The kids' books and toys get pushed over in front of the hearth and Matt's video games get stacked there. I feel like this is a part of the living room that is not utilized and is wasted space. We have never lit a fire in the fire place and I don't plan to, the kids sometimes will think it's fun to play in the fire place and then end up looking like an extra on Mary Poppins during the chimney sweep dance. Soot is not easy to clean off, let me tell you!
So, here is my plan, let's see if I can pull it off. I want to clean out the inside of the fireplace. Then paint it black. I will then sew a curtain to put across it. I will use this space as a place to store the kid's books and toys at the end of the day that find their way up into the living room. The hearth in front of the fireplace will be covered with a cushion that I am going to sew so that it can be used to sit on.
I started cleaning the inside last night and let me tell you, it is a messy, difficult job. I hope to finish that part of it this weekend. So, what do you think? Good idea? bad idea? Suggestions? oh, and while we're at it, does anyone know how to take the metal chainmail type curtain off of the front? I can't seem to figure it out.
2 comments:
I think it's a good idea but I will tell you, it is almost impossible to clean out a fireplace completely! The soot and stuff is just so sticky, plus, until you get a chimney sweep to come clean out the actual chimney soot will continue to fall out of the chimney for a long time and it will collect on whatever it down there! And I have no idea how to remove the chain curtain!
I have the flu closed plus, I'm planning on putting something underneath the opening so that if something does get through the flu it will be caught. I'm hoping that will work.
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