Any ideas for this fireplace?

What is your decorating style?

My suggestion; Start by taking the gold trim and red velvet from bottom front doors, take gold trim off front of upper fireplace. Put molding on front of upper fireplace to cover both carved out areas, put bee board or plain panel on bottom doors. Fill holes from deco trim, sand and clean whole fireplace. I would prime and paint black, could put coat of polyethylene. Of course could put color of your choice. Happy redo!

If it were mine,id cover the marble hearth bits with slate effect contact paper,remove the velvet from the doors and then paint the mantel and brickwork white but carefully paint or wax the detail trim black to match the slate hearth would make it look a lot brighter.

Google it

First, clean it. then see how bad it is. Sand the wood, and choose a stain that goes with the rest of your house. Put on at least one coat of polyurethane. Take out the velvet and replace with safety glass or polycarbonate in your choice of color. Shine the trim.

It's actually a rather cool piece of furniture! I would take the doors with the velvet right off making cubbies out of those areas or if there is shelves in side even better! I would find a reasonably thick piece of solid wood or make a hearth box for the fireplace to sit on to make it more substantial. It looks top heavy. Often you can find sheets of tiles at the Restore or if you head to a building supply store they sometimes offer for sale sheets of tiles verses boxes. Buy enough sheets to cover the marble and the hearth. I would suggest something with a dark tile but not solid dark, shades of grey or browns would be good. I would take the brass trim pieces off or prime them and paint all the wood one solid colour to go with what ever tile you found. I would also look for trim at the building supply or Restore long enough to go down the outside edge on the front where you would take the doors off to beef that section up, making the top portion and the bottom sides come out to the same depth (paint it the same as the top). You could store first addition books stacked in the cubbies or get two awesome vases or figurines of some sort to accent the piece!

I agree with the suggestion of bead board to cover those doors. But perhaps an off white with an accent of brown rub on to bring out the carvings on those doors above the fireplace. And the Velvet has got to go (Sorry Grandmom).

I really think your choices will depend on the style of the rest of the room.

Just sort hometalk for fireplaces, http://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=Fireplaces, and there are dozens of make overs to look at. I would be tempted to simplify your fireplace, too much going on. Good luck!

I think it is beautiful piece. Just needs updated

thanks for all the great ideas. Gives me a lot to think about!

Cover the wood with stacked stone in a gray color. Add a new mante. I think it would be beautiful. Let us know what you do.

mantel ?