Before and After: 4 Fantastic Fireplace Makeovers
See how new materials, surrounds and mantels transform these fireplaces and the rooms they’re in
A fireplace is a natural focal point in any room. Therefore, transforming it or simply updating it can have a dramatic impact on the overall look of a space. Check out the following before-and-after fireplace photos and let us know which ones spark inspiration for you.
After: Mia Rao Design added black porcelain tile arranged in a herringbone pattern on the fireplace surround, creating a sense of movement and visual interest. Lighter paint on the walls and new, streamlined furniture give the space a more contemporary look. The custom piece of art over the fireplace, created by a friend for the project, has glints of gold, as does the bold new light fixture.
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2. Minimalist Makeover
Before: The red brick fireplace in this Washington, D.C., living room was flanked by floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases. A ceiling fan light fixture took up a lot of visual space.
Before and After: 6 Dramatic Fireplace Makeovers
Before: The red brick fireplace in this Washington, D.C., living room was flanked by floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases. A ceiling fan light fixture took up a lot of visual space.
Before and After: 6 Dramatic Fireplace Makeovers
After: Teass \ Warren Architects clad the fireplace surround in a large-format tile with a ribbed texture, in a color that resembles concrete. The new fireplace adds warm industrial style to the room.
The team removed the built-in bookcases to create a more streamlined look and to add a window for more natural light. The ceiling fan was replaced by recessed lighting.
The team removed the built-in bookcases to create a more streamlined look and to add a window for more natural light. The ceiling fan was replaced by recessed lighting.
3. Lighter and Brighter
Before: The brick fireplace and dark wood mantel in this Atlanta family room added to the overall gloomy feel. Other problems included poor lighting, an unergonomic TV placement over the fireplace and a bad flow created by two sofas that were too large.
Before: The brick fireplace and dark wood mantel in this Atlanta family room added to the overall gloomy feel. Other problems included poor lighting, an unergonomic TV placement over the fireplace and a bad flow created by two sofas that were too large.
After: Laura Freeman of Merits Design Group lightened up the fireplace surround, built-ins and walls with paint. She also moved the TV to the wall on the right. “This room wasn’t deep enough for the TV over the fireplace to be ergonomic,” she says. Now a mirror makes the fireplace a pretty focal point.
Freeman also improved the lighting without changing its amount much. “So many times people just have the wrong bulbs or their lights are oriented in the wrong direction,” she says. Here she replaced the original LED bulbs that were 3,000 Kelvin with ones that were 2,700 Kelvin.
Paint: Nuance (walls) and Alabaster (fireplace surround), both by Sherwin-Williams
Freeman also improved the lighting without changing its amount much. “So many times people just have the wrong bulbs or their lights are oriented in the wrong direction,” she says. Here she replaced the original LED bulbs that were 3,000 Kelvin with ones that were 2,700 Kelvin.
Paint: Nuance (walls) and Alabaster (fireplace surround), both by Sherwin-Williams
4. Fresh, Open Look
Before: Row houses in Washington, D.C. are typically rather narrow — just the width of one room plus an adjacent hallway. The living room in this D.C. home, seen here from the hallway, had a typical layout. The wood fireplace surround and bookcases had been added during previous renovations. The surround didn’t quite fit the scale of the room, and the bookcases weren’t well-made.
Before: Row houses in Washington, D.C. are typically rather narrow — just the width of one room plus an adjacent hallway. The living room in this D.C. home, seen here from the hallway, had a typical layout. The wood fireplace surround and bookcases had been added during previous renovations. The surround didn’t quite fit the scale of the room, and the bookcases weren’t well-made.
After: Designer Rachel Chulew of DesignHAUS 24 removed the wall between the hallway and the rooms, and opened up the living room, dining room and kitchen to one another.
She kept the architectural details of the living room traditional, bringing in a painted wood fireplace mantel and soapstone surround. “This soapstone is the perfect balance of old and new — it is an appropriate historic material, while its lighter color is fresh,” Chulew says.
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She kept the architectural details of the living room traditional, bringing in a painted wood fireplace mantel and soapstone surround. “This soapstone is the perfect balance of old and new — it is an appropriate historic material, while its lighter color is fresh,” Chulew says.
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Read more before-and-after stories
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Shop for home decor
Before: The family room in this La Grange, Illinois, house had a brick fireplace with a large flat-screen TV mounted above the mantel. Bulky furniture, beige walls and a ceiling fan added to the dark and dated look.
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