Ugly gas fireplace

Ely2512234
by Ely2512234
I just moved into a new house. The living room gas fireplace is an ugly monster and dominates the room. It's too expensive to replace, so my only option is to disguise it. Is it safe to spray it black with stove paint?
  16 answers
  • Lillian's Interiors Lillian's Interiors on Dec 11, 2015
    Hey there I would cover it with a product called www.weathered-stone.com Awesome look,. If it stands out and looks obtrusive . Then make it look intentional.
  • rustoleum has a heat proof black spray paint. Get it at home depot.
  • Jean Myles Jean Myles on Dec 11, 2015
    Flat black heat proof spray paint worked for me in hiding a ugly gas fire place like yours. I would also try to find or make something to put in front or even on it to hide it. Good Luck !
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 11, 2015
    Honestly painting this black will make the fireplace more obvious. Instead I would look into the possibility of a heat resistant faux finish. I do not no for a fact if this is available but worth a try.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 12, 2015
    If you live in an area where it gets really cold, you will learn to love this ugly thing. A fireplace will freeze you to death...they just do not heat well. We have a very ugly gas heater sitting on the hearth in front of our fireplace and I LOVE IT! After going through several ice storms and staying colder as we got older, we were given a heater by some friends. In the past, we had the plumber come out and put it up and then come back and take it down. Now we just leave it as we have gotten older. Our house has a formal living room if we want to be fancy. The den is for family use and is informal!
  • Barb Barb on Dec 12, 2015
    I would definitely paint it black.
  • Jim L Jim L on Dec 12, 2015
    How about painting the mantle white, like the rest of the trim in the room and paint the "stove" black. This will make it more like a "proper" fireplace. Also add some fireplace accessories...poker, shovel, etc. to give it some interest.
  • Barbara Barbara on Dec 12, 2015
    I think the color you chose should be guided by the other colors you have/want in the room. Personally, I think black will make the fireplace more prominent against what looks like a grey/chamois painted wall. I'd match the color to the wall, trim it in white to match your baseboard.
  • Carole Bisby Carole Bisby on Dec 12, 2015
    The pic is kind of hazy, but, I think paint it black and I know they sell special paint for that cause I used it on my fireplace screen. Get rid of that design that is on the fireplace (piece of medal) and I would make some kind of stripes maybe two 5inc across the top part of the fireplace. When you are painting you could put silver strips, just an idea to give it some detail. I would definitely bring the mantle down closer to the fireplace and put a pic or mirror above it. Good luck I see there isn't a whole lot of options but all is not lost!!!
  • Ely2512234 Ely2512234 on Dec 12, 2015
    Thank you all for your ideas. I will post an update when l have updated it 😊
  • LuckieDuckie LuckieDuckie on Dec 12, 2015
    I don't quite get it... Is the light gray/white box with the emblem the stove? The picture is a bit dark so I may be missing something, but...it doesn't look ugly to me... The clean lines and the trim on the bottom give it a nice, industrial look. But is it the color, the shape, or both that you don't like? If it is the color, the heat resistant paint should do the trick. There are some nice colors available. FlameControl has some options: http://www.flamecontrol.com/heat-resistant-coatings. I'd go with a color that pops and is in keeping with your color scheme. I'd steer away from trying to hide it myself. The result could end up making it look like an unidentifiable bulge in the wall! If it is the shape, that's trickier...a cover may be best, but perhaps you could try adding some trim?
  • Connie Connie on Dec 12, 2015
    Depending on your style and if you want to disguise the entire fireplace area, you could do lattice screens or shutter screens. Is this an actual working source of heat for you, if so be careful.
  • Lynne Krywulycz Lynne Krywulycz on Dec 12, 2015
    Dark colours make things seem closer and light colours send them back. From the picture (if I'm seeing it correctly) there seems to be a lot of dark colour surrounding the heater. The mantle shelf and supports look massive remove them if possible. Paint above the shelf to match the walls, then use decorative tiles in a contrasting colour you like around the heater. I'm sure it won't look as intrusive when it is finished to your liking.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Dec 13, 2015
    Agree with getting rid of the massive mantle supports. This is what dominates. Once these are replaced, you may have a dif take on the sit. Lots of high heat applications - for barbecues, auto engines, etc. - and not only in black.
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Dec 13, 2015
    Yes black matte stove paint would be fine, and would help visually minimize it.
  • Lilly Lilly on May 17, 2017

    Call me crazy but I love it. I would paint it black. Install stone/tile around it along with a fireplace mantel. Like another person suggested I would have fireplace accessories beside it. Sometimes attempting to disguise something only makes it look worse. Instead make it a focal point.