Sorry, I meant to add — the interior is just 16” deep, and 33” at the widest point.

I‘d like to keep it simple, but interesting... have you done anything with an unused firebox that you’d like to share? Seen something fabulous?

ETA Found this basket in my basement — maybe something around this size with dried hydrangeas? not exactly earth shattering but I do love hydrangeas and have lots in my yard so it would be appropriate (though I’d have to wait til next fall if I want to use my own!).

I like white lights in a fireplace that's never used. Intertwine a string among a few logs on a grate.

How you considered a vintage cast iron fireback?

Oh hey, it’s me again. How about the brick on the front of the fireplace? Would you paint that AND the interior one color? black? or a different color?

Maire, yes, actually looked at some. Didn’t see anything I loved and yikes, they are $$$$.

I had to google "vintage cast iron fireback" and while, yes, some are $$$$, there are some not so much and they are really cool looking.

I would want to paint the brick. I like the look of the black/white in your photo, but of course it would depend on the rest of your room.

Ooohhh look at these...

Plenty of non-vintage fireback...this one makes me laugh.

In our old house we had a shallow fireplace we never used. I cleaned the bricks and left them brick color. I changed things up.

Often it was a fire grate, stacked with white birch logs, sometimes they were pillar candles mixed in, but I always worried a cat would set itself on fire.

At Christmas I stuffed it full of fake pointsettias. I bought pots of them and made a wire rack to hold the pots laying on their side so all you could see was the flowers.

Local, what did you use to clean the brick?

There are new firebacks that are much more reasonable - even Amazon has them.

How about a Dragon? here's one from from Plow and hearth -

https://www.amazon.com/Plow-Hearth-Fireback-Dragon-Design/dp/B01M9D49AC/ref=sr_1_28?gclid=CjwKCAiA6bvwBRBbEiwAUER6JReZ429elv7WlNAgtD7uCtgtnF55PT_TmvRH-_cSHdk5c1LsNdSg-hoCRK4QAvD_BwE&hvadid=241658088128&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003800&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t4&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2798490257696529497&hvtargid=aud-836718182849%3Akwd-46883288&hydadcr=26613_9892212&keywords=fireback&qid=1578110563&sr=8-28

So pretty! For some reason I can't quite put my finger on, I think a shallow mantle looks better painted the same color as the trim; would you consider that?

You could tile over the brick surround; we did that in Maine.

I like the look of white birch logs on andirons. I also have seen fpl I loved stacked wall to tall w books, but that is admittedly quirky.

Add depth back it with a mirror and add a candles.

Sue, It was a long time ago, and I know I tried a bunch of stuff, I know my dad told me if nothing worked I would need to use a muriatic acid solution. That’s really awful stuff to work with and I never got to that point. I washed a lot to get rid of surface dirt and I think citrasolv got off the rest, but I may have also gotten something from our wood stove guy. Brick is porous so you need to draw the dirt out of the bricks.

I wouldn’t say mine is overly interesting but it’s much better (to me). I just painted the inside a high heat black, l’ll most likely never use it as a real wood burning fireplace. Then I just added fake logs. The other thing I did was do a light wash over the stone to calm it down. I used one level table spoon of paint per one cup of water. I haven’t sealed it yet.

BEFORE we moved in.

AFTER

As you can see it would be hard to see a black fancy fireback.

I think I need to mix in a larger log or two.

I personally prefer washes over stone or brick instead of full on paint but that’s just me. It can get tricky as colors can bleed through in a not nice way. I stay away from whites for washes . I used SW Accessible Beige for my wash.

INTERIOR PAINT

The issue with a fireback is, as Oakley mentioned, they’re all black, and will probably be hard to see. Then again, maybe I want subtlety. I don’t want to fight with the art on the wall.

mtn, I think someday we might tile, but for now I’m looking for quick n easy decorating. We went on and on about paint vs stain when we first moved in and painters were here. We all (me, DH, painter) decided on stain — one reason being its easier to decide to paint later vs paint now, then change. (If that makes sense.) Funny because I’ve been questioning that now that I’m focusing on the FP, but I’m not ready to change it just now.

I might just get a new fire grate (Or andirons) and some pretty birch logs (I have a few now but they’re not very pretty) at least for now ... maybe it’s something I can change seasonally and do a basket in the spring.

I love these guys!!

I did find a pair of those guys on Etsy. I also like these.

Still love this too but do I love it for $500?

Arcy, I hadn’t thought of mirror...I’ll try it with a mirror I have (temporarily) and see what effect it has.

I love those andiron guys!!! Very cool!

Now I want some andirons.

EDITED:

As usual I fell in love with one of the most expensive.

Ok I just ordered the guys on Etsy. I liked them too much to let them get away. The size is right, too — a lot of what I’ve found has been too large for the space. Even if I don’t like them for the FP, the log stand things come off and they could be propped anywhere in my house or even on the porch.

Sue, you are dangerous lol.

I didn’t even think of andirons.

must have andironssssssss

Look, you can also just get a guy! He’s got attitude.

Would you consider painting the mantle as mtd suggested? Here are my 2 fireplaces one with painted brick one natural brick.

Oops

I used to have this covering the fireplace when the interior was nasty and the exterior more vibrant . Maybe I can repurpose it somehow. I’ll have to think on it. The circles are barely soldered together. I could take everything out of the center frame.

Sue, I have those andirons! I think they are Hessian soldiers? I have a very BFF (from 7th grade, back when Hessians roamed) and she gave them to me as a housewarming gift when we bought our first home. I have them in my MBR fpl now, with birch logs (we have a lot, from when we lost a very tall birch) : (

I can see why you'd vacillate over paint; i like the swag detail on the wood and you might diminish that. I think it's the wood cabinet to the right that is making me thing of those colonial panelled fpl walls.

I have to admit I really like this... (maybe one could do it with banned books as a statement, LOL)

Here’s the natural brick with painted mantle.

I can't believe you have them. mtn. I had never seen them before. Yes, Hessian soldiers. So funny. I just think they're quirky, which suits my decor style.

We could definitely fill the FP with books...we have so (too) many thanks to DH, who can't seem to use a library or even a Kindle.

I think if I can paint the firebox/interior brick black, clean up the front brick area along the top, some nice white birch logs on the soldier andirons would be a nice contrast without being too fussy. Another factor is that I can't have anything too precious or precarious because the dining room also seems to be our dogs' playroom. I could just see a ball being flung into a lovely arrangement of candles...

found it! FWIW, it was this article that made me think shallow mantles are painted to match the trim:

https://www.oldhouseonline.com/interiors-and-decor/history-of-the-fireplace

Came across this photo of my MBR fpl with the Hessian soldier andirons.

Ooh thanks! (And thanks for the article above — I did save one of the pics of the painted FP for inspiration in case I decide to paint someday.) I’m out of town now but got notification that my Hessians were delivered! Can’t wait to see them!

Love the andirons. We used to frequent the Washington Crossing Inn when friends of our owned it and they had a pair of Hessian soldier andirons in front of one of their fireplaces. They thought it was rather clever because as we all remember from our history books, Washington crossed the Delaware on Dec. 25 to surprise the Hessian troops stationed in Trenton, NJ.

We had an unused fireplace in the kitchen at our old house. There was a cast iron wood rack in it, so we went out and cut 4 or 5 white birch logs and arranged them on the rack. We left it like that when we sold it and moved. Fast forward 10 years - I had occasion to visit our old house and new owners and Guess What! The same birch logs were still stacked there and looked great. (We lived there 13 years + have been gone 10 years = 23 years for those logs. No rot, no insects, no troubles.)

DH is home while I’m away and I texted to ask if a heavy package arrived for me, and if so, it contains my fireplace soldiers. His response:

I made him “let them out” so here they are! So cute. I need longer birch logs, obviously. But I love the little guys.

LOL. I still can't like posts!

And BTW what has happened with photo quality? Photos are so small and I realize in my last post you can't even see what I was actually posting about!

Ugh, I wanted to “like“ your dh’s funny!!!

I don't get it - for some reason I can 'Like" posts. This is a strange place............

Love the Hessians and the history behind them.

Sue, love the little Hessians! And your DH is funny.

Love your saucy little men!

Love the Hessians! Really great find. This might be a fun thing to add:

Here's the Etsy link:Birch logs with candles

I like that, JoJo!

We built a Rumford fp, and because DH just loved it I got him a picture of the Count and hung it near his chair. It really does put out great heat.

Sue, you are not allowed to paint the mantel or any of the wood. Do you understand?

People are going to do a doubletake when they see the men in your firebox.

Books in a fp seems like a huge fire hazard or a gathering place for bad spiders.

Dopey dog would not move...

I am happy with my guys! I painted the inside black, got a few more logs, still need to try to clean the soot off the bricks along the upper opening but that‘s a project for another day!

I think it looks great. FYI, I cleaned the soot off the bluestone around my fireplace with easy-off oven cleaner. It was very messy but did the trick.

Ooooh! Great tip! Thanks!

Looks super. May sound odd, but I would keep the soot above the opening. To me it = authentic, working fpl

Even better!

Perfectly fun and whimsical . It is so “Sue!”

Looks very nice, Sue. Your dog may not be so sure, though, by the expression!