Restorers can usually replace missing iron parts, but if your fireplace is very dilapidated you might be better off starting again with a reproduction; this Shillington model from Capital Fireplaces (£1,329) has art nouveau inspired tulip details
Gone are the days when homeowners would routinely plasterboard over or brick up a fireplace in order to give a more modern, streamlined look to a period property. Some old houses once had a fireplace in every room, a setup that’s admittedly not always desirable these days in bedrooms and bathrooms, even as ornamental objects. However, in our principal living spaces we are now much more likely to regard a fireplace as a prized original feature. The rise of clean, highly efficient solid-fuel stoves and gas fires (as opposed to inefficient, smoky open fires) is a further argument for creating a beautiful focal point in the room – one that can also keep you cosy and warm.
A modern mantel can work in a refurbished home where decorative details are kept to a minimum. Paloform’s cast concrete Linnea model costs from £2,700
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Breathing new life into an old fireplace will usually involve multiple stages of work, from recreating/enlarging the opening to installing a new hearth and flue liner. Some are more DIY-friendly than others, but as Building Regs apply, people often farm out the whole project and find a local retailer-cum-installer for their chosen appliance.