Outside rock chimney

boy that is ugly. I would ask a store advisor about this one.

I think adding stucco would definitely improve the appearance. However, the question is how to make sure it would stick well and give it the right shape. Maybe hiring a professional is worth it in this case.

What about using a soygel paint stripper to get down to the rock again?

My vote is to take it back to the original rock, if at all possible. While they may have had a reason for this interesting paint job, in my opinion, it detracts from the house and the beautiful surroundings.

I agree with the "strip off the paint" crowd.

You could cover the ugly brick with a stone veneer. Stain the brick with a concrete stain or paint it.

I also agree with the stripping the paint. It's just AWFUL!

Is the inside OPENING and chimney of the fireplace that wide? Probably it is not. Maybe you can narrow things inside and out?

Find out what condition the chimney itself is in. It may be so old and problematic that you really might HAVE to take it down. Though expensive, I think it would really add to the look and value of your home for it to be gone.

Your roof and siding are standard materials and colors so patching anything in won't be a problem. And think what you could do!!! You could add double french doors, a gas or electric fireplace, huge windows - whatever dream would remake your interior and exterior!

A final thought: what about framing it out to put the same siding over the entire thing?

There are such voids in the structure, I don't think you could mesh and stucco it without it deteriorating.

I would whitewash it along with the shutters then add a grayish dust paint color between the stones in the crevases. This would really brong out that cabin...

Please realize that all the advice (including mine) given on this site is just opinion. No one has claimed any professional or even personal experience.

I have given a Like to everyone who say's strip the paint. You might scrape away some of the paint to see the color and type of stone beneath. The easiest fix is to paint the chimney to match the siding.

Is it real stones underneath, maybe there’s a lovely brick under all that???😬 it seems really built out, are there other homes to go by? But definitely professional to come out and give you an idea on what your dealing with.

Best answer is to get a pro opinion of what is exactly under all that rock and red paint...the ugliness lies in the drippy looking rocks stuck on the chimney so if it were mine, I would definitely have it all blasted away...then if feasible, cover the flat base with the same siding as the rest of the house...that is the correct way it is done...all of our homes in our area have the chimney covered in the same siding as the rest of the house so it seamlessly blends in...