Asked on Sep 29, 2015

Fireplace screen in dire need of updating!

Tonia
by Tonia
We're stationed in Italy and currently renting a beautiful traditional home. Our landlords LOVE us and welcome our help with upgrades. There are 2 screens for our living room fireplace and the one we're using seals the entire opening during warmer months. It is basically a piece of metal cut to fit the opening that has been welded to a smaller decorative wrought iron screen. It is HIDEOUS! And darkens the corner the fireplace is in. Any suggestions are welcome!
  12 answers
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Sep 30, 2015
    Looks fine to me, but I like wrought iron... I would check with the landlord before doing anything, & really not sure there is much you can do if you actually use the fireplace. Painting it would require using High Heat paint, & that is generally only found in black. If that's a brass surround, I would take the time to polish that up.
    • See 1 previous
    • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Sep 30, 2015
      @Tonia Aaahhhhhh......... so when this screen is on, it's not being used on a regular basis. I would remove the screen completely & store it away. With our woodstove, in the summer when it's not actually being used I open the doors to it, & I put mirrors inside of it, on the back wall, & side walls then place candles or votives inside using either colored for a cheery festive look, or white for a more formal elegant look. I noticed you said you were "stationed" in Italy (so I assume you are military) thank you for your service! US Navy Wife 30yrs. (retired) =)
  • Glenda Glenda on Sep 30, 2015
    If the fireplace is not used I would put a large mirror in front of the old screen and maybe an arrangement of candles , could use the battery operated kind, in front of mirror.
    • Tonia Tonia on Sep 30, 2015
      Thanks, Glenda! That would give it cool look when it's not being used.
  • Maggie Connor Maggie Connor on Sep 30, 2015
    Glam it up with Krylon spray paint in metallic gold!
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    • Maggie Connor Maggie Connor on Oct 06, 2015
      @Tonia I think you can go for the whole screen! I wrote you again below with some ideas. Go, go, go…krylon has paints for metals…in metallic shades. Have fun choosing!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 30, 2015
    Because you are renting the place I would advise you to speak to your landlord first. Honestly if you do not use the fireplace take away the screen and put A fireplace insert inside which will give you heat and ambiance,
    • Tonia Tonia on Sep 30, 2015
      @Janet Pizaro HI Janet! Of course our landlords are on board with this! The fireplace will be used, but since it is still warm enough here not to use it, this piece will remain in place until winter. Once we begin to use the fireplace, we'll throw the other screen in but for now it needs an upgrade!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 30, 2015
    Ok got you So how about trying to tone that wrought iron down a bit with a little metallic spray paint.It may then not be so obvious to you.
    • Tonia Tonia on Sep 30, 2015
      @Janet Pizaro Yes! My thoughts exactly. I just want it to look classy, and since I've never painted anything like this, I'm worried about it wandering over to the "tacky side", you know? (BTW, my family lives in Smithtown!)
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 30, 2015
    Where does you family live in Smithtown? No worries the project would not be fun if there was no challenge.
    • Tonia Tonia on Sep 30, 2015
      Rose Lane! And you're right about the challenge!
  • Sarah A. Victory Sarah A. Victory on Sep 30, 2015
    I agree that the whole piece should be painted possibly satin black, however I was also thinking that the wrought iron design is pretty and maybe the out line could be hand sanded to the metal?? My attached fire place doors are closed until winter and I painted the exterior w/a high temp black satin paint. I placed a large black framed picture of Warren Kimble's White Cat that says, CAT NAP INN in front of it. The mantle is white and the surround and hearth is cararra? marble. I envy you being in Italy. :)
    • Tonia Tonia on Sep 30, 2015
      @Sarah A. Victory Thanks Sarah! I think I'm leaning toward a bit of glam. Seriously, it simply needs to look better than it does.
  • 9530106 9530106 on Sep 30, 2015
    You said you have two screens, and this one is the one used in the warmer months. Is there another screen that could be used year round? I personally would not cover the opening in the summer, I would use candles, etc. inside, as others have suggested. God Bless!
  • Francesca Francesca on Oct 01, 2015
    It looks like the front of the screen has two curved legs.If I was doing this, I'd leave the screen as is,and put a large colorful canvas in front, using those legs as the holder, and/ or put two medium or large vases or urns on the sides with a tall plant to give height and lower bright flowers overflowing the edges. Or you could have pots with brightly colored plants all along the front. less work,and you can take your stuff with you when you move. I think four would help a lot.
  • Francesca Francesca on Oct 01, 2015
    That was meant to say color would help a lot. Auto correct agh!
  • Tina Hill Tina Hill on Oct 04, 2015
    i would use metal leaf ( color of your choice , my choice would be bronze or copper) on the scrolls and the frame and feet and then distressed to look aged then sealed with a heat proof seal to keep it from flaking off
  • Maggie Connor Maggie Connor on Oct 06, 2015
    Krylon makes great metallic paints. You could get two different colors, maybe even one in gold, one in silver. I would defiantly go with brushed as opposed to chrome color. You can use blue tape to tape off whatever you want in order to make it two tone. Even though you have never done it before, you will be surprised how easy it is. The main thing is in prep! Make sure you take off …say the scroll work so you can paint the screen gold or brass color. Then go with light easy strokes, until you get the color affect you are going for. After the screen dries you can take that off and paint the scroll work. I think tow tone would be so classic! The other thing is be sure you can do this outside so you don't get the whole house high as kite. : ) The fumes are brutal. Ok have fun with this Tonia and good luck. Post pics when you are done!