Hi Anita! We have a double fireplace, one side in the family room and the other in the living room. My husband and I tiled our brick fireplace with ceramic tile (soft white with soft grey streaks) in the family room and in the living room area we used travertine. I turned out beautiful and was easy to do. I clean up carefully and you will be very pleased with the effect.
I've been wanting to do it to mine. Low's, Home Depot & Costco are a few of the places I've seen these bricks. They're not very thick and you can put them over the existing brick and/or on a wall. You can find them in just about any color you could imagine. The 1st photo are bricks that you don't need to use mortor. It looks really easy. I added a video too.
You have great bones here - it just is not finished yet. I would remove the idea of several small things, and change it up to a few items of significant impact. Many of which can be found inexpensively or even at a thrift store.
DO NOT PAINT the brick. It is beautiful .
One large significant painting or print over the fireplace. It should pick up the colors from your décor. The painting should take up a lot of the wall space above the fireplace.
I would update the fireplace equipment. Whatever metal color (brass / silver (chrome) / bronze) you choose for the room, make the equipment that metal as well. That includes the fireplace screen. What ever metal you choose, have one set of large candle sticks on one side of the mantel. Candles should pick up a color from the room. I prefer the thick candles, that will still sit in a regular holder as they have more impact. Or some type of candle sconces on either side of the mantel, would be nice. One significant statue / sculpture of such at one end of the fireplace.
On the hearth on one side, one significant ceramic vase, of a 2-3 ft in height. Again pick a color to match your décor.
Bookcases on either side of the fireplace, painted white to match the hearth, would give warmth visually. Fill with books and family photos. You can also add some of the smaller nick knacks we all like to collect.
Painted brick can be nice ... though it is rather plain. I decorated mine with a "star vine" because the prior owners had painted mine. It looks great. The other idea is "mudding it" (similar to stucco - which can be stained) for a clean finish or adding another type of stone finish atop of the stucco (similar to a backsplash - lots of inexpensive choices out there now too). Good luck
I think I would build bookcases on both sides of the fireplace. I like brick but I think I would lightly whitewash them to soften the colors (just use a little bit extra water).
It's very dark & covers a whole wall in the room. I thought about putting Airstone over the moss rock, but I don't think I can because it's not a flat surface.
Hi Anita! We have a double fireplace, one side in the family room and the other in the living room. My husband and I tiled our brick fireplace with ceramic tile (soft white with soft grey streaks) in the family room and in the living room area we used travertine. I turned out beautiful and was easy to do. I clean up carefully and you will be very pleased with the effect.
paint it the same color of the wall and paint the mantel a different color
You could paint the brick or give it a whitewash, here are links on both:
https://littlevintagenest.com/paint-brick-fireplace/
https://www.younghouselove.com/2013/08/how-to-whitewash-brick/
You could reface the brick
You have great bones here - it just is not finished yet. I would remove the idea of several small things, and change it up to a few items of significant impact. Many of which can be found inexpensively or even at a thrift store.
DO NOT PAINT the brick. It is beautiful .
One large significant painting or print over the fireplace. It should pick up the colors from your décor. The painting should take up a lot of the wall space above the fireplace.
I would update the fireplace equipment. Whatever metal color (brass / silver (chrome) / bronze) you choose for the room, make the equipment that metal as well. That includes the fireplace screen. What ever metal you choose, have one set of large candle sticks on one side of the mantel. Candles should pick up a color from the room. I prefer the thick candles, that will still sit in a regular holder as they have more impact. Or some type of candle sconces on either side of the mantel, would be nice. One significant statue / sculpture of such at one end of the fireplace.
On the hearth on one side, one significant ceramic vase, of a 2-3 ft in height. Again pick a color to match your décor.
Bookcases on either side of the fireplace, painted white to match the hearth, would give warmth visually. Fill with books and family photos. You can also add some of the smaller nick knacks we all like to collect.
Painted brick can be nice ... though it is rather plain. I decorated mine with a "star vine" because the prior owners had painted mine. It looks great. The other idea is "mudding it" (similar to stucco - which can be stained) for a clean finish or adding another type of stone finish atop of the stucco (similar to a backsplash - lots of inexpensive choices out there now too). Good luck
I would either white wash it or add a white wooden surround to the sides of the fireplace to complete the traditional look. https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+white+wooden+fireplace+surrounds&client=opera&hs=YwC&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNvPSqmMTaAhUD7WMKHe2-D6UQ7AkIlQI&biw=1242&bih=598
You can even find videos on YouTube how to make them... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nhloVPlkF0
I think I would build bookcases on both sides of the fireplace. I like brick but I think I would lightly whitewash them to soften the colors (just use a little bit extra water).