We would like to re-do our fireplace and would like suggestion on what

Lee R
by Lee R
We have a stone fireplace that feels outdated. Maybe just painting the mantle would help. We have also thought about covering the stone with sheet rock and adding a tile surround and hearth. What do you think?
  51 answers
  • Id leave it alone but the mantel could be painted or made 50% less wider. If you really want to do something install slate for the hearth. This would give you contrast.
  • Lee R Lee R on Oct 17, 2013
    I agree, the mantle definitely needs a reduction. Adding slate sounds like a great idea. Should we apply it to the hearth top or on the sides and front also? We will be adding hard wood floors in the near future and are not sure how it will look up against the irregular stone. thank you for your assistance.
  • Stephen Andrew Stephen Andrew on Oct 17, 2013
    No no no don't cover it up! The hardwood will look great against the stone. I agree on the mantle. I would get a thinner white molding mantle. I think your stone is really pretty. And looks genuine. I might also paint the wall around it a more cool tone like a grey or blue. It would bring out the cooler tones in the stone as opposed to the reds and golds.
  • Lee R Lee R on Oct 17, 2013
    Thank you for hour comments Stephen Andrew. I agree that the stone would look good with wood; however my concern is the irregularity of the stone at the bottom of the hearth. Not sure how the wood will be laid around it.
    • See 1 previous
    • Lee R Lee R on Oct 18, 2013
      @Terry's Flooring Thank you for the great information.....we sure have a lot to consider,
  • Patricia Cleveland Patricia Cleveland on Oct 17, 2013
    Lee R: to me your fireplace and mantle are lovely! Why not repaint and rearrange the room so they are the warm, focal point in a "cool" room?
    • Lee R Lee R on Oct 18, 2013
      @Patricia Cleveland Thank you for your comments, you might just be on to something.
  • Ana Lea Ana Lea on Oct 17, 2013
    the stone is lovely. people pay a lot to have stone like that. I agree with the advice you've received regarding the mental. just keep in mind your skirting and architraves. instead of a bright white try matching the cream/white tone unless you plan on reprinting the whole room. new cushions for the chairs in the same white/cream tone is a cheep way to blend the new look throughout the room
    • Lee R Lee R on Oct 18, 2013
      @Ana Lea Great idea, white pillows for the chairs are in the making. Not sure about repainting yet. Thanks for your great comments.
  • Stephen Andrew Stephen Andrew on Oct 17, 2013
    Well what about an inlaid border of limestone so there is a straight edge for the floor? You could butter joint it to the stone. As long as the limestone border is at the same elevation as the wood floor that would look great. Or you could even do marble molding like in a shower.
    • Lee R Lee R on Oct 18, 2013
      @Stephen Andrew Thanks for your help, I like both ideas.
  • Stephen Andrew Stephen Andrew on Oct 17, 2013
    Or you could even just have a mason come after the floor is laid and apply more mortar that matches the fire place and he could fill the irregularities between the stone and the floor.
  • Jean McKay Jean McKay on Oct 18, 2013
    Just a thought. Reduce the size of the mantle and style, it is too big, too much stuff on. Walls are darker, as are drapes and pillows than your fireplace, pop the fireplace with new mantle, cleaned and shining and a slate/tile floor and if you could round the corners of the floor that might unify it. and then see if you need to reduce the colors of wall, to start, lighter to make fireplace stand out.
  • Hello, I agree that you have a beautiful fireplace, and I would think twice about major changes. If you do decide to cover the stone up, do NOT use sheetrock, as this material is prone to being damaged by the heat. You would want to use durarock or hardie backerboard, products that have cement in them to allow them to take the heat. Second, I layed laminate floors up against a very similar fireplace with the same problem below. We purchased some special reducer strips and I cut them custom to make up the uneven edge. When I was finished, the customer was extremely happy. If you change out the mantel, you may want to change the insert as well (the brass/glass portion of your fireplace). The brass is giving somewhat of an outdated look, and you can either have a new one inserted, or you can paint the brass portions with a high heat black. Good luck with your project!!!!
    • Lee R Lee R on Oct 18, 2013
      @Straight Nails Construction Very good information! Thanks so must for your assistance. We actually replaced the insert a few years back and wanted all black, however the only one available at that time for our fireplace was brass. We will definitely paint it black.
  • I think if you took off the brass screen and spray painted it black (there is spray paint for high heat items) and update your fireplace tools that would also help a lot. I also agree with Stephen to change the paint on the walls to something that will pop the fireplace. I see you like Red so the walls a gray tone would look very elegant and great next to the brick. The yellow/gold is dating the fireplace. The mantle is huge but you could use that to your advantage if you paint it white to match the crown and trim and have a bold picture or accessory piece to tie the room together. The picture is too small for the scale of the mantle and fireplace. You need something wider. Wrought iron pieces would also look great. Paint color and accessories will make a world of difference!
  • Sandra Battaglia Sandra Battaglia on Oct 18, 2013
    Hi there...if you don't want to do a lot of changes...simply, add some plants-bring some nature indoors to warm up your room. The arrangement on the mantle is not balanced-attempt to balance it out on both sides and remove the china ware in front of the lovely picture. Place plants on the hearth. Change pillows on the chairs for contrast-light colored and change the curtains as well...light colored sheers. This will lighten, brighten and warm the area. Before changing out the entire mantle, maybe try something unique such as....just painting the top 1/3 a light color to make that area "pop". If it doesn't look good, consider changing it out. Hope this helps!
  • CLEVELAND ROCK & TILE CLEVELAND ROCK & TILE on Oct 18, 2013
    put a key stone in rite above opening mantle is to big take some off add in stone
  • Originals by Rhonda Originals by Rhonda on Oct 18, 2013
    I think your stone is beautiful! Do you have Any Idea if the stone goes behind the mantle? I WOULD RIP THAT SUCKER OFF! The fine finish clashes with the rustic stone and It Is a BEAST. I think if you went back with an old rustic, greyish beam, perhaps from an old log house (can be found at Architectural Salvages) perhaps something approx. 10" in height and not quite as long as the stonework. They look best when there is a few inches of stone showing around sides of mantel ...it frames the area somewhat. Also I see your firebox is very low to the floor so a large slab of stone cut just shy of the floor of the firebox (leaving a wee bit of space for adhesive) would look nice. I would stay in subdued tones tho, something like a limestone color. One more thing ...WOOD CAN BE LAID DIRECTLY UP TO STONE ...It's Call Scribing. I've done it bunches by scribing wood, stone or tile and sliding directly up to a stone profile and it looks sweet! :D If your firebox were higher up you could rip that hearth up, lay your your new one with a space at bottom to accomadate the wood floor to slide under edges of stone. This is accomplished by using a scrap of your flooring to be used, plus a few pieces of cardboard to lift the stone a wee tad extra so wood will slide under freely GOOD LUCK! You have some great stone to work with :))
  • Jenny@birdsandsoap Jenny@birdsandsoap on Oct 19, 2013
    First, I would update the fireplace screen by painting it with a high heat dark bronze spray because the brass is dated. Even a decorative screen in front with scrollwork or something detailed to pretty it up down there would look great. I think if you wanted to go all out, you could replace the mantel with one that spans the entire fireplace, maybe a little less ornate, like a simple wooden beam instead of the decorative molding? I would not change the stone at all! It's beautiful. You could easily dress it up. As high as that mantel is mounted, I think you could balance out the scale with some taller decorative items along the bottom like a topiary or a tall vessel with greenery that you can swap out seasonally. The mantel seems like it is hung awfully high considering you have a hearth that is a step off the ground as well. On second thought, the mantel has to go! That's my honest opinion. It is very tall and too narrow for the space.
  • 117135 117135 on Oct 19, 2013
    Your fireplace stone is beautiful, leave that as it is. I would paint the mantel to be white like the trim I see in the picture. I would paint the screen black ad mentioned above to get rid of the dated brass. You can easily change the curtains and accent pillows and re paint the walls. I would love to give color advice but I am unable since I don't see the other furniture pieces in the room. You can do a simple makeover without breaking the bank, that is my kind of makeover!
  • Maureen Nussbeck Maureen Nussbeck on Oct 19, 2013
    I think you could change the whole look of it by redoing the mantle in a gray chippy paint
  • Karen Karen on Oct 19, 2013
    Agreed with some of the above. Leave that beautiful stone! Paint the mantel white or off white like the rest of the trim, dark bronze the doors or purchase new ones that have a wider, prominent frame and use white pillows. Remove the family portrait to another area. Although it is precious to you, it doesn't fit in. Then take the wooden bowl and place it centered between the white pitcher and creamer for balance.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Oct 19, 2013
    Do not take down or paint that stone! It is Beautiful! I agree the mantle does not work. Replace it with a simple one...might want to even get a nice recycled board and extend it wider than the fireplace...(?...just hold it up and see how it looks). Avoid so many things on the mantle...just a few. Perhaps those items on the right and then a plant on the left. There are some beautiful house plants with colorful leaves. Then bring in some plants to soften. I happen to love the color of the wall since I prefer the warmer colors.
  • Maggie Maggie on Oct 19, 2013
    Lovely family portrait but I would suggest a horizontal painting with some of the colors in the stone work. And way fewer things on the mantel.
  • Barbara j. guise Barbara j. guise on Oct 19, 2013
    The mantel is way too big!! I would replace it.
    • Txvoodoo Txvoodoo on Oct 19, 2013
      @Barbara j. guise I agree the mantel is too *tall*, but I also think it's not wide enough! They'd be better off with a mantel that went the full width of the stone/brick, but not as tall - maybe 1 chunky piece of wood.
  • JAN  BROWN JAN BROWN on Oct 19, 2013
    They now make glass doors in different color metals and with metal decorations on them. THey would perk up the face of the fireplace......J. Chimney Care
  • Becky Jeffress Becky Jeffress on Oct 19, 2013
    The fireplace is ok, I think it's the arrangement of things on and around it, matchy matchy. The chairs match, the pillows match and are sitting exactly the same. The curtains appear heavy. The fireplace tools need painting, probably a flat black as well as the screen, or the new hammered metal colors if they come in heat resistance. The mantle is beautiful, but again the decorations are static. Change out the pic maybe for a large mirror, something bigger and bunch up some of your collection instead of lined up soldiers and change some of the shapes of items, lots of round, I love collections but I think you need some variety either by mixing the pieces by bunching them up or adding some colored pieces. I just can't say paint the mantle as i love wood stained. Try rearranging things before you invest in a major construction project, it may be just the very thing. good luck
  • Kathy Howarth Kathy Howarth on Oct 19, 2013
    I agree, the mantle is HUGE and overwhelms the brick..it should be smaller
  • Nancy Toy Nancy Toy on Oct 19, 2013
    I agree with losing the mantle you might try a 6x6 board that goes all the way across and the stone also the opening in the fireplace seems small if they have an enclosure that has a bigger frame around the outside . painting the walls would help also.
  • Carolyn Fine Carolyn Fine on Oct 19, 2013
    Take away the mantle all together. Leave the stone as the focal point no adornments. Change the screen to an all black one and update the tools.The whole room is outdated color wise change to a soft beige with dark brown accents curtains pillow covers and add a pop of some shade of aqua, maybe a pillow or two, take away the painting on the wall.
  • Janie Gilgert-Seese Janie Gilgert-Seese on Oct 19, 2013
    paint or get screen and put something with color on the am the like fall arrangements change update frame on family pix? lo e the stone lol
  • Michelle Michelle on Oct 19, 2013
    I would leave the stone exactly as it is, but take off the mantle, does not go with the stone and is way to large, try to find a nice peice of wood, about 4 inches thick and use that instead, wrapping it around the stone , clean and simple line. maybe a beautiful painting or mirror instead of family photo? Hope this helps.
  • Kathi Blakely Kathi Blakely on Oct 19, 2013
    Take away all of the clutter and leave the mantle with only the two candles. Put the family pic into a large frame but to the right. A carpenter can add pillars to each side and make the mantle look like one piece. Update the wall and curtain colours. The wood and stone are beautiful. Remove the glass and place a chunky beautiful wrought iron fireplace guard instead. Adds character.
  • Floy Floy on Oct 19, 2013
    I have this exact mantle and stone fireplace except the fireplace opening is much larger with no insert. I do not like the mantel either. How about just building a "box" that would slip over it; maybe something a little more rustic?
  • Lisa H Lisa H on Oct 19, 2013
    I would get rid of the existing mantel...it's too narrow and deep for me. I'd replace it with something that extends beyond the firebox and replace the brass front on the box. I also agree with the one lady about the family photo. My mom always told me family photos should be displayed in a hallway, never in the livingroom.
  • Centrd Centrd on Oct 19, 2013
    see edited comment below
  • Gloria Duy Gloria Duy on Oct 19, 2013
    I like the brick. I think the problem is that it is rustic and the mantle and your decor is traditional. What is your style? If you didn't want to remove the mantle, which is a big job, I would beat it up a little, sand it somewhat and go over it with some stain or paint to make it a similar color as the brick. I did that in a previous house and then put a cup of cream colored paint into a gallon of water and "washed" it over all the brick as it was too dark and bright.
  • Centrd Centrd on Oct 19, 2013
    see edited comment below
  • Pat Pat on Oct 19, 2013
    We recently whitewashed our outdated looking brick on fireplace and we had to beef up our mantle, instead of taking down in size. This really helped. We also painted our fireplace screen thing a more current color and that made a big difference too.
  • Rhobo Rhobo on Oct 19, 2013
    Leave the stone . . . .it is the look that lots of people are going to . . . My son just covered his 45 year old brick fireplace with a limestone veneer that looks much like your stone. The mantle needs to be replaced . . .it is too massive and shouldn't have an angle on the sides. The door/screen needs to be replaced. Try to find something with a wider frame. You have nice stone . . . .perhaps you are just tired of it and need some change to freshen it up.
  • Jody Jody on Oct 19, 2013
    we just restoned our brick fireplace with air stone from lowes. i would leave your stone. and get a plank of wood and beat the crap out of it, i did and love our new mantel i used what I could find the claws of a hammer a piece of wood w nails sticking out barb wire wrapped around a pole a then i washed w white paint black paint green paint washed w rag over & over . and you have barn wood
  • Jody Jody on Oct 19, 2013
    i have pictures email me Ill send to you jodyshandmadesoap@gmail.com I love our new old fireplace
  • Shelly Giorgis Shelly Giorgis on Oct 20, 2013
    I would whitewash the brick, attach a smaller mantle, put in an electric fireplace/heater insert and possibly put a half round shutter above the fireplace opening to give the opening height.
  • Kimberly Young Kimberly Young on Oct 20, 2013
    I like a large, distressed, chunky wood mantle with your stone. Support it with corbels. Your firebox looks too small for the size of the entire fireplace so I would suggest a screen where the top extends larger than your firebox. Maybe something with some scroll work to go with your more formal style chairs. You may also want to consider having your stone cleaned and sealed. It will bring out the color of the rock and it tends to dress it up.
  • Pat Dollar Pat Dollar on Oct 21, 2013
    I have to agree that the existing mantel is the problem with the look of your fireplace. The angle of the sides is all wrong. It would look so much better if it wrapped around the sides of the stone.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Oct 21, 2013
    @Lee R I love your brick and tend to agree with those that say the mantel may be the problem. Perhaps you might choose the easier of the solutions and paint out the mantel - I would choose one of the lighter colours that is in your bick to begin with. If that doesn't do it you can consider other options. It might also help to frame the fireplace somewhat so it doesn't seem so small in relation to the mantel. Check the site for fireplce mantels and you get some pretty good ideas. You might also consider the number of items on your mantel and the colours of them. Not sure what other colours are in your room, but you may want one of the accent colours up there. Another trick is to have a number of accessories that you like, but to rotate them through out the year.Do update us with pics of what you do :)
  • Centrd Centrd on Oct 22, 2013
    I don't think you have to get rid of the mantel...you just need to paint it...and as I mentioned before, paint the walls a color that works better with the stone and paint the brass fireplace insert to something more updated, black or oil rubbed bronze. Here are some examples.
  • Patricia Cleveland Patricia Cleveland on Nov 14, 2013
    #Lee R: visually it's a lovely fireplace - if you could frame it with wood to make it more square instead of a rectangle it would work as the focal point of the room. Someone else suggested repainting the room and the mantle, right?
  • Peapod51 Peapod51 on Nov 18, 2013
    I agree: (1) Keep the stone, (2) fire box color should be black, (3) mantel to large should be appx 1/2 depth & set as low as current mantle or little lower, (4) Add a "frame" by using a full length "Post" (4-6" diam.) on sides of brick that Matches the mantel OR bring "posts" to inside making an "H" design w/ mantel, (5) a large mirror, floral design or picture above mantel w/ assorted smaller decorations will help to balance things. See "rough" drawings attached. I do feel that the posts framing the outside will make it look not so narrow & add more interest. Can go rustic or more formal per your style & don't be scared to use color! Like someone said painting the room another color can enhance the brick &/or wood. Good luck!
  • Trisha Martin Trisha Martin on Mar 10, 2014
    I think an easy do is to paint the mantel. Use white or a very light cream. Remove the family pic. (sorry) put it in your BR or a hallway. The fire box is too small. During half the year cover the firebox with a tall painted screen, could use same color as mantel. And put away all the fireplace tools. Place something large. On mantel. Using a light shade of paint. If you like boats a sailboat. Or a white horse statue, or two large urns. Or a piece of good art and one item. If you need to have something on the hearth what about a large basket or a healthy green plant.
  • Diane Arnold Diane Arnold on Mar 10, 2014
    Yes, the mantle is the problem. It just looks like it's stuck on the wall. Peapod51 is on the right track framing it. You could just frame it on the bottom with matching pillars, painted or stained. Add hooks for fireplace tools to make them useful.Love the rocks by the way!
  • Bonny Wikle Bonny Wikle on Mar 11, 2014
    By jove You have the right idea! Happy painting!
  • Val Pieroni Val Pieroni on Jun 08, 2014
    I would leave the stone, take the mantle off go for one the go's past the stone on both sides and and much much more narrow then the present mantle. Then don't clutter it up with to much. Hang a beautiful painting above. Definitely replace the metal firebox, if you can afford it put in something sleek and modern, gas, electric etc. with a remote.
  • Lee R Lee R on Jun 08, 2014
    Thank you all for the great ideas. We have decided to try painting the mantle white and live with it for a while before we try anything else. We will also paint the fire screen oil rubbed bronze and the interior black. We really appreciate everyone's suggestions.
  • Janis Janis on Aug 02, 2015
    We painted our brick a light cream color, left the mantle in the dark wood stain. Looks great!