New fireplace

[plasticpigeon]

Hello, I thought I would share what I've been up to the last couple of weekends. I've been putting in a fireplace insert and surround, a nice job as it makes the place look more pretty. I know the gypsum plaster will make some people gasp in horror, but it is solid plaster, not boards and very nicely done. I eventually found a plasterer who is superb at his job. Perhaps i should ask him to try lime next!!! Anyway plaster aside, I hope the fireplace is to peoples approval. The insert is reproduction, but the surround is reclaimed. I even had a go at remarbling the frieze which had lost most of its marbling due to heat. i think the tiles and pattern look a bit new, and i'm thinking of black leading the insert as that looks somehow new too, perhaps it is the black paint, but overall I'm pleased.

 

[mims&pip]

Lovely job PP It's great to see progress pics!

Pleased to hear you've finally found some tradespeople you are happy with too.....that's what we need to do here in our new location, although Pip will tackle most things (and is very good) except electrics and I'm a pretty experienced labourer (read that how you will :wink: ).....

I'm on the hunt for fireplaces too as it happens - the bedrooms are all lacking their originals unfortunately. We found an amazing Arts & Crafts copper insert at an antique shop in Bridgnorth a few weeks back. I think Pip will need to build a custom surround as it's a peculiar shape.....must start a thread with more pics

Mims x

 

[plasticpigeon]

Thanks, I have 2 tips for fireplaces in the black country. Brydale andtiques in Cradley Heath has hundreds if not thousands. Some are outside and rusting, some inside and polished. Also Oldfields in old hill opposite the station. Rough yard, blokes drinking special brew all day, but friendly and decent prices.

http://www.bridale-architectural-antiques.co.uk/category/antique-fireplaces/

http://www.reclaimedbricksfloorboardsmidlands.co.uk/

Would love to see pics, your house looks very interesting.

 

[LadyArowana]

That looks lovely, and the clock is perfect too. We have one very similar ( clock ), inherited from my husband's aunt. I had it given a good restoration of both case and movement, as ours had lost its top part. They re - did all the gilding in the engraved parts, found a sympathetic replacement for the "roof", got the mechanism working again and supplied replacement key. Of course I ended up paying $$$ to make a piece that was then worth $, but it had sentimental value. You are lucky yours looks to be in good condition, more $$$ to spend on the house :lol:

 

[Feltwell]

Lovely job PP, you've made me feel guilty that I need to get on and do mine! The fireplaces have been sat in the garage for about 3 years now.......

None of it looks "new" from your pictures, I wouldn't worry. Will this fireplace be working? If so, that will stop any new appearance pretty quickly! I don't see the harm in gypsum on an internal wall personally, especially on houses like yours and mine at the newer end of the PP scale.

I too have a clock almost identical to that one, I think the Victorians must have liked them a lot. Mine needs stripping down and the mechanism hopefully just cleaning - it stopped keeping decent time a while ago - another job to add to the list.

 

[88v8]

Very good, and well proportioned for the chimney breast. As Feltwell says, a few fires will take the newness off the paint.
Superb that you retouched the marbleising. We had the bath marbleised in our previous house, a real skill.

Those Victorian slate clocks had good quality movements. I only have the one now, that I bought in 1969 for 25/- from Quilp's Wharf in Highgate, still keeps good time.

Agree re gypsum plaster. If the house has a dpc then gypsum or lime makes no odds.

Ivor

 

[TheRoost]

Looks great. We have a similar style of insert that will be installed in our living room soon, but with a wooden surround.

The hearth tiles are a good match, are they original to the house or did you buy them to match the insert?

 

[mims&pip]

Thanks, I have 2 tips for fireplaces in the black country. Brydale andtiques in Cradley Heath has hundreds if not thousands. Some are outside and rusting, some inside and polished. Also Oldfields in old hill opposite the station. Rough yard, blokes drinking special brew all day, but friendly and decent prices.

http://www.bridale-architectural-antiques.co.uk/category/antique-fireplaces/

http://www.reclaimedbricksfloorboardsmidlands.co.uk/

Would love to see pics, your house looks very interesting.

Thanks for those links PP, they look interesting - I'll take a more thorough look later and will plan a visit :wink:

Although they are both about forty minutes from our current location we have travelled much further in the past for the right thing for our previous houses - such as Hampshire to Stoke-on-Trent to pick up an Esse Solo heater and Essex to the Yorkshire Dales to collect a Smallbone butchers block :roll:

In the meantime, we are off on a retail therapy visit to Shrewsbury tomorrow so will be looking for promising sources of antiques/architectural salvage en route/in that area........

On the pic front, will try to address that this week although we're heading *darn sarth* on Thursday to visit family in Brighton

 

[Feltwell]

In the meantime, we are off on a retail therapy visit to Shrewsbury tomorrow so will be looking for promising sources of antiques/architectural salvage en route/in that area........

Well - I'm sure you'll enjoy the retail therapy in Shrewsbury, it's a lovely town with interesting shops - so long as you stray away from the high street - but I wouldn't get too excited on sources of antiques/architectural salvage round here, unless your pockets are deep!

Period House Store on Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury is worth a look for inspiration but is *very* over-priced in my opinion.

If your time allows then I thoroughly recommend a drive back via Stokesay Castle and Ludlow, i.e. heading due south from Shrewsbury. There are more "old house" type shops in Ludlow, but again a bit pricey. More unusual items than I've seen in Shrewsbury though, it's just that bit further off the beaten track. Stokesay Castle is a gem of a building, and is on the way, just before you get into Ludlow.

Edit - see my other post on closing down sale.......

 

[mims&pip]

Feltwell, thank you for taking the trouble to advise on what to expect in Shrewsbury - it is most appreciated

Not sure if we'll have time for a visit to Stokesay Castle, but it looks amazing so will definitely plan a trip very soon - maybe when the weather warms up a little!

Mims x

 

[Feltwell]

Forgot to mention, if it's fireplaces you're after, there's this place just a little to the north of Shrewsbury.

http://www.antiquefireplacecompany.co.uk

 

[kreyszig]

Love it! We have a similar one, the marbling is just in small panels though. Its nice to have a real expression of craftsmanship on display like that.

 

[plasticpigeon]

A short update now I've painted the room for anyone who might be interested. I'm pleased with the colour. The woodwork will be in a creamy white, the paint at the moment is just undercoat. I've decided against a crystal chandelier, and will put in less glitzy Edwardian style brass thing with frosted glass globes.

 

[mims&pip]

Very nice colour PP.....we painted the family bathroom a similar colour in our last house-but-two, which was an 1888 villa on the South Coast

 

[Zebra]

I love how the colour of the walls complements the flowers in the fireplace, and the open lid of the toolbox! :wink: