Carleenimlach your fireplace is stunning. It is infact original in bungalow detailing, and the bricks are not painted. I know this treatment very well. They had a brick stain applied, which is a red oxide painted to give the appearance of an even red brick face, this was done when tuck pointing is applied to the mortar course. I can see yours was. It looks as though it was charcoal, also another Edwardian bungalow detail, and the lines accentuate the archway. The mantel itself is absolutely beautiful. I myself would restore the brickwork, and let this period detail return to being the heart of the home. The hearth bricks definitely need to go, in their place I would lay a single slab on stone, which is a little costly, but overall, is worth the expensive you save in defacing the brickwork anyway. I suggest a rough sawn bluestone slab that will further enhance the charcoal tuck pointing, and grey is not only a current interior colour, but it is also what edwardian bungalows often featured. So you get to have a current, updated interior whilst preserving the beauty and character of a period home. This is where the homes value lies.

You can convert any wood burning fireplace into a gas one with a simple gas box. They are sold at places like jetmaster. They are small enough to sit just below the cinder tray and have a regulator that controls your gas flame by a dial switch. The fireplace itself needs to be constructed to house a flue kit, and your gas line. A gas fitter can advise on your requiremnts, whether or not you need to upgrade your gas line etc. The flue kit is the most expensive element. As far as restoring the piece, as its cast iron, that's easy. If you own a drill, you can buy wire brush disks hat you will need to remove any loose rust or paint on the surface, clean it thoroughly, perhaps even using a solvent to get off anything it may have coated on it. Once you have washed it down, and allowed it to dry out, spray with a can or two of potbelly black spray paint. It is specially made for these things, and have a high heat resistance that won't blister. Two coats should be fine. This will look amazing! And because you will be doing the restoring, also very rewarding. Good luck.

My local Carpet Choices carpet supplier organised overlocking of some wool sisal carpet for me. Maybe try your close carpet suppliers. Its probably not something they'll advertise on the web. You'll need to ring them.

Looks so cosy! Stone fireplaces are the best :) Well done