Fireplace makeover ideas take 2
I had another thread but started a new one for new ideas. Here is our "before" - 1980s fireplace, I painted the accent wall to help blend the color of the ugly tile (it "blends" better IRL) but the time has finally come to give it a makeover since we are renovating our kitchen and bathrooms. We have had the tile removed and will be replacing the old screen doors with new glass doors (see below. Now I need to select tile/stone and whether to have a surround, or trim etc.
We could keep the stained mantel or replace. I've considered white painted and more contemporary/transitional. We will likely paint the wall, no need for tile/stone to match the Mexicana color - the rest of the room is BM Mascarpone a warm white. Our home is leaning toward transitional style and the kitchen will be Ikea Laxarby 9shaker style) black-brown cabinets with fantasy brown quartzite counters. Our furniture is expresso color book cases and a warm-grey-brown color leather sofa.
I also like the idea of removing the raised hearth and putting tile flush with the floor, so that we don't have a head-banging hazard for future children.
here's "before":
these are the glass doors we will have installed:
Here are some inspiration pics I like - thought keeping in mind our house has no fancy trim or mouldings, the baseboards are plain 2.5" type. So we won't want the really fancy craftsman type moulding but something a little simpler. I know these are a tad more traditional than our style, especially the first but I like the general idea.
here is our fireplace now... the old surround was 12" all the way around. The raised hearth "box" could be removed I am sure.
And here are my tile/stone choices. Remember the red paint will be replaced - probably just paint that wall mascarpone as well, but may choose another color.
On the left is a polished cream marble 12x12". It would be simple to install as it would be the right width all the way around and it is pretty inexpensive.
On the hearth is a warm grey stone and on the right it a pretty (but relatively expensive) ceramic tile with warm white limestone type texture and color. It's 12x3" so I guess if we stick to 12" surround the size might be awkward... but I like the texture and color.
here is the ceramic next to the mascarpone wall (this paint always looks creamier in photos than IRL)
and the marble. The grey stone small format I think is too grey and we don't want to change the LR wall color.
And finally, here are 2 surrounds that I kind of like, but not sure if I like it more than our stained mantel - if we stick with the stained mantel do you think we need pencil tile or something?
Thanks for reading!
Comments (20)
l pinkmountain
8 years ago
Tmnca
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agol pinkmountain, I think you misunderstood - the smaller tile is not intended for the hearth, it is the third choice and I just placed it there as there since it's on mesh backing and couldn't be propped up on the wall. Whichever tile I choose the whole thing will be all the same.
Here are some mock-ups - please ignore the floor/hearth part as it's too hard to PS for me.crude mockup with the 12x3 tile
same as above with wall painted
with the surround added
with surround and wall painted
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Another fireplace makeover - Need ideas!
Comments (4)I love the look but I think it would be important for you to get your furnishings in the house and decide at that point what you like. I think it will make your choices simpler. It is a lovely fireplace and surround....See MoreUgly old fireplace needs a makeover
Comments (11)I would take off the doors and the surround, clean them and spray paint them with heat resistant paint, clean the stone on the entire fireplace with extra attention to the area near the surround to remove the smoke/soot stains, tile the hearth with complimentary tile/stone, or remove the distracting hearth and replace with a cheap granite/marble remnant from a granite fabricator (our local yard offers any stone remnant cut to fit up to a 48 inch vanity for $250). While the surround/doors were off, I would also clean the firebox, spray paint with heat resistant paint, and shove as much insulation into the flue as possible. The mantle could be improved with minimal effort and some carpentry skills. Just doing something about the distracting hearth would do wonders!...See MoreKitchen Makeover Take Two: countertops change?
Comments (24)I love the slab. I think the burgundy gives it interest and depth. My sister in law has it and I love looking at all the variety in her island. I replaced my Black Galaxy Granite on my island when we just did our kitchen remodel. The island is used constantly and it showed everything. I had windex in my hand 3 and 4 times a day. Even when the kids weren't eating, it showed the oil from their skin and I would have to wipe it down. I opted for white Quartzite on my new island, and I love everything about it. It shows nothing and I love all of the contrasts in the natural stone. I had to keep the Black Galaxy around the perimeter for budget reasons. It's fine since it doesn't have people touching it all the time, but I am in love with this lighter stone. Good luck!...See More2-Way Fireplace in Great Room: Good Idea or Asking for Trouble?
Comments (33)I don't know what the particular solution is for this fireplace without thinking about it but I do have some thoughts about view. When there are great views and there are plenty of spots to look at it from there is nothing wrong with blocking it from some angles and having it reveal itself as you progress through a house or room. You don't need to see all view all the time. The other aspect is that to some extent you are going to get used to it, no matter how good it is. I have a friend who has been a realtor for 40 years and although she sells in an urban environment, she sells a lot of upper tier properties with some pretty spectacular urban views including skylines and water and sunset views. She has said that she has shown people apartments where they run to the window and are thrilled with the view and hardly pay attention to the actual apartment and she's had to talk them down from buying it because it was otherwise unsuitable, and at the other end of things if it is a great apartment and it does have great views that the views tend to impress guests and such but the occupants more or less stop really looking at it so much, because for most people life is not sitting looking at views, there is a bunch of other things going on every day. So my feeling is that fully unobstructed may not be necessary from every point in that open space....See MoreTmnca
8 years agoTmnca
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agol pinkmountain, the brick-look tile is my favorite, too and I showed DH and he immediately chose that one. He hates the white surround and prefers the red wall, so I think we will keep the existing mantel and wall color for now, we can always repaint the accent wall later if the color doesn't work.
Now I just have to figure out what to do about the hearth, because I don't think the brick-look tiles will look right if laid flush with the flooring but maybe I am wrong about that. I was thinking of getting a large-format tile or solid chunk of stone in a matching color for the hearth, I saw the one below in the tile store and took this photo of the 2 together - having trouble picturing the hearth though!
Do you think the hearth looks better raised (as it is) and covered with the brick-type tile, or removed and flush with the flooring a large slab of co-ordinating stone?
Tmnca
8 years agoTmnca
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoWell it's not quite finished for the reveal pics, but I can't wait - we ended up choosing a natural limestone tile in subway format that I didn't see on my first visit. It was in stock and has matching pencil trim for the sides and large format 24x24 tiles for the hearth. We've very happy with how it turned out! The touch up prime/paint still need to be done on either side but here it is now...
Almost-After
Before
Tmnca
8 years agoTmnca
8 years agoTmnca
8 years ago
Olychick