this, try temporarily sticking up some white posterboard in the square sections to see if it would have the desired effect. It would also highlight the beams and feel less cave-like. Is there is a way to get a ceiling light into the foyer area, besides that gorgeous chandelier?...See MoreNeed Help Bringing my Dining Room from Victorian Age to 21st Century
Comments (47)Are your floors cherry? I think a VERY light sage green would look lovely, your walls are very light already but the FEEL is dark. I think the contrast against the brighter kitchen nearby enhances that dark feel. Not every room needs to be "light and airy" but given how your space is used for homework and crafts, it definitely needs better lighting. I see a curtain pulled across the living room window. I presume it's for privacy since that room likely faces the street? You may also have antique pieces you'd like to protect from UV damage--please look into privacy window film with UV protection. Installing that would allow you to mount drapes that can be kept to the side of the window and thus allow more light into the space. Your chairs feel gothic to me. I would look into changing the chairs into something a little more modern (to go with the new table) but use a Victorian inspired fabric to cover the seats as a nod to the house style. Please don't paint the woodwork. Before choosing the wall paint, work on the lighting and find the light and bulbs that work for you (you'd be surprised how much they can vary between manufacturers). Agree with other suggestions to move the light and I would try to tie the new light into the lovely pendants in the kitchen by relating the shape or the material. I love your kitchen, I think you did a good job making it suit the house. Love Victorians, what a fun project!...See More
hevs
4 years ago- PRO
Beth H. :
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago partim
4 years ago- PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoA fireplace like your would like have an insert like this even if you use gas
- PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago 
l pinkmountain
4 years ago
HALLETT & Co.