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Building a Home Design Dilemma Fireplaces

How can I fix and/or blend my stone color on my fireplace?

5 years ago

Well, I tried to get creative and blend buff lueders, charcoal lueders and Milsap stone for a stacked fireplace, but it didn't exactly come out the way I envisioned. The stack looks good to me, but the color is giving me too much yellow and gold. I've read some about stone "Enhancers" that might darken. That might work, but just seeing what other ideas might be out there to fix this or blend it to where its more all of the same grayish color. I think there's too much light and too much dark which causes the "speckle". I'm up for any ideas of others have ran into this same situation, Thanks!

Featured Answer

rinked

5 years ago

Paint your walls darker first. A warm grey/tan. They are too white now to see if the stone needs any attention.

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Comments (14)

Darzy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I bought stone caps for a gate that the color was off. I just stained the concrete a darker color lightly, but repeating staining until it reached the darker color I wanted.
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Hi Pete thanks for your response. You assumed correctly in that I am doing the surround and not the firebox.. I do not plan on leveling the surface. I am a mosaic artist and find the stone surface a real treat to be able to mosaic. As to the reasons for wanting to seal the fireplace first is because it has seen many a hardcore fire and the stone is still stained after many washings. I want to prevent any seepage of grease or oils still around. especially if I am going to do a direct application which is what I plan to do, in mixed media, mostly stained glass mosaic. I have underpainted many a mosaic so I know it is and can be done in some if not most cases; just not sure about which sort of paint + clear adhesive could be used as far as the heat factor or if I should just use thinset. I want to avoid thinset as I plan on grouting and I want a better control over the grouts depth ( I can be heavy handed w/ thinset ) Thanks for your advice on the squaring of the fireplace, I had battled with the thought earlier in my idea process but decided I'd enjoy the challenge of it's rustic surface to mosaic. But; if down the road I want it to disappear now I know how!! Aren't you glad you're not married to me !! lol Kathleen
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I'm betting your sink is leaking. There are probably no clips between the rear of the cabinet front and the sink. The steel on the flat of the divided sink is flexing, allowing dirty sink water to get sucked between the sink flange and the bottom of the top through capillary action. Open your dishwasher and see if you see a 1/4" yellow line heading toward the sink. That would be a reinforcement rod that's going to rust and burst your countertop. I get a call a week for this and fix a couple every month. Drop the sink and take a Bernz-O-Matic to the stone until it's dried. Clean the sink flange and stone bottom, silicone, and strap, not clip or block, your sink in place. May as well replace it with a single bowl while you're at it.
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Daisy S
5 years ago
I hope you find a remedy......
Donald
5 years ago
Mid project second guessing? Before I did something I couldn’t undue, unless you hate it, wait until it’s finished...walls painted, mantle?, tv?, flooring, window coverings...all of these things will remove the lone spotlight shining (metaphorically) on this one piece of the whole
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
Don't overthink during mid-construction. The advice above about the unfinished walls giving a false impression is a good one. Your selections for wall color, flooring and floor finish, and lighting will significantly impact your visual perception of the fireplace wall.

Have you coordinated and selected all these materials and finishes together?
emmarene9
5 years ago
I don't hate it. It sort of has an arts and crafts look. Not so bad with walls painted.

When the room is furnished there will be a lot of other things to draw the eye. What are you planning for mantel?
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
Stain the stone to mute it.
Julia
5 years ago
Oh, I love your fireplace and wouldn't make it any darker or else. Chances are, it'll become the forte of the room. To reach harmony, I would paint the walls and stick to the Soft Summer color palette ( http://truecolour.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/TCI-Soft-Summer-Classic.jpg ) as for the walls' color and the accessories. All the hues in it have a soft, grey undertone and, therefore, work wonders together. Your fireplace with these grey/bluish stones seems to be very blendable with such hues.
Lance Sledge
Original Author
5 years ago
I planned on SW Collonade Grey for the walls/ceiling, a “custom” blend walnut stain on my red oak floors and the same stain on the Alder beams above. Mantel will be the same walnut stain too. Sounds lime a lot of stain, but the kitchen is tile floor with white oak cabinets.
rinked
5 years ago
Are you sure? That is a rather 'flat' grey, from what I can see on my screen..

Looking on the SW website, how about Versatile Grey? Jogging Path? Analytical Grey?
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Design Directives, LLC
5 years ago
I think you should hold off staining the stone until you see what it looks like when the walls are painted, the floor is finished and you have furniture in the room. Then you will have a better idea of which colors are working and which ones are not. Good luck!
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BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
Good idea to wait. If you place art or something on the stone, it will change the appearance. Your selection of furnishings will have an effect on the appearance too.
ILoveRed
5 years ago
I wouldn’t touch it until the walls are painted. I think it’s a nice blend of warm and cool colors. I actually like it. We are so obsessed with gray right now that anything that is too warm instantly turns us off.
alley2007
5 years ago
I planned on SW Collonade Grey for the walls/ceiling, a “custom” blend walnut stain on my red oak floors and the same stain on the Alder beams above. Mantel will be the same walnut stain too. Sounds lime a lot of stain, but the kitchen is tile floor with white oak cabinets.

What stage is your build - can finish selections be changed at this point? If so, I would recommend a consulation with Maria Killam (https://www.mariakillam.com) to ensure your finishes will be cohesive and provide the proper background for the overall look and feel you want to acheive in your new home. Your fireplace is fine, but will be a bossy element to work with (start reading Maria's blog posts and you'll see what I mean).

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