How can I improve this fireplace? (Pics)

13 years ago

Hi and thanks for opening my thread...

We recently remodeled our kitchen, which opens up into our family room. We built a new mantle for it using part of the kitchen cabinetry, so that is an improvement.

But I keep looking at the red brick, thinking it could be improved somehow. Of course, my DH thinks it's fine as is. We don't have a lot of money lying around, since we just spent a wad on the kitchen.

Do you think painting it would help? If so, what color?

What about painting it in the similar tone of my kitchen's backsplash?

Any other inexpensive options that I should consider?

Should I leave it alone, as my DH would like me to?

The pictures I posted show the entire area. The colors are the truest in the digital picture of the kitchen. The wall color is actually the same in all of them, believe it or not.

Please post some inspirational pictures for me.

Truly appreciate any input!

KA:)

Featured Answer

clemsonian

13 years ago

Your remodel is absolutely beautiful!! So elegant and balanced. I think the bones of your fireplace are just fine, but it needs some finishing touches to match the new style for the rest of the area.

I did a couple mockups: a whitewash to better match your backsplash, and a darker stain with a white mantle, and added a nickel fireplace screen. (Sorry they aren't very good, still learning the program. :) If you can find the tile you did your backsplash in, you could even carry it over to the fireplace. I know that's a lot more money, but I think it would look really nice!

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Comments (35)

adh673
13 years ago
I have fireplace issues too so I have looked at some options. Painting is not well regarded. However, I feel like your kitchen is so sleek and gorgeous the fireplace feels a little rustic in comparison. I would think about dying the bricks a deep red or something. Here is one site: http://www.dyebrick.com/

Also I tend to like moldings so I might play with some of those faux wood moldings on the side.

Also consider moving your mirror to the mantle if it will reflect your kitchen.

Maybe some faux logs or white candles in the fireplace or a decorative grill in the front like this at target (see link)

Here is a link that might be useful: Target fireplace screen
kitch_n_kat
13 years ago
Good idea! I like painted brick, including fireplaces. Posting your pictures was helpful. Yes.
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busybee3
13 years ago
your kitchen looks fabulous!! i love your fireplace as is.
nanjean68
13 years ago
I don't think I would mess with the brick. That's a really high rise opening. How about (when you get some moola) expanding with bookcases on either side?
diymadness
13 years ago
I'm a fan of natural brick, but I do have to say that your fireplace seems to have a different style than your beautiful new kitchen. Your kitchen is quite sleek, while the fireplace is rustic. In this case, I think that painting the same colour as your backsplash would look great. If you don't want to do that, I would suggest trying to 'lighten up' the fireplace area with accessories. Put a large mirror or a large light coloured print on the mantel (that will cover a lot of the brick). Put a couple of chunky white candles on one side and a plant and maybe a glass accessory of some sort on the other. Get rid of the black screen and pile some white birch logs on the grate. And here's a suggestion -- google 'Young House Love'. It's a great decor blog. Have a look at their living room fireplace. It's very much like yours, but they painted it over.

Here is a link that might be useful: blog
paintergirl94
13 years ago
I had a f.p. very similar to yours about 2 houses ago. We built a surround which included paneling above the mantle, a mantle and fluted columns. We kept the brick hearth, but trimmed out the step-up and then painted all the trim white.

Anyway, I like the idea of the trim on either side. I think the mantle is off-balance and could use some *support*. I would definitely paint the brick to be like your backsplash. Try the mirror on your mantle, but I think the space is too small and too high. You may end up seeing only the fan. I'm thinking something with more *umph* much like the poster art in dining room. And, down the road, maybe a granite or some sort of slab for the hearth
Your kitchen is beautiful!
loribee
13 years ago
yes- I would paint it similar to your backsplash. Your kitchen is gorgeous!!
vampiressrn
13 years ago
I agree...paint it to match your backsplash.
cardamon
13 years ago
Hi KA, Our fireplace was very similar to yours in one house we had. After a while I painted the mantle white which horrified my husband. Then I started wondering outloud if those bricks above the mantle could come off. It took convincing but once they got yanked off and drywall placed over the mantle it wasn't so rustic in my eyes and it solved my problem. I like your new mantle too. Good thing they didn't have this site 15 years ago. After the fireplace brick my husband learned how to replace all the wood doors with white painted doors and it's been ongoing! You have a great start because it looks pretty now. Only saying what I did - my husband too thought it was perfect before and couldn't understand what was wrong. Everything worked.
shawnamichelle
13 years ago
Beautiful house!!! :)

What about if you painted the whole wall the fireplace is one a darker shade, maybe same as the grout, it might help balance that one wall. The fireplace probably stands out to you because it is so promenant a feauture. And painting an accent wall might be the cheapest way to acheive balance!

I agree that the styles of the kitchen and fireplace clash, so that is probably why it seems off. I think painting the brick would be another option, except I personally wouldn't mess with it. But others swear by it. Your call! If you want to get rid of the rustic feel, then paint away, although it may seem cold if you still don't paint the wall it's on a darker shade. JMHO!
dakota01
13 years ago
I agree that it has a more rustic look than your kitchen.

Why is the mantle longer than the actual fireplace/brick surround? That's the part that looks off to me..

I have seen some great HGTV fireplace re-do's that they have painted the brick and they always seem to turn out nice.

To modernize it, I think you need some woodwork around it and something large like a picture,mirror on the inset part.
busybee3
13 years ago
the 2 looks are totally different...kitchen and table area clean and sleek and the fireplace rustic, but i don't mind the 2 areas together at all...i like the difference and i think the mantle really ties in the kitchen nicely...but then again, i tend to like alittle more of an eclectic look, so keep that in mind!!! alot of people don't!
bronwynsmom
13 years ago
I would paint the brick in a heartbeat. Or you can do what we did to our brick chimney breast, which is to dilute the wall paint and rag it onto the bricks for a whitewashed effect, so that it still looked natural, but not so rustic and intrusive. I think it would look great to paint that wall and rag the brick in a deeper tone...using one of the darkest tones in your backsplash would connect that wall to the rest of the design.
To solve the problem of the mantel that runs past the hearth, I would buy two tall slender planters (I like these bronze ones from Crate & Barrel - they would look wonderful across from your cabinetry) put soft rounded plants in them, and set them to the left and right of the hearth.

Here is a link that might be useful: tapered tall bronze planters
teacats
13 years ago
Paint the brick white!! And add low white-painted bookshelves on each side to add some visual balance to the whole area!

Low bookshelves may help disguise the fact that your mantel is a bit too long for the fireplace. Add sepia-toned or black-and-white photos (even family photos!) in larger white mats and hang them on both sides of the fireplace above the new bookshelves.

LOve your kitchen -- simply gorgeous -- so sleek and elegant!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage
WendyB 5A/MA
13 years ago
Definitely paint it. I am so over brick.

I did a fireplace painted treatment (and more) that you might find interesting.

My Fireplace Update
teacats
13 years ago
Clem -- Excellent virtual!!!

Any chance you could do one with low white bookcases on each side of the white-painted fireplace please? The bookcases would be just under the height of the mantel ...... Many Thanks!

Jan
stolenidentity
13 years ago
I like the fireplace as is! I would just change the mirror and the picture to the right with each other. The mirror will enlarge the table room space, and the picture will bring the fireplace more together with the other side. Don't paint anything :)
clemsonian
13 years ago
Thanks tea! Is this what you had in mind?
teacats
13 years ago
BRILLANT!!!!

Exactly what I had in mind! Well done! and Thanks:)

Yep -- as I thought -- those bookcases add visual balance to the whole area.

Jan
redroze
13 years ago
I like it painted dark! It compliments your dark sofa well. I'm also a fan of painting brick. We did the same with our red brick fireplace - see here. We actually got lazy and just did primer...lol.
redroze
13 years ago
On second thought, paint it white and do the dark mantle. It gives it a contrast to your dark kitchen cabinets. We have some really good mock-up people here!!
elle3
13 years ago
Your kitchen is gorgeous! I've seen soooo many white kitchens on the kitchen forum lately--yours is a refreshing change. (Although I love white too :)

I don't have any suggestions for your mantle, but what is that chameleon like paint color you used? I love it...
I also love your lighting fixtures.
jennybog
13 years ago
I wouldn't paint the brick. I had the same probelm and white washed my brick. We didnt care for it and stripped it this week. What alot of work. I would drywall above your mantle and trim it out. Good Luck
kitchenaddict
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi everyone!!

Thank you all so much for your input (and also the compliments)...My head is swimming with all of your suggestions. I want to address questions and comments as best as I can.

adh. and diyamadness...I like your ideas of white candles and accessories to lighten up the area. The screen from Target is really nice, but I just bought the black screen, so it will have to do for now.

Many of you suggested moving the mirror. It's actually too big to put over the table. If I hung it over the mantle it would be very high up..but it is something to consider. We actually use that mirror to "check" our look before leaving the house...so I think I would miss having it avaliable.

jeannie...As for the mantle being wide...well, the previous owner built it that wide, so when we replaced it with this leftover kitchen cabinet cherry, we made it the same width. I never thought that it looked bad...I just was so used to it....Oh well..it's staying for now...but I understand what you are saying about it looking unbalanced.

clemsonian...a special thank you to you and your mock up skills! VERY HELPFUL!!

elle..thank you for the compliment. I love white kitchens too, but dark went better with my home decor. We are very happy with it. As for the "chameleon" paint color we used..well, we didn't paint the mantle. We used leftover kitchen cabinet materials to build a new one. (Kraftmaid Cherry with a Peppercorn stain to be exact).

redroze...I actually first started thinking about painting my fireplace after seeing yours on your blog!

teacats...you sound like you have a lot of ideas and decorating savvy. I think the bookcase idea is very good, however...adjacent to the fireplace wall is our big screen TV which sits on a long low entertainment table, flanked by 2 tall enclosed bookcases. (They are too tall to put under the mantle). Adding more bookcases would be overwhelming for the room. It's not very big. I can see how your idea balances it though.

wendyb...thanks for the link to your thread. You did a fantastic job on your fireplace! Way more than I want to attempt! Ha Ha...I just want to slap some paint on it and be done with it...(sigh).

I am feeling a little paralyzed about painting because of the permanance of it..

KA:)
scw75
13 years ago
I've always loved this fireplace makeover....

Here is a link that might be useful: Lettered Cottage Fireplace Makeover
kitchenaddict
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi scw...

Wow that is an amazing transformation. And the price is right! Thank you so much for that link. You really got me thinking now!

KA:)
WendyB 5A/MA
13 years ago
I am feeling a little paralyzed about painting because of the permanance of it..

I hear you. Mine was in my head for many months before I finally decided. When it came time for that very first brush stroke, it was really hard.
WendyB 5A/MA
13 years ago
I had seen the Lettered Cottage Fireplace Makeover a while back too. I'm sure it influenced my makeover, especially to get past the scary concept of such permanent alterations. I was mostly intrigued by the knotty-pine wall painting, but the fireplace was my next obvious target.
kitchenaddict
Original Author
13 years ago
Wendyb...do you live anywhere near Southern California? Maybe you can come to my house and hold my hand through it?? just kidding..well sort of....Ha Ha...

KA:)
WendyB 5A/MA
13 years ago
:-) wrong coast!
kitchenaddict
Original Author
13 years ago
Back again...it's been a couple of weeks since the last post.

I've been on vacation, and now it's time to make a decision allready!

I came across this site "brickanew" and have posted another thread about it.

I think it can give me the look of my kitchen backsplash..What do you think?

KA:)

Here is a link that might be useful: brickanew
Lyban zone 4
13 years ago
I think that the brick part on top of the mantel is the biggest problem. I would remove that and drywall that part to start with and then see what to do if anything with the rest.
Just my 2 cents worth.
andee_gw
13 years ago
The product looks interesting, but more work than merely painting. As some have suggested above, there is more wrong about the fireplace than merely changing the brick. Before taking that irrevocable step, I'd try other changes first.

Clean the brick thoroughly. Buy a new fireplace screen more in keeping with your room. The visual imbalance of the fireplace and mantel in the room is also a problem. I'd put a side chair, or rectangular table/chest and green plant and more substantial art to the left. Maybe a big fireplace tool set to the right. And work on the mantel decoration. At least bring the two plants in a bit -- they look like they're going to fall. Or a more horizontal plant with a bit of trailing. Is there a rug somewhere?
Carrie Copeland
6 years ago
Shawnamichelle, I have some questions about your kitchen while h I read elsewhere. I know it's been a while but I have just a quick question. Thanks

How can I improve this fireplace? (Pics)

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