Would it be utter madness to paint a Solid Mahogany fire surround in white or cream? The room it's in is very dark, it doesn't get the sun until evening, and I think it would brighten the room a lot, as the insert is cast iron and black, and the grate is also black marble.
Solid Mahogany fire surround - paint?
- Thread starter Mel
- Start date
It's a bit of a story, but when I bought the house he fireplace wasn't correctly installed, it was literally screwed onto the wall over the skirting at one side, and it probably hadn't even been lit. I got it put in properly without really thinking about it so I'm stuck with it now. It would probably be a shame to mess with it, so will come up with some other ideas to brighten the room.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Ok, two more months of looking at this and it's driving me mad, I dont' thikn I can live with it.
I've looked through my interiors magazines, and about 90% of the fireplaces they show are nice, white and clean. Also was in a neighbour's house recently and saw that she has an identical fireplace, which leads me to believe that these must have been standard issue in the original council fitout of the houses, and thus might well not be mahogany at all but some other cheaper dark wood?
SO
Considering that the surface is extremely smooth and shiny, do i need to sand this before I start the primer/undercoat/silk layers of paint? Or will primer cling to any type of wood surface?
I've looked through my interiors magazines, and about 90% of the fireplaces they show are nice, white and clean. Also was in a neighbour's house recently and saw that she has an identical fireplace, which leads me to believe that these must have been standard issue in the original council fitout of the houses, and thus might well not be mahogany at all but some other cheaper dark wood?
SO
Considering that the surface is extremely smooth and shiny, do i need to sand this before I start the primer/undercoat/silk layers of paint? Or will primer cling to any type of wood surface?
We had the same problem, during an extension build. As the extension shone brightly back into the sitting room, it showed up every decor problem/mistake ever made, including the mahogany fireplace in a dark room. We eventually bit the bullet, had it removed and replaced with a stove. The builder visibly winced at the idea that we might paint it.
mf
mf
I mentioned it my Dad when he was helping out with (i.e. doing most of!) the work when I was moving in, he thinks it's crazy, but I'm determined at this stage.
I think if I go with primer straight onto the wood then if someone down the road wanted to restore it then it should strip back relatively easily. I think if I sand it then that might damage the wood underneath, but not sure if the primer will take. I might just try it and see.
I'm not going to the expense of replacing it, or puting in stoves or anything like that.
I think if I go with primer straight onto the wood then if someone down the road wanted to restore it then it should strip back relatively easily. I think if I sand it then that might damage the wood underneath, but not sure if the primer will take. I might just try it and see.
I'm not going to the expense of replacing it, or puting in stoves or anything like that.
If you do this deed, I will ask that you be banned from AAM. Go visit the taste police, or go to rehab, but I beg you, don't do this terrible thing.
In a few years the same magazines with have mahogany fireplaces in them and your herd instinct will force you to undo what you what you are considering.
Maybe the reason the magazines fps are white is cos they are made from MDF & are only 1/4 of the cost. Look for the beauty in the mahogany, not the magazine.
I have a mahogany fireplace in my house since I first moved in and I love the look of it, as does mrs bs, and it often draws comments from visitors.
In a few years the same magazines with have mahogany fireplaces in them and your herd instinct will force you to undo what you what you are considering.
Maybe the reason the magazines fps are white is cos they are made from MDF & are only 1/4 of the cost. Look for the beauty in the mahogany, not the magazine.
I have a mahogany fireplace in my house since I first moved in and I love the look of it, as does mrs bs, and it often draws comments from visitors.
Manys the visitor you hear leaving suggesting "hmmm they should really paint that fireplace magnolia"
aircobra19
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Its obviously much cheaper to paint it but its seems a bad thing to do.
How would the paint react to the heat?
How would the paint react to the heat?
Not so far; I couldn't see myself using it more often than some weekends during the winter. I can't see it getting too dirty on account of being lit.
okay - here's a link to something like it (the one I have is far more ornate in design):
[broken link removed]
and here's what it might look like if it was painted, but I'm leaning towards white rather than cream:
[broken link removed]
okay - here's a link to something like it (the one I have is far more ornate in design):
[broken link removed]
and here's what it might look like if it was painted, but I'm leaning towards white rather than cream:
[broken link removed]
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If it's an antique (which is unlikely, as antique mahogany fireplaces are unusual), please don't paint over it.
If it's something more modern (e.g. last 20 years or so), it probably has no value over and above its functional and aethetic value, so I'd say if you don't like the aestehtics, go right ahead and change it to what you do like.
It probably has some form of lacquer finish, which is probably best stripped off (with some varient of Nitromors or something similar), before painting.
It's your fireplace: you do what you want. The only case where this is bad advice is in dealing with antiques, where it can be criminal to effectively destroy something that has rarity value by virtue of its age.
If it's something more modern (e.g. last 20 years or so), it probably has no value over and above its functional and aethetic value, so I'd say if you don't like the aestehtics, go right ahead and change it to what you do like.
It probably has some form of lacquer finish, which is probably best stripped off (with some varient of Nitromors or something similar), before painting.
It's your fireplace: you do what you want. The only case where this is bad advice is in dealing with antiques, where it can be criminal to effectively destroy something that has rarity value by virtue of its age.