HELP! This fireplace needs a makeover!

10 years ago

I am working to redesign this fireplace. I know most put the TV above but not sure I want to do this since the ceilings are only 8ft. Mantel will be removed. I was thinking of refacing the brick with a fabulous stone and rebuilding the side bookcases with some glass shelves. The bottom built-ins would be removed and shortened to about 12-18" with doors. Your thoughts and ideas are greatly appreciated.

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Comments (12)

PRO
Warner Decor
10 years ago
Hi! I have a few ideas for you :)

1) have you considered white washing the fireplace? I think that my look really nice.

If you did end up white washing it, you could do some awesome wallpaper in the back of the shelves. Here are a few suggestions:

The particular wallpaper I am suggesting is easily removable, so the installation process isn't complicated.

http://www.deciture.com/shop/decor/7/zee-tempaper-wallpaper/

http://www.deciture.com/shop/decor/7/honeycomb-tempaper-wallpaper/
PRO
Graniterra
10 years ago
If you want to go light & bright white washing would be nice. Using some mirrored surfaces behind the shelves would add some glamour. If that's too much for you pick a beautiful paint color to pop out of the background of the shelving. Editing & adding a few interesting decorative pieces on the shelves will give it a whole new look!
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First of all, you aren't clueless :) I would follow your gut and turn the couch to face the fireplace, put the TV on the oak box near the window, the armchair and side table over near the built in dresser, and the red cabinet between the two windows where the armchair was. I like both your pieces of art on the other side of the room. If the red cabinet is between the two windows, you might want to switch the vertical piece with the one that is on the wall above the dining table - just see how it looks. Actually, I think the bird painting could look really good above the fireplace - it will add visual height (as jonathan suggested) and brings some red to that side of the room and it has bits of black and charcoal to tie in the fireplace and the couch...... If you have the TV to the left of the fireplace, I'd move the map (I like it for personal reasons :). Anyway, you really want a mirror up there.... it's a bit tricky because the fireplace is off set. Something this shape would be fab because most other items in there are really angular, but this one is too big and the price is crazy: Otherwise maybe a couple of small mirrors that you can also off set and put in a group, which would also add height: I'd do three or five of different sizes and shapes. I actually like the rug size and colour - it ties in with the blinds and the taupe in two pieces of your art and has good texture. Add a few more cushions to the couch and armchair in a couple of different fabrics. Maybe some of these:
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Hi again! For anyone that's interested, I have finally managed to have a go at my varnished stone fireplace and am pretty happy with the results… It's not perfect but makes a huge difference in terms of light in the room and cost me next to nothing! I used a tiny bit of annie sloan paint to dull and lighten the stone - my mum sent me leftovers of 'paris grey' that she had used on some furniture. The link I had found which described the painting process belonged to an artist, so I was aware that my results would differ quite drastically from hers, but I'm still happy! I also had a new mantlepiece made from old planks that my boyfriend has had stashed away for years - a carpenter we often use put it together for the equivalent of about US$10. We don't own the house so I haven't waxed the paint on the stone (meaning it can be washed off with water and a light scrub) and the new mantlepiece is literally slotted on top of the old one and discreetly screwed in place. It is no huge home improvement project but made a big difference to the feel of the room using minimal time, money and mess… Now just the rest of the room to decorate…!
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I like the wallpaper. If it were me I would keep it and paint the remaining walls a colour that is in the paper such as the grey. I would then add a rug near the sofas, a big floor standing mirror on the wall papered wall and some big art for the plain walls. Instead of replacing sofas I would get rid of the throws but buy some cushions in their place. I like the table and chairs but if you are trying to update the look why not just replace half of the chairs with something similar but different. Lastly I would buy an extra piece of furniture for storage to replace the drinks trolley
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The hearth looks like marble so would be a shame to cover it in tiles. I like the wooden surround and it’s quite unusual. How about tiling the cream insert and painting the surround? Either white, or a colour to connect with the rooms decor. If you like 30s decor tiling in Arts &Crafts or Minton style tiles would be appropriate,
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PRO
MINICK MATERIALS
10 years ago
We love your idea of using stone! It's a relatively easy process and makes a world of a difference. You could even add a stone hearth to really update the fireplace.
PRO
Coates Design Architecture + Interiors
10 years ago
perhaps changing the gold surround and installing a larger mantle might make the difference.
maryweishart
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you all for your advice, but I was thinking of something more contemporary like the photo attached.
felixgrantham
10 years ago
The gold surround needs to go.

If you want a more contemporary look, paint the trim a deep coffee color. Don't bother lowering the cabinets - not worth the $$$, DO switch out the cabinet doors for more modern style.

Glass shelves will look great - splurge on the thicker ones - 1/2 inch. The sides of the shelves need more substantial trim.

I assume you've got a plan for a new couch?
notme11
10 years ago
Personally, I would not start off whitewashing nor painting the fireplace. I would paint the back of the bookshelves the same color as the shelves themselves. If you can't change the gold fireplace screen yet, pain it a matte black. I would change the art above your fireplace to something more round in shape. You have a lot of square corners in the room.

It is a pretty room with tons of potential.
notme11
10 years ago
You could also paint the bottom of your built-ins antique black and leave the top an antiqued white or off white.
sniphy
10 years ago
We did our fp with Dutch Quality Stone. We love it. The one we got is cypress dry stack but they have several different styles
PRO
Hyde Evans Design
10 years ago
The least expensive and quickest fixt that would make a big change is to pain the brick white. Then the whold wall becomes one big element, instead of three. You won't believe how much bigger the room will appear!
nwduck
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
In looking at your "love the look" photo, you might consider this approach: 1) Leaving the color of the hearth tile, do a complementary tile treatment over the brick, using tiles that sort of mimic a wood grain, and do the apparent brick bit below the hearth in the same material, paying attention to the look of how the joints in new tile look from above, below and with those on the hearth. This would give you the rather smooth look as in your photo. (horizontal or vertical orientation, take your pick). 2) Leave off any mantel. 3) Paint the backs of the shelving section a darker tone that goes with the tile. 4) Replace the shelves with the glass as you want, but leave off the lower one on the right. Just do the matching shelf lines side to side. 5) Replace the bottom doors with a simpler style, with hidden hinges. If you're going to paint the area, use some wood putty to fill in the old hinge holes. They'll never show once painted. I'm not sure where your TV magic boxes are stashed, but I did framed glass doors under our TV so you can use the remote through the glass without having the dang doors hanging open all the time. Means the right hand bottom side needs to be rather neatish, but no problem with pretty organizing baskets inside for the movies, etc. 6) Spray the existing fireplace surround with fireproof paint. 7) Consider seeing if your existing fan has a retrofit kit available for the light component. On some, you can keep the fan, and switch out the four hanging down lights for a smoother bowl shape. 8) Switch out the log look on the gas insert for a linear flame one.
maryweishart
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you all for your recommendations. Still not sure...just paint the brick, get rid of the counter depth cabinets on bottom and call it a day or tear out the old bookcase/cabinets and start a new? The TV can go above fireplace, but does not have to. I will be getting rid of the gold fireplace surround. I will be removing the light fixture/fan. Everything in the room is going bye/bye.

Because the ceilings are only 8ft. I thought maybe going horizontal with the design would make it look better, but maybe not? I have attached another idea/photo.

HELP! This fireplace needs a makeover!

Comments (12)

Warner Decor

Graniterra

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Original Author

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HELP! This fireplace needs a makeover!

Comments (12)

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maryweishartOriginal Author

maryweishartOriginal Author

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maryweishart
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maryweishart
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