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Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Creative visionary needed for fireplace makeover!

3 years ago

Hello I’m in desperate need

of some design help. I need to remodel this fireplace. it’s so large and brown it takes over the room. Yet it is so plain. It needs something. I’m open to suggestions - painting it, putting a manyel shelf with chunky corbels (what color?) white wood work over it. Drywall some of it.

ive been wanting to do something to this for over 10 years but it is so difficult because the fireplace is not centered

on the wall and the ceiling height as well as ceiling height to height of the fireplace box is low.

pleSe help I don’t want it to day the way it is. Also I orderEd an off white bench cushion sectional so the room is going to have white in it as well.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
Do you actually use this when it is cold ?Have you thought about just painting the brick like the walls ? If you want a mantel do one but no corbels for sure .
Elaine Ricci
3 years ago
Not a pro. I love your fireplace! Looks like a good candidate for Romabio or a German schmear. Beth H. would be able to give you more information; she is knowledgeable and has great ideas and taste.
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I am sure whatever you decide to do it will look good, it will be tasteful and it will be sensitive to the house which is more than a lot of people would do. But I think there were a number of members whose opinions I respect have pretty much not participated in any threads about the renovation since you painted because they were dead set against it. I'm not sensing a lot of support for covering the block except from the camp that thinks one should do whatever you love, and of course there will always be support from the camp that would give Fallingwater a cottage makeover to "update" it. Remember that in a house that is so "specific" in design such as yours that any chipping away at what makes it so specific becomes rather "non-specific" and it takes away from the essential character and turns it into something blander. You've already said you have no problem diluting the original design intent of the house, and with some of it I agree with. But that may be also why you aren't getting a ton of positive feedback on the stone selections you've made, and that's what makes me also have trouble remembering what was compelling *for you* about this house. It may be different than what is compelling about it to most people and to most people those may be the things you are mostly changing. I live in one of four houses of a particular design by a modernist architect. For the most part, I think what has made them compelling to buyers in the location, and outdoor space on two levels which rare. They are quirky and odd to begin with but every single thing that has been done to one of them (and it's a lot, by different owners) has made it blander and blander, and now it's just ugly. I don't think you are going to do *that* but you may end up with the attractive woman who's had way too much plastic surgery syndrome. There is a point of diminishing returns or even negative returns.
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purrus - very very very nice! I also like all the neutral tones in the room. well done. scoutfinch - I first primed with BM All Purpose Fresh Start primer and then 2 coats of BM Aura 'Black' in eggshell finish. I don't use my F/P so heat-resistant issues didn't cross my mind, but something for you to check on if you do. Black heat-resistant paint should be easy to get, because it is available for gas grills. Personally, I don't think it would be necessary, but who knows. jamies - it is not hard at all to add a little faux texture to your bricks yourself. I think you would get a big improvement. you can go lighter or darker or even stay close to the existing color. You can just do a touch or go heavy. Its so flexible and so easy. Just be very random (in a controlled sort of way). Maintain the grout lines. I think in my link above, I described how I did mine.
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jodifina
Original Author
3 years ago
Patricia we did use it all the time when we had the elevated hearth (you can see we took it down) it was slate and stained and ugly. Eventually we will get Glass doors for it But for now wo only use it occasionally as we have a tall screen we can use. Why no corbels? Too non symmetrical?

do you think it would look good painted a white wash with w white semi rustic mantel shelf?
jodifina
Original Author
3 years ago
Elaine who is Beth H and how do I contact her?
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
3 years ago
Here is some inspiration for you. You can make this the centerpiece of the room, instead of the eyesore.

1) Paint the entire fireplace white

2)Paint the cabinets the same color.

3) For a more updated look, mount your tv on the wall

4) updated hardware on cabinets.

5) Remove the 2 mirrors

6) Add a chunky wood mantle

7) Add a hearth all the way across. I would make it a similar color to the floor.

Depending on the floor plan of your room, you also might consider mounting the tv on the fireplace wall. The reason I mention this is the fireplace and tv are quite a distance. It might work for you/might not. Just mentioning this as a thought.

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deegw
3 years ago
I can't find the post but someone here turned their brick fireplace wall into a gallery wall, integrating the shape of the openings into the gallery. It toned down the brick and turned out really well. The art would take a beating from the heat and soot so I wouldn't put up anything expensive.
freedomplace1
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
In some places this brick wall with fireplace would be considered a great asset.

I would paint the walls and adjacent built in Benjamin Moore’s Ballet White. I would not paint the brick. But I love the brick. You don’t.

So I suggest you look into covering it with drywall. Don’t paint it, or whitewash. That is really not a good look.

This is a stone wall with fireplace being framed for drywall installation. Would be similar procedure for brick wall.

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