Durable insulation for exposed steam pipes

Patrick North

... is to use molded fiberglass insulation, then wrap that with an anaglypta type wall covering before painting. Insulating and attractive, eh?
Patrick North

Big_Al

We recently bought a semi-stately but needy old house. My wife and I are getting started in the (probably lifetime) process of fixing it up. It has a few 1 1/4" vertical steam pipes that pass exposed through first floor rooms. I would like to insulate and cover those existing pipes and then paint them to match the walls. I am interested in doing something a little more finished than the typical soft covered fiberglass . . . maybe using some kind of paintable rigid metal or plastic cover over the insulation. Or maybe I could box them in with varnished wood to match the trim . . .whatever might look good and be fairly economical . . .

Is there a slick/neat and relatively easy way to do this?
I'd be interesting in hearing about anything you might have done or seen along these lines.

Thanks a bunch! Alan