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Home Decorating Design Dilemma Fireplaces

fireplace makeover color advice needed

12 days ago

Hi design family, I would love some ideas for my fireplace, specifically the mantel. The fireplace is in our newly made over guest bedroom/library and we are going for a modernish french country aesthetic.

I just microcemented over my fireplace surround tiles and happy with the texture, but not sure on color. DH wants to keep the mantel, but I want to give it a bit of a makeover because the paint is peeling. Fresh coat of paint, or give it a plaster texture? What colors do you like? I was thinking of making the surround and the mantel all one color to look like limestone. Or should we do darker surround and keep mantel white for contrast? Thank you for your advice!!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is my before

And here is the current in-progress pic

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Comments (6)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
12 days ago
Not sure how you translate Country French and Modern.
michoumonster thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
michoumonster
Original Author
12 days ago
last modified: 12 days ago
Hi Beverly, I think our ideal look would be more clean, more in line with the last pic, but we would like to try to keep the current mantel, so not sure we could get exactly that look. Perhaps we just want more contemporary, not necessarily modern? I am not sure of the terminology.
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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. Clare-CDR Design. 3D Renderings of your space.
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BPMBA
11 days ago
last modified: 11 days ago
I don't see French Country Modern anywhere in that. I'd paint the whole thing the same color as the walls so it blends in.
michoumonster thanked BPMBA
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
11 days ago
last modified: 11 days ago
IMO that whole surround is out of proportion and micro cemnt not really French country in my head . Waht else is going into this space you do not design a room one element at a time. so post pics of all the other things then we have context. Is the rest of your home French country ? I am all for a guest room to be different but a library maybe not so much.
michoumonster thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Maureen
11 days ago
last modified: 8 days ago
I don’t think a fresh coat of paint or plastering the mantel will result in modern French Country. Perhaps just refresh mantel and paint the brass black (which will do wonders - I painted ours and it made a huge difference). Not my fireplace below, but wanted to show how accessories will help achieve the ”look” and add an antique mirror!
michoumonster thanked Maureen
michoumonster
Original Author
11 days ago
BPMBA, yes i think i just want it to blend. i will try painting all one color. thank you!

Maureen, thank you for sharing your fireplace pic. that is really lovely! I think you are right about the brass. i will paint it black and hope it will subdue the look more.

Patricia, that is great advice! this space used to be a formal living room that we just converted to a guest room. But we plan to use it as a library most of the time. We also are planning a wall of built-ins to serve as storage/wardrobes. For furniture, we will put a convertible daybed in here, a table/chair or accent chair set, a rug, also plan to do some linen curtains. here is my working plan. Would love your thoughts!
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