I would go to your local hardware store, ask one of those older guys. Take a pic, and show him and just ask. It may need to be done in stages, and could be time consuming....but well worth a good old clean, with the right stuff. Then after that see how it looks, you may want to leave it looking natural.
Measure the opening and the chimney breast width. Go along to a showroom that sells Fire surrounds, with them and they should be able to help you. Or look on eBay...........
Depending on your budget - you could add new stone to the front (pricey), or just paint it. They make heat resistant paint for the inside that would make it instantly look better. I have a fireplace that we do not use - so I whitewashed the brick exterior, painted the inside with the heat resistant paint, and added a fake fireplace logs set to the inside that burns Sterno cans and looks real. This is a photo my fireplace.
I had my chimney professionally cleaned. Then I super cleaned all the soot, etc. from the fire box. Next I blocked any air loss by packing the opening with solid Styrofoam insulation sheets. Now I have a beautiful tv/electric fire in front of the old ugly firebox, However, in the case of a power outage, I can move the entertainment unit, unpack the firebox and still use the fireplace.
You didn't mention if this is a working fireplace. If it is, I would paint the inside of the fireplace black. (I think you have to use special paint.) For the exterior, there are several ways to finish the surround. Most obvious is tile, brick or stone.
From your picture it looks like the fireplace surround, mantel and hearth need serious work. I'd at least check first with a professional before attempting any renovations myself, if I were you. They could explain what and how repairs should be made.
If you are planning on using it as a fireplace, get it inspected by a licensed/certified chimney sweep. That looks like a ton of ole cresote on the back of it which is highly flammable and the cause for many chimney fires.
Did you rip off the tiles? you can buy new tiles or find an architectural recycler who might have some period tiles. You can also get period hearth tiles usually a coppery glazed thin tile. Learn to use mastic and grout, and redo the surround. Once the cresote is cleaned off the back of the firebox, you can paint it with high temp black paint by Rustoleum or Vermont Stove.
You didn't say that you plan to use it, as in building fires in it. If not you could put an electric fireplace in it once you've covered the face of it.
I would go to your local hardware store, ask one of those older guys. Take a pic, and show him and just ask. It may need to be done in stages, and could be time consuming....but well worth a good old clean, with the right stuff. Then after that see how it looks, you may want to leave it looking natural.
Measure the opening and the chimney breast width. Go along to a showroom that sells Fire surrounds, with them and they should be able to help you. Or look on eBay...........
sounds like good advice.
Depending on your budget - you could add new stone to the front (pricey), or just paint it. They make heat resistant paint for the inside that would make it instantly look better. I have a fireplace that we do not use - so I whitewashed the brick exterior, painted the inside with the heat resistant paint, and added a fake fireplace logs set to the inside that burns Sterno cans and looks real. This is a photo my fireplace.
I had my chimney professionally cleaned. Then I super cleaned all the soot, etc. from the fire box. Next I blocked any air loss by packing the opening with solid Styrofoam insulation sheets. Now I have a beautiful tv/electric fire in front of the old ugly firebox, However, in the case of a power outage, I can move the entertainment unit, unpack the firebox and still use the fireplace.
I know friends who have used a spray paint called "Stove Brite". It's a heat resistant paint that will clean up the interior.
You didn't mention if this is a working fireplace. If it is, I would paint the inside of the fireplace black. (I think you have to use special paint.) For the exterior, there are several ways to finish the surround. Most obvious is tile, brick or stone.
Paint it black
From your picture it looks like the fireplace surround, mantel and hearth need serious work. I'd at least check first with a professional before attempting any renovations myself, if I were you. They could explain what and how repairs should be made.
If you are planning on using it as a fireplace, get it inspected by a licensed/certified chimney sweep. That looks like a ton of ole cresote on the back of it which is highly flammable and the cause for many chimney fires.
Did you rip off the tiles? you can buy new tiles or find an architectural recycler who might have some period tiles. You can also get period hearth tiles usually a coppery glazed thin tile. Learn to use mastic and grout, and redo the surround. Once the cresote is cleaned off the back of the firebox, you can paint it with high temp black paint by Rustoleum or Vermont Stove.
You didn't say that you plan to use it, as in building fires in it. If not you could put an electric fireplace in it once you've covered the face of it.