What can I do with this fireplace?

Sar16515743
by Sar16515743
Need ideas on to change the look of fireplace and ideas for window
  12 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 09, 2017

    Paint the fireplace and change out the screen to fireplace doors,hang a picture above the mantel.Once a picture is in place the rest of your decor will come in mind.For the window personally I would just use a roman shade,this way you have light during the day and privacy at night.

  • Ella Frierson Bond Ella Frierson Bond on Apr 09, 2017

    Take Grandma's cloth and clock off. Find a table some where else for family photos Then buy a large bright picture to hang above. Replace some of the things from hearth with just one bright something. (Colorful basket?) The window would be so beautiful with plantation shutters.

  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Apr 10, 2017

    I would paint the fireplace white & then get a chunky piece of refurbished recycled timber to make the mantle of the fire place a real feature. I would leave the timber natural or if you have dark furniture stain it a matching dark stain. I would then act a large feature mirror above the fire place to reflect light around the room. I would also remove the netting curtain on the window as this is quite old fashioned and I agree with a previous comment on relation to a Roman Blind. I would suggest a plain colour blind rather than a patterned one. You could pick a colour you have in the room already or just go white or the colour of the new feature mantle. You don't want the room to look to busy or dark.

  • SharylP SharylP on Apr 10, 2017

    We recently moved into an older home with an all-brick fireplace which was truly ugly. We painted it off-white (the brick covered incredibly well), painted the mantle (I agree with the suggestion to "pump yours up" with some nice wood) a contrasting medium turquoise, and hung a bright picture over it that picks up the turquoise and some of the earth-tones in the rest of the room. If you still want to put stuff on the mantle, small plants or a candle or two are nice without overcrowding the whole thing. Our new look totally transforms the place!

  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Apr 10, 2017

    I have that exact Indiana Limestone on my home's exterior and on my fireplace surround. I researched the painting of it and I urge you to be very, very careful. This is not a DYI painting of brick job. Fireplace brick and limestones (which need to breathe) are two very different stones. I was told by (Houzz.com on-line site specialists) that if I painted the limestone on the exterior of my home it would likely cause condensation/moisture issues in my home-that was real red flag for me. I determined that I would have to hire a professional/restorationist/stoneworker that knows and understands the permeability of this kind of limestone to do this job. In the end I decided not to paint my Indiana limestone fireplace. My budget is too small to hire a restorationist from out of town. Instead I embraced it as part of the charm of my 1950's ranch style home and decorated it accordingly. I actually like how you have created a kind of vintage look with your crocks, older style screen and family pictures and old crock. In the summer season I remove the wood holder and fireplace tools and store them in my barn. I then add several green plants in old crocks around my fireplace. That fills my need to "change it out" from time to time and lightens it up for the summer season. I think a small collection of oil lamps would look really pretty on your mantle too.

  • Karen Boyd Karen Boyd on Apr 10, 2017

    I agree with the need for caution about painting certain stones. I can't really see what the mantle is like. Is it wood or stone. If it is wood you could paint it or stain dark or replace it with a natural finish wood. I like the jugs etc. that you have, but if you want to revamp the fireplace one thing to do is change out all of the accessories. The trend today seems to have fewer things, but bigger items. I count 12 or 13 items on the mantle. I think three to five would be a lot better. A large picture hung above would count as one. :-)


  • Linda Abate Linda Abate on Apr 10, 2017

    I am sure there are many things you can do to spruce this fireplace up, such as painting the front of it, putting a nice glass enclosure on it or putting a new hearth and mantle. You could paint the wall a different color and add a nice picture above or put a large ornate picture frame and hang a nice painting in the middle or a wreath.

  • Elaine Elaine on Apr 11, 2017

    I had the exact fireplace and mantel in a previous home and I didn't mind it one bit! However, if I still lived there, I'd have someone build a chunky wooden "box" affair, rustic in appearance and one that would fit over and cover the mantel. I'd leave the brick alone. I would hang a very large mirror over the mantel (to bounce light around the room) and pare down the accessories. A few larger pieces are much more pleasing to the eye than a pile of little pieces. As for your window, I'd definitely remove the valance as it does date the room. Does that window face north? If so, I probably wouldn't hang shutters as they will darken the room unless you keep them open during the day. (I speak from experience on that!!). I'd mount a rod 2" from the ceiling but extend it widthwise so that it makes the window look larger when side panels are hung. A nice black iron rod would look very nice and be in keeping with your rustic fireplace.

  • Bill Bill on Apr 12, 2017

    If you use the fire place I would put in a wood stove get one that you can see the flames burning as when you open the door the heat goes up the chimney and wood stoves are much more Efficient

  • Bill Bill on Apr 12, 2017

    with a fire place when you open the door the heat goes up the chimney

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Nov 30, 2021

    I agree with the need for caution about painting certain stones. I can't really see what the mantle is like. Is it wood or stone. If it is wood you could paint it or stain dark or replace it with a natural finish wood. I like the jugs etc. that you have, but if you want to revamp the fireplace one thing to do is change out all of the accessories. The trend today seems to have fewer things, but bigger items. I count 12 or 13 items on the mantle. I think three to five would be a lot better. A large picture hung above would count as o