Is my fireplace slate? Is it paintable? advice please!
Would love some suggestions on what I can do to make this fireplace look better. I’ve been under the impression that it’s made from sandstone but slate has been popping up a lot in all my research! There’s an area that has red, blue and other color stone. I despise those colors and would really love to replace those pieces if possible. If I’m not able to I’m very tempted to whitewash everything (beige, light gray tones.) Im scared I’ll end up regretting it! As a side note- I’ll be painting the walls a creamy white color and changing out the sofa pillows, artwork and coffee table. Would love any tips or advice!
Comments (12)
Jilly
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoWait until you paint the walls and make the other changes. The current wall color isn’t doing your fireplace any favors, it will look very different (better) with creamy white walls. You might end up liking it. If not, at least then you’ll know for sure if you want to make permanent changes.
I’d consider painting the wood trim around it, but again, would wait until the walls are done.
Someone here did paint their slate black, it turned out nice. I’ve never seen whitewashed slate, so can’t say. It might be possible to change out just the tiles (leaving the rest of the stone).
Or do as Jan suggested if none of the changes are satisfactory — remodel it. But I like the vintage stone on the rest of it, it’s quirky and unique.
ETA: Another change you could try is painting the brass a matte black or getting a new insert.
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2 years agoJilly
2 years ago
Kathy Furt
2 years agoKathy Furt
2 years agoSo the first 3 pics are of the same fireplace, then last one is the marble tile and we had a mantle built
P Elli
2 years agoJilly
2 years ago
PROBeth H. :
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoElli, So the slate material on the hearth is indeed a slate tile that was popular in mid century homes. was your home built in the 50's? or early 60's?
You said you despise it, so why bother trying to paint it?
I think the fireplace is too short. you have no mantle, so it looks like it's squat and just stops in the middle of the wall. The wood frame around it adds nothing spectacular to the overall look.
At the very least you could paint the surrounding stone, replace that slate w/some other type of stone like basalt or granite, and put up a nice wood mantle. above that, hang some art.
but before we decide on that, you mentioned sofa/table and chairs. What are those going to look like? colors? style?I can give you a ton of ideas for that entire wall. (I like your corner armoire too!)
But, need to know about the new furniture you're getting first.
If you want a bigger change, I'd completely redo the FP and make it a focal point in the room
arrange your furniture in front of it (of course colors can be changed. just look at the overall layout)
something like this you would use a large tile and take it all the way to the ceiling. ignore the tv if you don't use one in there.
you could opt for shelving or built ins on the side, or even have your armoire on one side.
this is a smooth overlay painted white. you'd have a hearth w/yours
find a remnant piece of quartz or marble and do the surround with it, add in a wood mantle.
face the sofa towards the fireplace, do some chairs under your window
you could even do a roman clay or cement overlay and paint the fireplace any color.
P Elli
2 years ago
PROMama Makes it Better
2 years ago
JAN MOYER