Painting my limestone fireplace yes or no

8 years ago

My cream dirty looking fire place does not match my white walls and trim now. Would you paint it?/ and if so how would you explain to the painters how to do it?

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

It is more interesting when everything doesn't " match". Bring in a few more cream items and it will be fine. I wouldn't obsess about this. It looks great.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (33)

Brandi Nash Hicks
8 years ago
No ,do not paint it
PRO
Workhorse Design Build
8 years ago
I wouldn't paint it.
Related Discussions
choosing a hearth for my living room fireplace
Q
Comments (16)
hi all, as promised (or threatened ?!) here are the photos of my new fireplace. I am still not convinced that the wallpaper on the chimney breast is right and we are thinking of just repainting the whole area white/offwhite. (The carpet and curtains are new). the red in the previous photo above is what was on the wall pre-installation and i was hoping to replicate that, but could not find a plain red paper anywhere! so have gone with red curtains instead. any advice regarding replacing the stripy paper welcome !! thankyou
...See More
Painting pannelled room
Q
Comments (10)
Thank you both for taking the time to respond! Yes, I need to be careful, since the beams will stay as bare dark wood, to factor in their colour. The curtains, not the one you can see, but the main curtains have a slightly yellowish background so it needs to be a warm-tinged colour. The pannelling isn't actually very good wood or we would keep it and it's been stained very dark at some point. I think we will go with Inchyra blue, which looks very dark on the colour card but isn't when swatched on lining paper. It's described as aged blue grey, but for me almost has a warm greeny feel. Def a warm grey. I change my mind daily, but I need to chose tomorrow to order paint! I'll post in a couple of weeks when it's done/
...See More
should we paint our limestone fireplace?
Q
Comments (11)
Which do you prefer? The warm creamy hue of the fireplace or the cool hue of the walls? They don't go, but I'm not sure I would want to put paint on the stone. One reason they don't go isn't just the hue, it's the tone. They are both light and this is exaggerating the difference. Is it possible to keep the other walls in the room the pale grey and do just this wall and woodwork a much deeper colour?
...See More
limestone fireplace, room just not working and don’t know why
Q
Comments (28)
Without reading everyone's comments, I'd sum it up as "rug" and "colour", definitely. In your very first pictures, the thing that struck me is that although I hate TVs, the picture where the TV is on is already better than the one where it's off. Reason? Colour. The mantel is fantastic, but assuming it's a working fireplace (can't really tell from the fire you've got in there...) I'd put a gorgeous wood-burning stove in there. I'd also not hesitate with some dark dramatic colour. The thing you can't put your finger on is "bland". Very, I'm afraid. Be daring!
...See More
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
nope, don't paint it.
jbeckhome
8 years ago
How about painting just the wall around it in a dark color that complements your decor? The stone won't look dirty anymore plus you'd add a little fun drama to the room.
User
8 years ago
It looks fine.
cpaul1
8 years ago
No, don't paint it. Take that TV down and hang art work.
leelee
8 years ago
No paint, you don't want it to match your walls. Besides you might ruin it. It looks great except the TV is hung way too high. It should be just about 3 inches above the mantel.
Barbara Almandarz
8 years ago
Definitely do NOT paint the limestone. I see you have a very white room, walls and furniture. Consider a couple of decorative items, pillows? floor vases in a blend of cream and white to help weight the room and colors.
In Oaks
8 years ago
NO PAINT on your beautiful stone. It looks natural, not dirty.
Harriet Mills
Original Author
8 years ago
So there is no cream what so ever in my house now so it does stick out? I was reading there is a way to restain stone? Any suggestions on that? I just want it a little more white?
skittlebabi
8 years ago
no do not paint it because I look pretty with it what I would do is take off the the and add an artwork of like a beach or something with color but the the works find to
studio10001
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi, Harriot. You have a very lovely and elegant looking fireplace. The stone is providing some needed additional depth to your monochromatic palette, and is giving you a softly sophisticated focal point without you even having to try- lucky you! Lucky painters, too!
jonathan3
8 years ago
It seems that a paint with blue would bring contrast and showcase your beautiful fireplace. Consider teal, turquoise, or even gray with blue undertones. Use that same color to balance the room with rugs, pillows, throws, and/or artwork.
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
If you really want a colored fireplace, sell this to someone who likes natural stone and put up one made of MDF or another material that holds paint very well. Craigslist is a good place to sell or to look for new surrounds, or you can build a new one right over this beauty and keep this preserved for the next owner, who may like it more than you do.

You say you don't have anything else cream in the house to match it, but everything in the photo is creamy. Painting the wall a color will make the fireplace surround and the built-ins stand out. They are features that many would envy and that look very nice.

If the bit of smoke discoloration on the stone is bothering you, have you tried a stone cleaner or magic eraser? Once you have it clean again, there are stone sealers you can use to help keep the stone clean. Check with a stone shop before using the stone cleaners or magic eraser to make sure they are safe on limestone. The sealer may darken the stone a bit and give it more of the depth that the other poster was talking about.

I agree about the TV being too high. If you want to keep it above the
fireplace, bringing it down would look better and allow you to reduce
strain on your necks. Putting it anywhere else in the room would also
be an excellent choice. A TV above the natural fireplace may not be
good for the electronics in a roaring fire, which may be why you have it
so high. If you build a new surround around the existing fireplace, you can bring it up to the height of the TV. You could even hide some electronics inside the top of a surround if you plan it just right.
Patricia Earehart
8 years ago
Paint the surrounding area a slightly darker color to contrast with the stone. As in the attached photo.
tgb1
8 years ago
NO
PRO
Julie Schuster Design Studio
8 years ago
I would recommend not painting your limestone fireplace. Limestone is a natural product and the beauty is in its natural form. The color is neutral and can be paired with any color scheme. Paint the surrounding walls and let the fireplace be your focal point.
PRO
Sustainable Dwellings
8 years ago
NO! Paint the surrounding wall another color to draw interest, Keep TV away...
PRO
Gibson Construction Company
8 years ago
Don't paint the limestone!
Patricia Lombard
8 years ago
I have the exact same problem. People have told me it is an eyesore. I do not want cream accent pieces in my house decor. My builder had it installed without my knowledge. I wish I had a solution. My builder won't take it out. I wish there was a way to make it sugar white since I am stuck with it.
miacometlady
8 years ago
Why don't you start your own thread with photos!
User
8 years ago
You could probably use masonry paint and a really good primer, but if you didn't like the look, there would be no going back...you would never get all the paint off. You would also be losing the resale value of it...look how many people in this post love it the way it is. As one poster suggested, you could build something over it that is removable. :)
PRO
Pamela Qarbaghi
8 years ago
Hang art over it that picks up both cool and warm tones.
SOLD!!! Original Abstract Paintings · More Info

Original Abstract Painting 48 x 48 · More Info
Rusty Empire
8 years ago
I'll bring my old truck over tomorrow and take that eyesore off your hands OK.
Rusty Empire
8 years ago
Oops old thread. But the offer stands.
PRO
Broadway Botanicals
8 years ago
Don't, it's lovely. Paint the wall for some color.
miacometlady
8 years ago
Old thread
gtcircus
8 years ago
No, clean it. If you don't know how, hire a stone mason
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
Rusty Empire, it sounds like PGLombard would negotiate with you over hers/his!
Judy Usher
5 years ago
Did you ever paint this fireplace? I have exactly the same dilemma. I am not interested in painting surrounding walls, doing this, that or t'other! My fireplace is changing colour or its gone.
HU-837301036
last year
I know this is an old thread but for anyone still looking to paint their limestone fireplace I had the same problem. I searched everywhere and finally came across Frenchic paint I took the plunge and am thrilled with the final result. No priming, just sugar soap to clean and 2/3 coats of Frenchic paint in the lazy range, colour wedding cake which is a lovely soft white and you have a brand new fireplace
manuelmartinez745
last year
do not paint use a concrete stain if you must

Painting my limestone fireplace yes or no

User

Comments (33)

Brandi Nash Hicks

Workhorse Design Build

Related Discussions

Judy Mishkin

jbeckhome

User

cpaul1

leelee

Barbara Almandarz

In Oaks

Harriet Mills
Original Author

skittlebabi

studio10001

jonathan3

Nancy in Mich

Patricia Earehart

tgb1

Julie Schuster Design Studio

Sustainable Dwellings

Gibson Construction Company

Patricia Lombard

miacometlady

User

Pamela Qarbaghi

Rusty Empire

Rusty Empire

Broadway Botanicals

miacometlady

gtcircus

Nancy in Mich

Judy Usher

HU-837301036

manuelmartinez745

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Painting my limestone fireplace yes or no

Comments (33)

Related Discussions

Harriet MillsOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Harriet Mills
Original Author