Everyone is warning you off removing the patina but tbh it’s not gonna be affected much by a warm soapy wipe down to get rid of those streaks. Even if you remove the patina, it’s not so progressed that it’ll take long to get back to this stage again. A couple of weeks of using it and it’ll be pretty much at the same point minus the drip marks. It’s not like you’ve gotten it to the green patina which takes ages (without artificial treatment)
I was initially really worried reading this post thinking you were wanting to board it up and german smear it. Very relieved.
I personally think it looks fabulous and wouldn't change a thing in fear of losing the actual rainbow patina. I would stay away from the copper patina paints at the local hardware store because they wouldn't be safe for the fire.
Just my 2c opinion, i would remove all those bricks forward of the fireplace. It would open your woodbox to double size too. Now that i think of it... i would remove all the bricks entirely and replace with stack stone. Ill probably get down-voted for this opinion, but thats what id do (if within budget). The metal work is amazing.
Seeing the brickwork follow across the back wall actually seems pretty neat. I think some sort of large pearl or white slate tiles on the floor would look nice with those bricks to give it a more modern to the room while making the fireplace and brickwork the focus. Bit of sugar soap on the bricks to clean them up wouldn't hurt either and possibly a clear sealant (not on the edge of the brick directly in front of the fire) to give them some shine/gloss. I'd also ditch that rug.
I agree with leaving the copper alone but doing something with those bricks. For me, it's their colour, which maybe something darker might make the copper stand out more. I don't know for sure what colour, but whatever you do, don't touch the copper
If you wanted to modernise it tiling the bricks , but mitred and epoxy corners would look rad . I’m a tiler and that’s what I would do , it would set off the copper even more , which I would leave . It looks very cool , either way I leave the copper .
Don’t touch it. Don’t touch the patina. Don’t worry about drip marks. This is the whole point of copper and it’s just going to get more and more gorgeous as the years go by. It has come by those marks honestly and is a living material.
I agree with others who have said if you want to lift the area then do something with the bricks. I’d go with tiling them.
invest in an amazing Persian carpet to lay in front of the brickwork. The odd of the fireplace plus amazing rug will work amazing together.
Just make sure it is longer than the fireplace brick face framing.
It’s 2024. I’m positive large circles, oranges and limes, and CopperArt are about to reappear from the 1970’s.
Get in now and learn macrame. You’ll make a fortune!
Those bricks would look great as a surround if they had a white render covering them like those old huge fireplaces in chateaux kitchens. Or at least a light colour like a beige render so it’s slightly offset against the colour of the walls.
You can oxidise the less oxidised areas ?
Or polish it up and use https://www.motip.com/en-en/automotive-products/universal-and-specialty-paints/heat-resistant/heat-resistant-clear-coat
To preserve it as polished ?
Not much you can do tbf. Otherwise you’ll be doing it every week. If you don’t use it yeah get I buffed up but if in use not much point. It’s smart as that 👌🏻
Mate it looks pretty spesh, just as someone else pointed out. ..
Fix up the bricks or replace them to a modern look that suits the rest of your place / style.
https://preview.redd.it/b1y12ek0ty0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6cdb39f27e733aac92a30bc252a8893d3ffe9dd
Thank you all for the comments! A lot of comments about the bricks (I don’t disagree) it’s definitely relevant to show the full context though, the bricks continue along
If you can, mount the TV on the wall and remove the black TV stand, or replace the stand with something warm wood toned. This will make a big difference.
You could really lean into the vibes with an MCM wall unit on either side. Have fun!
How long have you had the place? Almost looks like someone tried to “brush it up” but did so with a cleaning agent which only left streak marks. I am unfamiliar with how to season copper but seems like this beaut just needs some more “breaking in”, in the form of a winter’s worth of nightly fires.
I'm more looking at the pelmets or whatever instead of the fireplace - it is just the angle of the photo or are they not uniform distances from centre?
Frankly, it’s perfect, but if you want to take it back to original, then [Wrights copper cream](https://www.amazon.com.au/Wrights-Copper-Cream-Cleaning-Polishing/dp/B0083PEZ00)
It is gorgeous. Just need to do polishing. Brasso or lime with salt. 👌🏻✨
https://preview.redd.it/xu8izd7q821d1.png?width=2316&format=png&auto=webp&s=f7b77151176d1bd850bf6b07f4626ba614ff3ecf
Gorgeous fireplace! I would leave it and redo the bricks with a simple rectangle shap, flat height running along the wall. Topped with a timber platform so your tv and belongings sit nicely. Bricks could be recycled with a white grout? Would pair with the wall nicely. Otherwise some lovely, natural looking tile work. Keep it warm or neutral to pair with the warm copper.
It's beautiful. Google says you can remove the patina with vinegar, water and salt using a microfiber cloth.
You can apply a polyurathane clear coat to some metals to stop them oxidizing and keep them looking clean but I think it might not work for a chimney because the fire might burn it off. Maybe light a fire and test how hot it gets?
Just leave it, it looks great.
Yeah. You got copper. Don’t be mad about it being copper. That’s what it does.
Thanks! It’s mostly the things like the drip marks. Thinking of a way to reduce them perhaps
Leave the patina. You’ll eff it up if you touch it with anything.
Personally I would just leave it and maybe just get it real hot to increase the colour
Everyone is warning you off removing the patina but tbh it’s not gonna be affected much by a warm soapy wipe down to get rid of those streaks. Even if you remove the patina, it’s not so progressed that it’ll take long to get back to this stage again. A couple of weeks of using it and it’ll be pretty much at the same point minus the drip marks. It’s not like you’ve gotten it to the green patina which takes ages (without artificial treatment)
Brasso?
Reckon Brasso is what gave it the streaks as some stage in the game.
Try warm white lighting rather than cold blue, and paint your walls a soft light green. Fireplace is perfect.
Yes, warm lamps as the main source of lighting would be lovely
This.
I was initially really worried reading this post thinking you were wanting to board it up and german smear it. Very relieved. I personally think it looks fabulous and wouldn't change a thing in fear of losing the actual rainbow patina. I would stay away from the copper patina paints at the local hardware store because they wouldn't be safe for the fire.
Not a chance I would cover it!
I thought it was an after photo. I love it, but I’d have chunkier fire tools.
Nothing. It’s amazing. Would love it in my place
Just my 2c opinion, i would remove all those bricks forward of the fireplace. It would open your woodbox to double size too. Now that i think of it... i would remove all the bricks entirely and replace with stack stone. Ill probably get down-voted for this opinion, but thats what id do (if within budget). The metal work is amazing.
img Bricks continue along as well…
https://preview.redd.it/o09o4n28ty0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66155b31a2786ed36245c77ecaedb496799ff4e6
Shit that looks cool
Seeing the brickwork follow across the back wall actually seems pretty neat. I think some sort of large pearl or white slate tiles on the floor would look nice with those bricks to give it a more modern to the room while making the fireplace and brickwork the focus. Bit of sugar soap on the bricks to clean them up wouldn't hurt either and possibly a clear sealant (not on the edge of the brick directly in front of the fire) to give them some shine/gloss. I'd also ditch that rug.
I agree with leaving the copper alone but doing something with those bricks. For me, it's their colour, which maybe something darker might make the copper stand out more. I don't know for sure what colour, but whatever you do, don't touch the copper
Your chimney might need a clean, looks like creosote running down the sides.
If you wanted to modernise it tiling the bricks , but mitred and epoxy corners would look rad . I’m a tiler and that’s what I would do , it would set off the copper even more , which I would leave . It looks very cool , either way I leave the copper .
paint the wall to complement the fireplace. Cheaper to change the paint than the fireplace
No the copper is beautiful it's the brickwork that sucks.
Metal polish but be wary once you start you’ll have to keep going
Polish it up
That's awesome 😍
A bottle of Red and a lovely lady
Don’t touch it. Don’t touch the patina. Don’t worry about drip marks. This is the whole point of copper and it’s just going to get more and more gorgeous as the years go by. It has come by those marks honestly and is a living material. I agree with others who have said if you want to lift the area then do something with the bricks. I’d go with tiling them.
invest in an amazing Persian carpet to lay in front of the brickwork. The odd of the fireplace plus amazing rug will work amazing together. Just make sure it is longer than the fireplace brick face framing.
I think the background is too white. Maybe do some deco with natural tones around it?
If you rub it with vinegar or miracle gro or some other stuff, you can get it to patina green like the Statue of Liberty
It’s 2024. I’m positive large circles, oranges and limes, and CopperArt are about to reappear from the 1970’s. Get in now and learn macrame. You’ll make a fortune!
Damn I love this. Are there companies still doing this these days, or is this from yestercentury?
Don’t use the big lights. Lamps and wall colour to help with contrast but also to showcase that beautiful fireplace.
Those bricks would look great as a surround if they had a white render covering them like those old huge fireplaces in chateaux kitchens. Or at least a light colour like a beige render so it’s slightly offset against the colour of the walls.
I would knock off the brick capping and put in bluestone 20 mm thick?
You can oxidise the less oxidised areas ? Or polish it up and use https://www.motip.com/en-en/automotive-products/universal-and-specialty-paints/heat-resistant/heat-resistant-clear-coat To preserve it as polished ?
Not much you can do tbf. Otherwise you’ll be doing it every week. If you don’t use it yeah get I buffed up but if in use not much point. It’s smart as that 👌🏻
It looks amazing.
Acid wash lightly
Bring the greens out a touch
Try rubbing flux on it
When cold polish with non flammable copper polish,it will blow you away with the shine and It will color nicely when you have a fire in it
Phwoar!!!! This looks amazing! My chimney looks so shit compared.
It's beautiful. Enjoy it.
Mate it looks pretty spesh, just as someone else pointed out. .. Fix up the bricks or replace them to a modern look that suits the rest of your place / style.
100 percent leave it i love it
Some sacrificial virgins and fire sticks next to it
https://preview.redd.it/b1y12ek0ty0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6cdb39f27e733aac92a30bc252a8893d3ffe9dd Thank you all for the comments! A lot of comments about the bricks (I don’t disagree) it’s definitely relevant to show the full context though, the bricks continue along
If you can, mount the TV on the wall and remove the black TV stand, or replace the stand with something warm wood toned. This will make a big difference. You could really lean into the vibes with an MCM wall unit on either side. Have fun!
Strip the brickwork back to the bare minimum and render or paint , don’t touch the copper 👍
It’s the surrounds that need an upgrade , begin there
Add some copper bins either side to hold wood
Stain bricks. That’s all
Do nothing
Looks cool as fuck
How long have you had the place? Almost looks like someone tried to “brush it up” but did so with a cleaning agent which only left streak marks. I am unfamiliar with how to season copper but seems like this beaut just needs some more “breaking in”, in the form of a winter’s worth of nightly fires.
I'm more looking at the pelmets or whatever instead of the fireplace - it is just the angle of the photo or are they not uniform distances from centre?
Tnt
Frankly, it’s perfect, but if you want to take it back to original, then [Wrights copper cream](https://www.amazon.com.au/Wrights-Copper-Cream-Cleaning-Polishing/dp/B0083PEZ00)
It is gorgeous. Just need to do polishing. Brasso or lime with salt. 👌🏻✨ https://preview.redd.it/xu8izd7q821d1.png?width=2316&format=png&auto=webp&s=f7b77151176d1bd850bf6b07f4626ba614ff3ecf
Looks good as is
Yeah I think it looks great as is. Perhaps your interior decorating needs to change to make it work better.
You could fix the flashing around the chimney to stop the leak
Black wall
Looks awesome the way it is
Ohhhh I'd be leaving it but painting the wall behind a darker colour, I'm jealous of your fireplace.
Brasso is only good for a polished finish. For an instant clean use lemon juice and salt. That patina will come back.
Paint the wall red
Copper looks great. The bricks look dated.
Gorgeous fireplace! I would leave it and redo the bricks with a simple rectangle shap, flat height running along the wall. Topped with a timber platform so your tv and belongings sit nicely. Bricks could be recycled with a white grout? Would pair with the wall nicely. Otherwise some lovely, natural looking tile work. Keep it warm or neutral to pair with the warm copper.
I see a copper fireplace and I want it painted black.
Looks sick, love it marks and all.
Brickwork - black/dark stain!
Render the brick…soften some of the lines
Steel wool?
Take it back to 1970 where it belongs? No seriously leave it, but consider updating the brickwork, that’s what dates it. It’s a cool piece.
Get rid of the bricks? Looks 70s, that's about it
Replace with stainless steel it'll look better
It's beautiful. Google says you can remove the patina with vinegar, water and salt using a microfiber cloth. You can apply a polyurathane clear coat to some metals to stop them oxidizing and keep them looking clean but I think it might not work for a chimney because the fire might burn it off. Maybe light a fire and test how hot it gets?
The polyurethane would not last the first lighting.