That odd mantle...

[TBM]

It definitely is not what I had imagined from your description. I don't find it so offensive, but maybe that's just me.;p

I would be more apt to replace it than to fill it in. I would be concerned that the carvings might not fill in right and would show under paint and definitely wouldn't stain the same as the rest of it if filled, and someone else might appreciate it the way that it is.

[magdala]

Please don't fill it in. I realize it is not your taste but it is a beautiful piece of its kind. It is possible to build a three sided u shaped trench out of wood to encapsulate it. Wood is a good material if you don't plan to use the fireplace for fires.

[munkii]

It's beautiful! You really hate it? When was your place built? If around 1900, it's probably original. If you do anything, just build around it; it would be a shame to fill it in or cover it.

[hbomdiggity]

Hmmm.. That's interesting. I'm all about character, but I'm not sure i could live with that ether. If you think it's original, I would likely take it out and sell to an architectural resale place and then have something else built.

[pitterwoo]

Feb 17, 2013 22:32:34 GMT -5 hbomdiggity said:

Hmmm.. That's interesting. I'm all about character, but I'm not sure i could live with that ether. If you think it's original, I would likely take it out and sell to an architectural resale place and then have something else built.

I agree with this.  There are probably others who would appreciate it, so let them enjoy it while you build something else that suits you.

I don't like it, but I don't think it's terrible or anything.

[bleubook]

It's really beautiful. Please don't destroy it. If you hate it at least let someone salvage it.

[Deleted]

Ditto everyone else. If its NYS, take it out and salvage it and build what suits you.

Paint doesn't fix everything, despite what blog land may lead us to believe.

[thewop]

Wow, that's totally NMS, but it is beautiful. Definitely try to salvage! Please!!!

[Blueper]

That is super classy and unique. I would rip out my run of the mill fireplace in a heartbeat to have something like that. Since you don't like it I would get a bid to get it removed and sell it. Have you moved your stuff into the house yet? You might not mind it (and might appreciate it) once you get settled.

[niknik]

I actually love it. It's really unique. I think it's gorgeous.

[Deleted]

spitfire, if you want it gone, call Build It Green NYC. They'll come out and professionally remove it for free and sell it at one of their stores. And you'll get a tax write off for donating it and someone who will love it can buy it.

www.bignyc.org/deconstruction-bignyc

[april37]

I guess I'm the odd one out, I don't like the carvings at all. I can't even say it's beautiful and just NMS. I don't blame you for wanting it gone. If the place ameliapond mentioned is an option for you, I'd go that route rather than filling it in. Then you can start fresh.

[tarheels]

I won't call it beautiful, but I will call it intriguing. I'd really hate to see you take it out of the house - future owners will definitely want it. Just hire an intelligent contractor to build something new around it to hide it without ruining it.

[tarheels]

Ok, you officially can't remove it. Please. It's marbleized slate and it was big in England at the time.

www.c20fireplaces.co.uk/original_mantels/m212_edwardian-slate-fireplace-mantel?page=4
www.eandareclamation.com/VictorianSlateFireplace2.html
www.salvoweb.com/chimneypieces-grates/forsale.html?key=slate

Just box it in if you don't want to look at it, but it's really a unique piece.

[auntie]

My niece's neighbor has a similar one in her brownstone apartment. I find it appealing, but can see where it isn't to everyone's taste. I like the one tarheels posted with the colorful tiles. Maybe if you embraced the weirdness instead of fighting it?

[boiler717]

It's something that is NMS but I would learn to love about my home. I think once you finish the room it will look great x

[downtoearth]

I'm on-the-fence - I could see living with it for awhile to see if you liked it at all or getting rid of it. I do know that it was pretty typical to have flooring and the mantle be finished differently, but is your trim also pretty different?

I googled "1900 original mantle" to see if that was a typical style and found this right away...http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/11/photo-pool-challenge-replacing-a-mantle/

So I would guess there is a market for that and you could easily get a tax write off to have it removed/sold. I'd go that way if it's not your style.

[Deleted]

Could you try to live with it for a while to see if it grows on you? If you can't, I vote cover. If you ever plan on selling the place, you'll be doing yourself a huge disservice by removing it. For people who want original stuff, that will be a treasure. For people who don't care for it, they can easily remove or replace it (though I'd give them the same advice). If the future owners hate it, they'll have an already-assembled cover for it. Put away your white paint brush in this house

[munkii]

Yes, I'm digging up an old post. 

littlespitfire, what did you end up doing, or is it still on the to do list?

I thought about it because I'm watching an episode of Kitchen Cousins on hulu right now (http://www.hulu.com/watch/472111), and the fireplace in this lady's brownstone is engraved slate.

[lavender444]

I'm curious what you did with it, too. It is/was so pretty!

[tarheels]

May 16, 2013 12:49:47 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

It's still on the to do list, although I've consulted with a fireplace "expert" to build around it, to the tune of between 3 and 4k. He had never seen anything like it and told me it was hideous, lol.

You don't need an "expert" to build a casing for it.  Any carpenter can do it, and I'd expect less than $1k.

And ETA - I've never met a contractor whose taste level wasn't that of Larry the Cable Guy.  What they say is never a factor in my design decisions.  (Technical, how-to decisions, absolutely, but never for design.)

But eh, if you don't think it's original, just give/sell it to a salvage firm.

[ktzmoh]

You can make a casing yourself and hang it with a French cleat! It'll hide the mantel you hate without damaging it! It doesn't look like you will have sufficient clearance around the firebox to meet code, but if it's not a working fireplace - it doesn't matter