I don't know what to use for the fp but for the kitchen, use gel stain. There was a poster in the kitchen forum I believe that had the same red cabinets and put gel stain on them a they looked fabulous! I used gel stain over cheap oak and also look great but look for that other post.

I found a thread elsewhere that lists some answers to the fireplace question -- see below --

A couple of the posters mention a product called "Peelaway 8" -- I know nothing about it, but it sounds promising. Especially the "free sample" part, LOL....

Here is a link that might be useful: stripping paint from a fireplace

Just bought his first house at age 20!

Give him a huge congratulatory hug for me.

...(and slip him my niece's phone number.) LOL

Seriously, what a smart thinking young man. He makes me proud and I don't even know him.

Caroline, he is such a great guy. He worked for my DH during high school, but my DH would not let him stay there because he had too much potential. He decided not to go to college, but he went to school to be a Heavy Equipment Operator and is doing well for himself. He pretty much lives with us during the winter months because we spend every weekend snowmobiling and he is such a great help with our 3 kids, getting their snow clothes on, babysitting, etc.

So, this isn't going to be a very well decorated home, and I am sure if us girls go in there and try and do things he will feel overwhelmed. He has stated he wants the paint off the FP (thanks for the link) and something done with the kitchen.

I found the post on the Gel Stain cabinets
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg0212371330160.html, so I will forward that to him.

I'm just afraid the brick underneath will be faux brick.

So, with gel stain cabinets, any suggestions for paint color in the kitchen?

What is the red/white pattern- wallpaper? With wood cabinets (dark) you can really do any color. You can do steel grey if he likes modern. Red, green, toasty browns. How about a greyish blue if the cabinets aren't too red. It would be a blank slate if there is nothing he has to match.

Caroline is your niece in WA State? If so, he is looking for a steady girlfriend!! Here is a pic taken an couple weeks ago when he and my DH (also chris) went to the Big Dawg Shoot-Out at Mt. Baker.

I didn't bother to UNpaint mine. I simply repainted over the top of the paint job to make it look like brick again, and it does. Best of luck to Junior -- you must be so proud of him getting a house at age 20! Loved the Mt.Baker shot.

LOL I bet he appreciates you fixing him up on the internet LOL

I would do a coat of antiquing or gel stain on the red and leave them as is. But I'd ditch that horrible wall paper and the awful boarder immediately. Rent a steamer and off they go, then he can do anything in there :) Personally with red, I'd shoot for something like a deep cream or latte tone, but white or dark grey would work as well.

Can he spare some time to mentor my son? He's 2 and may need a few years LOL

I think you (he) should go for dark brown, cream and white in the kitchen.

Take the color tones from the floor tiles.

It would be very cool and masculine.

Great ideas!! Igloochic, he is a little tied up mentoring my 6 and 2 year old boys, I will let you know when he has some spare time, lol

Oceanna- would you mind posting a pic of your fireplace and tell me what you did to get it too look like brick? Thanks :)