Gransnet forums

House and home

Do you still have a fireplace in your lounge.

(126 Posts)
bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 19:18:47

After the new year I would like to refurbish my lounge, its only small with a staircase in the lounge.

The house is 21 yrs old so reasonably modern.

We had a fireplace put in that was same as the show house, but now it seems to look old fashioned.

I kp toying with the idea of getting rid of the fireplace and maybe putting TV in its place. But I do like a focal point.

My fire is also a piddly thing and outdated.

Have you got rid of your fireplace? Regretted it.

Calendargirl Fri 29-Oct-21 19:22:13

We have an electric wall fire where the fireplace was originally. Mainly for the ‘coal effect’ to look warmer. It makes a humming noise so DH never wants it on. Never have the electric on, warm enough with CH.

Although not used, it is a ‘focal’ point.

Hellogirl1 Fri 29-Oct-21 19:31:07

I`ve recently been thinking of moving, but very few places these days have a fireplace, and I would really miss mine, so am still looking. When we moved here, there was a home made wooden surround with a gas fire on the hearth, but it was awful, so a few years ago we had a proper fireplace installed, but with a real flame gas insert fire, and I love it!

GrannyGravy13 Fri 29-Oct-21 19:31:10

We have a working fireplace in our sitting room and I wouldn’t replace it.

GC have added their pumpkins.

TillyTrotter Fri 29-Oct-21 19:35:28

Our house is a similar age to yours bikergran and probably a similar fireplace. We have kept it, but painted it a dove grey in a chalk paint (including the fake marble surround) and it no longer looks dated.
I like a mantelpiece for putting ornaments/ cards / candles on.

JaneJudge Fri 29-Oct-21 19:36:55

we have an open fire but my neighbour has one of those electric things that hangs on/in the breast a bit like this and it looks fitting for her room/style, so there are alternatives

TillyTrotter Fri 29-Oct-21 19:37:28

Your fireplace is a beaut. GrannyGravy. Love the Hallowe’en / Autumn theme with the colourful gourds.

Shinamae Fri 29-Oct-21 19:37:38

I have a gas fire in the fireplace with realistic looking Coals although I must admit they do need “reblacking” Wouldn’t be without it, it’s quite old-fashioned now as I had it put in about 16 years ago but I get it serviced regularly and it’s lovely on cold winter nights to have that focal point

bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 19:39:26

My fireplace bit untidy at mo. Not sure how it would look as would prob have to take the big mirror down as well. Maybe I just need a more modern fireplace and fire hmm

bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 19:40:13

Whoops frgt the pic.

HowVeryDareYou Fri 29-Oct-21 19:40:50

We got rid of our fireplace, had it bricked up, about 15 years ago. We've got a wall-mounted electric fire which we never use (we've got radiators so it's warm enough with the heating on).

bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 19:40:53

Whoops no I didn't. Lol it was playing catch up!

bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 19:44:59

I don't use the fire as have radiators, gs puts it on odd times whilst heating kicks in on school mornings. It's a big thing to rip out and it would leave a mess as I seem to think it was stuck with that no nails stuff, it's electric fire with a bit of a resess behind.
One of those jobs that once I start no going back if I decide to remove.

SpringyChicken Fri 29-Oct-21 19:46:34

We have a gas fire in the fireplace. We don’t use it much but it’s a fallback if the CH packs up or to take the chill off the room.

bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 19:51:34

Seems we like our fireplaces, they are our tradition.

I will have a re think.

Shandy57 Fri 29-Oct-21 19:55:36

I really miss having a mantelpiece and fire, the chimneys here have been blocked and I'm not sure whether to have them unblocked. I'm asking myself where is our ancient Father Christmas going to stand this year!

Katyj Fri 29-Oct-21 20:32:17

I love not having a fireplace. Our house is a similar age to yours. We have a wall mounted tv with a floating unit underneath to house the sky box etc. I think new houses look better without personally, I don’t like to see TVs in a corner on a unit, think it looks dated much prefer them on a wall.

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 29-Oct-21 20:37:10

We haven’t used our chimney for years, we have a chimneysheep up it to stop the drafts, unfortunately the jackdaws pulled off the wire cowl and I suspect the chimney is now filled with twigs. This morning I booked a chimney sweep at the princely sun of £110 for the first hour and £80.00 every hour afterwards, he will then have give me a price for a new cowl. Ouch!
The jackdaws will have to find another chimney to fill.
Oh and he’s fully booked until December, he’s the 5th one we’ve contacted none of the others were interested in clearing the chimney.
This is all ‘just in case’ plus the jackdaws drive me crazy in the nesting season as they are incredibly noisy and they have broken the TV Ariel.

bikergran Fri 29-Oct-21 20:45:13

[katyj] yes I know what you mean about TV on a unit in a corner, not really thought about it til now. Looks like I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on. I could do with a change around. Food for thought.

Calistemon Fri 29-Oct-21 20:46:52

Yes, we still have our fireplace but with a coal effect gas fire now.

If the electric goes off the central heating pump won't work so this would heat at least one room.
It did get rather shabby so I painted it with masonry paint and gave it a new lease of life.

BlueBelle Fri 29-Oct-21 20:53:27

I not only have a fireplace in both my rooms but three of my five bedrooms have them in too I love my small iron bedroom fireplaces although I don’t use them of course they are 136 years old ?

Calistemon Fri 29-Oct-21 21:01:15

BlueBelle

I not only have a fireplace in both my rooms but three of my five bedrooms have them in too I love my small iron bedroom fireplaces although I don’t use them of course they are 136 years old ?

We all remember the seagull which fell down the chimney and arrived in your fireplace! ?

tanith Fri 29-Oct-21 21:15:37

Mines coal effect gas but I haven’t used it for a long time.

Hellogirl1 Fri 29-Oct-21 21:25:22

My fireplace and fire. The ornaments and decor have changed, but the fireplace still looks the same.

BlueBelle Fri 29-Oct-21 21:31:13

callistermom ???yes Stephen and then this year Sybil My lovely little fireplace featured on GN didn’t it ?